Green Industry Best Management Practices (BMPs) for the Conservation and Protection of Water Resources in Colorado: Moving Toward Sustainability Prepared for The Green Industries of Colorado (GreenCO) Prepared by Wright Water Engineers, Inc. 2490 West 26th Avenue, Suite 100A Denver, CO 80211 With support from The Colorado Water Conservation Board Headwaters Consulting, LLC Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Water Quality Control Division (under a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) Third Release, May 2008 Copyright © 2008 by The Green Industries of Colorado NOTICES Copyright Green Industry Best Management Practices (BMPs) for the Conservation and Protection of Water Resources in Colorado: Moving Toward Sustainability, Third Release is copyrighted © 2008 by the Green Industries of Colorado. Disclaimer No representations are made with respect to the contents of the Green Industry Best Management Practices (BMPs) for the Conservation and Protection of Water Resources in Colorado: Moving Toward Sustainability, Third Release. Furthermore, the Green Industries of Colorado reserves the right to revise the document and to make changes to the content from time to time without obligation to notify any person of such revision. THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS PROVIDED ON AN “AS IS” BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. THE ENTIRE RISK AS TO THE ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS OR QUALITY OF SUCH INFORMATION AND ANY USE MADE OF IT IS ASSUMED BY THE USER. NEITHER THE GREEN INDUSTRIES OF COLORADO NOR ANYONE ELSE WHO HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN THE CREATION, PRODUCTION OR DELIVERY OF THE INFORMATION SHALL BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING PROPERTY DAMAGE, DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS, BUSINESS INTERRUPTION, AND THE LIKE) ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF THE INFORMATION, OR ANY OMISSION IN OR INACCURACY OF ANY INFORMATION EVEN IF THE GREEN INDUSTRIES OF COLORADO HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. Distribution Notice You may print copies and distribute this document in whole or in part provided that each part (or the whole) contains the above copyright and disclaimer notice. THE ENTIRE RISK AS TO THE ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS OR QUALITY OF SUCH INFORMATION AND ANY USE MADE OF IT REMAINS WITH THE USER. Incorporation of this document by reference is permissible with the following citation: GreenCO and Wright Water Engineers, Inc. 2008. Green Industry Best Management Practices (BMPs) for the Conservation and Protection of Water Resources in Colorado: Moving Toward Sustainability. Third Release. Denver, CO: GreenCO. GreenCO BMPs for the Conservation and Protection of Water Resources Table of Contents Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................................... 1 Purpose and Limitations .............................................................................................................. 5 Background ................................................................................................................................... 7 Definition of Best Management Practices (BMPs) and Principles........................................... 8 Overview of BMPs ...................................................................................................................... 10 Literature Review ....................................................................................................................... 15 Industry Websites ..................................................................................................................... 15 Colorado State University Extension Resources ...................................................................... 16 Other Resources........................................................................................................................ 16 GreenCO BMPs Sustainable Landscaping........................................................................................................... 21 Xeriscape .................................................................................................................................. 29 Water Budgeting ....................................................................................................................... 33 Landscape Design ..................................................................................................................... 39 Landscape Installation/Erosion and Sediment Control............................................................. 49 Soil Amendment/Ground Preparation....................................................................................... 53 Tree Protection.......................................................................................................................... 59 Tree Placement in the Urban Landscape .................................................................................. 65 Tree Planting............................................................................................................................. 69 Irrigation Efficiency.................................................................................................................. 75 Irrigation System Design .......................................................................................................... 79 Irrigation System Installation.................................................................................................... 87 Irrigation System Maintenance................................................................................................. 91 Irrigation Efficiency Audits...................................................................................................... 95 Third Release, May 2008 Table of Contents-i GreenCO BMPs for the Conservation and Protection of Water Resources Irrigation Technology and Scheduling ................................................................................... 101 Irrigation Using Nonpotable Water ........................................................................................ 109 Landscape Maintenance.......................................................................................................... 121 Trees and Other Woody Plant Care ........................................................................................ 125 Herbaceous Plant Care............................................................................................................ 131 Turf Management.................................................................................................................... 135 Fertilizer Application.............................................................................................................. 143 Pesticide and Herbicide Application....................................................................................... 147 Pesticide, Fertilizer and Other Chemical Storage, Handling and Disposal ............................ 153 Lawn Aeration ........................................................................................................................ 157 Lawn Waste Disposal/Composting......................................................................................... 159 Mowing................................................................................................................................... 161 Mulching................................................................................................................................. 163 Drought and General Water Conservation Practices for Landscapes..................................... 165 Snow Removal and Management ........................................................................................... 171 Production Practices for Nurseries, Greenhouses and Sod Growers...................................... 175 Water Management Practices for Nurseries, Greenhouses, Sod Growers & Holding Yards. 181 Retail Practices for Nurseries, Greenhouses and Garden Centers.......................................... 187 Park, Golf Course and Other Large Landscape Design and Management ............................. 189 Landscape Features in Low Impact Development.................................................................. 195 Revegetation of Drainageways ............................................................................................... 205 Riparian Buffer Zone Preservation ......................................................................................... 209 Education of Employees ......................................................................................................... 211 Education of the Public........................................................................................................... 213 Regulatory Awareness ........................................................................................................... 219 Third Release, May 2008 Table of Contents-ii GreenCO BMPs for the Conservation and Protection of Water Resources Bibliography ........................................................................................................................... 221 Glossary .................................................................................................................................. 245 Appendices.............................................................................................................................