Mark Slicker - A Passion for Landscaping and Sustainability

Mark Slicker, Business Development Manager for Terracare Associates, Texas, is a lifelong landscaper with a passion for the environment.  He worked on a field maintenance crew at a local landscape company over the summers to raise money for college.  After graduating from University of Texas at Dallas with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration he worked in the green industry before joining VMC Landscape Services in 1994.  With the recent acquisition, he heads up the Texas business development team for Terracare Associates.

Mark noticed early on in his career, that creating a sustainable landscape environment not only pays off for clients, but it also contributes to the longevity of the plant health and can save money for his clients.  He was particularly concerned about drought conditions and water use on landscape projects. 

A Commitment to Sustainability and the Environment 

Mark believes that it is not only the environment changes that makes us concerned, but societal pressures as well. As the populations grows, it places a strain on resources, infrastructures and more importantly, the water supply. To stretch our water resource, we need to be smarter on how we install and maintain landscapes.

Most of the states in the Western United States have experience severe drought conditions over the past five years.The extremes in weather and temperature with long hot summers presents landscape maintenance with unique perpetual challenges.The EPA reports about 30% of the residential water use is contributed to the outdoors. So many HOA’s, industrial and commercial properties and city parks have elevated concerns during drought conditions and seeking expert advice to take action.

Sustainability is becoming vital for the commercial landscape industry. For each new building, the landscaping installed is being designed with sustainability in mind. Existing buildings are also moving toward renovating their landscape with a more sustainable and water-wise design.

LEED-AP Certification

After several clients asked for help achieving LEED certifications on their buildings, Mark decided to achieve his LEED certification. In 2009, Mark achieved the LEED-AP designation. LEED certification is a professional credential from the U.S. Green Building Council signifying you are a leader in the field of sustainablity.  To get this certification, Mark underwent learning volumes of material supporting sustainable practices and ending with an extensive test. It also requires yearly continuing education classes to keep certifications active and relavant. The LEED Certification means that Mark can better serve his clients by focusing on ways to improve the "green" initiative through proper landscape design and water conservation.

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3 Reasons You Should Consider Turf Conversion

Silverado CA - Before Conversion

From California to the Southwest, the drought conditions continue. As we suffer through yet another year of harsh climate, property managers will find it a challenge to keep turf grass green and healthy. In addition, higher water costs and frequent water restrictions have us reevaluating landscape maintenance options.

With no end to the drought in sight, we have to think more proactively of ways to landscape with less water. What can you do to:

•    Maintain the beauty of the landscaping on your property?

•    Use less water in your landscape?

•    Keep your plants alive and healthy?

One of the best ways to accomplish these goals is with a turf reduction conversion.

What is Turf Conversion (or reduction)?

Turf reduction or landscape conversion involves replacing selected sections of turf grass with drought resistant, native plants or other landscape materials. Turf reduction conversion doesn't mean covering your property in pea gravel or monkey grass.

With the vast selection of beautiful native plants with low water needs, creative design and use of alternative landscaping materials, you will not miss the turf areas.

Native Plants and Xeriscaping

Based on the climate and layout of your property, you can use a variety of low-growing ground covers such as Asiatic Jasmine and Lamb’s Ear that can take the heat and have low water requirements. Water-wise perennials and ornamental grasses will also add color and texture to the landscape design.

Landscape Alternatives
Crushed granite, mulch and river rocks are a few landscape alternatives to replace irrigated turf grass in areas that are long and narrow or small and odd-shaped.



Silverado CA - After Conversion

Why You Should Consider Turf   Reduction Conversion

1. Uses less landscape water and reduces watering costs

Did you know that landscape watering accounts for nearly 30% of your residential water bill?

Everyone loves the look of a beautifully manicured, lush, green turf area on their property. However Turf reduction can substantially reduce your water needs.  Because of the rising cost of landscape watering, many municipalities offer a rebate for reducing the turf areas on residential and commercial properties. Silverado HOA saved more than $5,000 in water costs first year of installation.

