Sustainable Landscaping Symposium 2009

Passion to Action – Sustainable Landscaping Symposium 2009

“Muddy Waters: Who Owns the Rain?”

Thursday, February 12, 2009

8 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Denver Botanic Gardens

Presented by Front Range Sustainable Landscaping Coalition and Denver Botanic Gardens

Water is the greatest challenge in creating sustainable Colorado landscapes, homes and communities. Rainwater and greywater are potential sources of water, but can they be used legally in Colorado? And if so, how? This full day will include:

• Brad Lancaster, author of Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond, will share how rainwater gardens transformed his home and community in Tucson, and provide detailed information on rainwater systems for Colorado.
• A panel discussion of Colorado water law, the legality of rainwater and greywater use, and possible changes to existing law. Moderated by Paul Lander, Executive Director of Colorado Waterwise Council, with Beorn Courtney, PE; Bart Miller, Water Attorney; Mike Vail, greywater specialist; Jenny Fifita, Reclaimed Water System Analyst; and Zach Johnson, ASLA.
• Lunch-time roundtables hosted by the panelists and speakers
• Michelle DeLaria, stormwater BMP scientist with Denver Urban Drainage, will present the effects of land development on waterways and the use of Low Impact Development (LID) or stormwater runoff reduction and infiltration techniques to reduce harm to waterways. She will discuss using LID techniques to protect long-term environmental, economic and social value.
• Keith Bowers, president and founder of Biohabitats, a pioneering ecological restoration company, is a landscape architect with a deep interest in sustainable landscaping. He’ll explore ways in which use of rainwater and greywater in the landscape can create and preserve vital habitat on site and downstream. Keith will discuss how restoring ecological functioning to all of our landscape is the fundamental path to sustainability, and how healthy soil is crucial to all restoration work.

To Register at Denver Botanic Gardens