Residential Rain Garden Workshop Offered August 30th

As homeowners and property managers become more aware of the issues of stormwater management many of them are choosing to manage the runoff from their homes and businesses with rain gardens. Rain gardens are shallow depressions and serve as landscape features that can effectively collect and treat stormwater and reduce localized flooding. Rain gardens can be integrated into the existing landscape as a retrofit or be included in the initial landscaping plan. To effectively manage stormwater, rain gardens must be accurately sized and properly constructed.

This 1-day workshop will present a method for sizing and designing rain gardens and detail proper construction techniques. For pre-registration call 828-697-4891 and leave your name and number. If you need more information be sure to leave your contact information or e-mail Cliff Ruth at cdruth@ncsu.edu

Drought Monitor Update

The North Carolina Drought Advisory issued by the Drought Management Advisory Council has been updated to reflect drought conditions on May 24, 2011 indicated on the weekly U.S. Drought Monitor of North Carolina. Luckily, western North Carolina has not been included in the recommendations to implement drought response actions. Click here for more info on areas included in the update.

Take the 40 Gallon Challenge

The 40 Gallon Challenge is a call for residents and businesses to reduce our region's water use on average by 40 gallons per person, per day. The challenge began in 2011 as a voluntary campaign to increase water conservation.

The 40 Gallon Challenge encourages people to save a minimum of 40 gallons a day by adopting new water-saving techniques. The pledge card outlines water-saving practices and the daily water-savings to expect. You can use the pledge to review the water-saving practices that you or your family currently puts to use. By pledging new practices, you will see the total daily savings expected for your household.

The 40 Gallon Challenge also provides maps and charts to see pledge activities in your state and across the United States. For more information click here.

Rain Garden Design - March 16th, 2011

RG 101: Residential Rain Garden Design for Homeowners (NEW!)

This is a new workshop developed just for homeowners, master gardeners and other non-professionals and does NOT include a certification.

Training Date/Location:
Asheville, NC - March 16, 2011

About the workshop: As homeowners and property managers become more aware of the issues of stormwater management many of them are choosing to manage the runoff from their homes and businesses with rain gardens. Rain gardens are shallow depressions and serve as landscape features that can effectively collect and treat stormater and reduce localized flooding. Rain gardens can be integrated into the existing landscape as a retrofit or be included in the initial landscaping plan. To effectively manage stormwater, rain gardens must be accurately sized and properly constructed. This 1-day workshop will present a method for sizing and designing rain gardens and detail proper construction techniques. Workshop participants will also be installing a rain garden. As a result of this training participants will:

* Understand why stormwater needs to be managed,
* Understand the principles of rain garden location, design, construction
and maintenance,
* Be able to select appropriate vegetation, and
* Design, build and plant a small rain garden.

These workshops are sponsored by NC State University Dept. of Biological & Agricultural Engineering and NC Cooperative Extension. For more information and to REGISTER ONLINE, please go to this website.

Henderson County residents can dispose of expired medication at four Ingles locations Saturday, March 20th.

Operation Medicine Drop takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Howard Gap Road and Highland Lake Road Ingles in Hendersonville, as well as the Fletcher and Etowah locations.

See my previous post from November 13th for more information on the importance of keeping medicines out of our waterways.

Keep our Groundwater Medication Free

I received an email regarding the environmental concern about flushing medicines down the toilet. This has been shown to be a big environmental problem. There are many local, state, and national organizations trying to get the word out so that people DO NOT put medicines in our water resources. The sewage treatment plants do not treat for these chemicals and they basically end up directly into our streams and groundwater, causing a lot of ecological problems.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind regarding proper disposal of medications.

1) DO NOT FLUSH unused medications and DO NOT POUR them down a sink or drain.

2) Be proactive and dispose of unused medication in household trash. When discarding unused medications, ensure you protect children and pets from potentially negative effects:
a) Pour medication into a sealable plastic bag. If medication is a solid pill, liquid capsule, etc.) crush it or add water to dissolve it.
b) Add kitty litter, sawdust, coffee grounds (or any material that mixes with the medication and makes it less appealing for pets and children to eat) to the plastic bag.
c) Seal the plastic bag and put it in the trash.
d) Remove and destroy ALL identifying personal information (prescription
label) from all medication containers before recycling them or throwing them into the trash.

3) Check for approved State and local collection programs. Another option is to check for approved state and local collection alternatives such as community based household hazardous waste collection programs. In certain states, you may be able to take your unused medications to your community pharmacy or other location for
disposal.

For more information, see this informative publication. Smart Disposal Publication

Mandatory Water Restrictions

As the Mills River continues to drop in flow, the City of Hendersonville is implementing mandatory water restrictions to ensure our ability to meet the core water needs of our customers. By declaring a Phase II water shortage condition, the City and County will enforce restrictions on a number of uses, and violators may be subject to disconnection of their water service or a fine of up to $500.

Until mandatory restrictions are lifted, the following restrictions are in place:

• Watering of lawns, shrubs, trees and flowers is prohibited
• Vegetable gardens may only be watered once a week up to one inch of water
• New or existing pools may not be filled
• Washing of sidewalks, decks, driveways, patios, or homes or buildings is prohibited
• Washing cars is prohibited, unless at a commercial car wash which recycles water
• Operation or filling of ornamental fountains, pools or ponds is prohibited
• Drinking water at restaurants shall not be served unless requested by the patron
• Operation of water-cooled air conditioners is prohibited, unless the water is recycled
• Any other unnecessary use or intentional wasting of water is prohibited

Residents can help with the City’s enforcement effort by reporting violations or problems to the City’s Drought Response Hotline at 828-233-3215. A coalition of Hendersonville water and sewer employees, city code inspectors, city police and county sheriff deputies will be used to enforce the Phase II water restrictions.

WNC Clean Streams Program

North Carolina Cooperative Extension will be conducting a Clean Streams Workshop on Tuesday, February 26th from 9:00am till 4:30pm at the North Carolina Arboretum.

WNC Clean Streams is an interdisciplinary, multi-county initiative of the NC Cooperative Extension Service to provide training, resources, and support for best practices in a variety of business and residential applications to protect and improve water quality throughout the region. Clean Streams is the umbrella for a range of Extension programming aimed at various audiences — urban, agricultural, residential, and commercial. Protecting water quality must be everyone’s business.

Subjects to be covered are:

• Maintaining a Water-Wise Landscape
• Maintaining a Water-Wise Home
• Raingardens
• Xeriscaping - Planning for Wise Water Management

Tours of Best Practices at the Arboretum -
• Water Systems
• Raingardens
• Green Roofs
• Plant Selection

BONUS: Mini Trade Show of Water Quality products and services

Cost for this prgram is $30.00

For registration information or questions call 456-3575

http://www4.ncsu.edu/~tsmathew/cleanstreamregistration.pdf