2. Is turf grass the best choice for certain areas?

The best use of turf grass is on areas where people will be sitting or playing. Ask yourself: Is it necessary to have turf grass in parking strips/islands or on south-facing slopes? Why pay to water turf in these hard-to-maintain areas, when that water can be used for the most valuable things in your landscape: trees.

3. Sustainability and being green

Today, being water-wise and sustainable are not just buzzwords. Irrigation modifications, using native plants and xeriscaping design are not only good for business, but reducing your water usage is the right thing to do.  This can help with property values and attractiveness to tenants who value sustainability.

Is turf reduction right for your property?
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Stormwater Management

Stormwater Management: 
It’s our responsibility and more…

Submitted by Cristin Tarr, Terracare Associates- Littleton, Colorado

Why should we care about stormwater management?  Originally, stormwater management involved primarily quantity of flow and now equally important is qualityof water runoff.  Since 1970’s, the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) is responsible for managing runoffs in the United States.   The EPA utilize computerized mapping and models to best manage water runoff, erosion and pollution problems resulting from weather or other fresh water flow.  Because of these regulations, municipalities, counties and the private sector strive to achieve compliance and more.  Many local districts and even the Department of Health are involved in monitoring stormwater runoff.   Nick Madrid, Field Manager of public infrastructure division at Terracare Associates, a leading outdoor maintenance company says “Everything we do each day we consider stormwater management.  From our maintenance bays to washing equipment, to road repairs, we evaluate the effects on the environment.”  As a property manager or city public works department it’s important to understand how to integrate stormwater management into your ongoing maintenance strategy to achieve the highest level of public safety.

What is storm water management?

Traditionally, storm management is focused on collection of storm water through pipes and drainage transporting water runoff as quickly as possible to stream, creeks, rivers and sometimes sewer system.  However, storm water management includes anytime water flows at facilities, on roads, off of properties into water systems.  Erosion, debris, chemicals, sediment, salt and sand run off are all part of managing water flows that must be filtered before entering sewers or other fresh water sources.

As described by the EPA, the process starts with storm water, rainwater and melted snow or general maintenance water use that runs off land, streets, lawns, and other urban hard surface environments. When storm water is absorbed into the ground, it is filtered and ultimately replenishes aquifers or flows into streams and rivers. In developed areas, however, solid surfaces such as pavement and roofs prevent precipitation from naturally soaking into the ground. Instead, the water runs rapidly into storm drains, sewer systems, and drainage ditches picking up debris with it and can’t be absorbed as quickly.

Your Storm Management Plan – Best Management Practices (BMP)

To be EPA compliant it is recommended to follow stormwater Best Management Practice, also known as BMP, to take care of excess runoff pollution problems.  They recommend various control measures to reduce the pollution in a wide variety of water flow sources before it is absorbed into the ground. Another approach is to put measures in place to prevent pollution from occurring at all.  Facility Runoff Control Plan (FRCP) is a plan that offers stringent guidelines to reduce erosion, filters all water runoff and eliminates contaminants from entering sewers, detention ponds, streams and creeks.  Terracare Associates strives to achieve 100% containment and the company is continually monitoring anytime the flow of water is disrupted.  Terracare’s Nick Madrid has worked in the industry for almost 30 years and has seen dramatic improvements in maintenance of water flows “Every project we work on our team talks about stormwater management  and runoff.  Internally, stormwater is an active discussion on how we can best reduce contaminates from getting into the water system.”  To best maintain water runoff, there are several factors to consider:

1) Water flow Rate: Anytime water is disrupted from natural flow BMP’s are considered. Higher peak flow rates can result in erosion and more contaminates enter the water stream.   A higher peak flow rate requires more significant storm pipes and drains and continued maintenance.

2) Water Quality: “What goes in must come out”, this cliché is very appropriate for proper stormwater management.   Poor management of runoff with sediments, chemicals and silt could result in increased contamination and pollution in our waters, impacting fish and wildlife. 

2) Storm Water Volume: A larger volume means greater destruction and erosion of creek beds leading to bank instability, increase sediment deposition in the lower reaches, and loss of habitat.

4) Ground water: If groundwater is not allowed to recharge, base flows are reduced leading to longer, drier durations in ditches and streams.

Goal of good Water Management Strategy

Educating the public and training employees is critically important.  Maintaining current infrastructure can also be valuable in maintaining a healthy and safe environment.  A plan should be made for every project to mimic nature by integrating stormwater management maintenance into building and site developments to reduce the impacts that urbanization has on our natural resources.  Greg Hayes, Colorado Operation Manager of Public Works for Terracare Associates believes “ Whether it is storms or fresh water runoff we have to be diligent about how we manage water, it goes beyond our operations, it’s about public safety and the environment.  We tactically discuss BMP’s as projects are implemented”.

Typical Best Management Practices (BMPs) may include:

• Equipment maintenance activities should be performed inside when possible.
• Spills should be cleaned up immediately & without water whenever possible
• Floor drains should be sealed and separators installed
• Increasing topsoil and enhancement to slopes, rocks and inclines near roadways
• Infiltration trenches and storm gates
• Storm drains cleaned and maintained
• Pipes, curbs and gutters minimize cracks and other damages
• Detention ponds
• Ditches and Creeks creating easy flow for runoff and less erosion

Safety is the number one concern of storm management practices. The importance of storm water management in the reduction of flooding and contaminates getting into the water system cannot be overemphasized.   Hayes says; “This is the way we do business, it goes beyond regulations.  Public safety and protecting our environment is what we believe and the way we conduct business every day at Terracare Associates”.

Terracare Associates public works division offer a wide variety of public works management services such as right-of-way mowing, all-inclusive roadway and roadside management packages as well as snow removal on a citywide scale. Find out more contact us

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Water Management part 2

“Smart” Irrigation Controllers - What Property Managers need to know

Submitted by: Shawn Gevedon, Irrigation Manager Terracare Associates - Colorado

Smart Controller Basics from Terracare Associates on Vimeo.

Property and facility managers have a lot to think about.  Finding innovative solutions that make business sense and at the same time help our environment can be a challenge.  Water, one of the increasingly precious resources is top of the list.  Here are three facts that you need to know about Smart Controllers to help you make the decision to install this high tech tool at your property.

Fact 1: Technology improves irrigation efficiency.   

So called "smart" irrigation controllers have appeared on the market for use in residential and commercial applications since the early 2000's. The Irrigation Association (www.irrigation.org) defines "smart controllers" as controllers that reduce outdoor water use by monitoring and using information about site conditions such as soil moisture, rain, wind, slope, soil, plant type, and more, and applying the right amount of water based on those factors. Essentially, these irrigation controllers receive feedback from the ET Data and schedule or adjust irrigation duration and/or frequency accordingly. For example, they would reduce watering in the cooler months and increase watering in the hot and dry months while conserving increasingly limited water resources. There are generally two types of smart controllers: climatologically-based controllers and soil moisture-based controllers.

Fact 2: Smart Irrigation Controllers are getting smarter.

·         Climate based controllers are also known as evapotranspiration, or ET, controllers. ET is the amount of water lost from the soil through evaporation plus the plant's water loss, both of which are dramatically affected by weather conditions.

·        Soil moisture sensor (SMS), Soil moisture sensor smart controllers rely on the amount of moisture in the soil, measured by buried probes, to determine irrigation schedules.

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Fact #3 The Smart controller capital investment pays off

Reduces water costs:  Studies show most smart controllers will save 25 and as much as 57% of the water costs annually. This is a significant water savings because, outdoor water can be as much as 70% of the total properties water costs in some regions of the U.S.           

Rebates and Incentive Programs:Many local water districts offer rebates for installing Smart Controllers.  Customers have realized a one year return on investment after rebate and annual water savings (Case Study: Bowles Crossing)

Increases water efficiency-“only use what you need” the cliché is true, technology of smart controllers designs the most efficient systems to maximize plant care and minimize water waste and runoff.

Environmentally Responsible– If reducing your water bill, receiving a rebate check or maximizing water efficiency isn’t enough, consider installing a Smart Irrigation Controller, because it is good for the planet.

Terracare Associates offers irrigation audits and educational seminars on water management.  More information contact us here

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Water Management part 1

Commercial Landscape: 
Five Steps to Maximize Water Efficiency

Design your Water Management Plan:  It’s Time!

Submitted by Nick Vizcay, Account Manager, Terracare Associates, Martinez

“Drought” is the scary word for municipalities, property and facility managers especially in the Western United States due to its severity and the multi-year impact on regions. The challenge is to create an aesthetically beautiful landscape, while working with significant water restrictions.  In 2014, California’s Governor Brown declared a statewide drought emergency asking all Californians to reduce their water use by 20%. Similar drought situations plagued Colorado and Utah in 2002 and 2012.  It does not seem there is an end to water restrictions; water management is the new norm. (See USA Drought Monitor)

 

Caring and taking action about our individual and collective water use is environmentally responsible, but maximizing water efficiencies can also be a significant savings in water costs.  Landscape professionals need to work closely with property managers to help evaluate, install, monitor and manage their irrigation systems.  Managing expectations and educating property managers and tenants is key when transitioning to a true water management program.  Here are the five steps:

 1. Education –Most public and commercial properties can benefit from a variety of water reduction modifications.  Understanding what is optimal for your property takes some commitment to learn about best practices, innovative irrigation tools and accessibility to resources for better water conservation.   Replacing heads and nozzles, utilizing flow sensors and installing smart controllers are a few of many options to review.  Learning and working closely with your irrigation specialist will help you save money and conserve water.  Ask your irrigation specialist about any rebates your county may have.  A great way to start is to participate in water management seminars to contact us to  learn more>>>>.

2. Evaluate and Audit – Start with a bench mark.  Find out the challenges to the current water system, water runoff, leaking pipes, damaged nozzles etc.  Obtaining an irrigation system evaluation and water audit is a critical first step to assess current systems and determine how to improve management of outdoor water systems. 

3. Design – Working in partnership with your irrigation manager is important to build the best and most efficient system.  The design would review and may include budget constraints, scheduling, nozzle conversions, water flow, soil management, plant removal and replacement (i.e. xeriscape), rain sensors and smart controllers.

4. Implement- Once the design is complete the fun begins with implementation of the changes and enhancements of the water management project. Implementation can be in phases and is focused on maximizing savings and water efficiencies from day one of installations, repairs and replacements.  The goal is for the capital investment to pay off as early as possible and in some cases cost savings are realized (with rebate programs) within a year.

5. Monitor - Finally, overtime your landscape company continues to view water flow and inspect for leaks and nozzle repair.  In addition it is important to track and measure the effects of your water efficiency updates. Local water districts help to monitor usage and costs.   Questions to ask:  Is less water being consumed each month or year over year? Are the investments in water efficient updates to your property set to pay off, when?  Check out rebate programs, cash for grass and installations incentives at your water districts or cities where you reside.  You may be surprised how lucrative they can be on large properties.

CASE STUDY:

CLIENT:         Silverado Springs HOA

DATE:            October 2013

PROJECT:     Remove approx 20,000 sf of turf, Install drought tolerant plants, Convert irrigation to drip, Install bark

RESULTS:   Saved approx. 256,000 gallons of water YTD

Drought restrictions are serious, but less apparent as we all have easy access to water.  The United Nation 2012 report stated that only 11% of the population has easy access to clean water.  A Water Management Plan is not only necessary, it saves money, water and is responsible.  Start today: It’s Time!

Terracare Associates offers free educational seminars on water management and best practices in irrigation systems.  Interested? Find out more>>>>

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