CONSERVATION CORNER

REFLECTIONS AND RIPPLES IN 2025

by Kathrine Blomquist

Readers of the Conservation Corner may remember that the first article I submitted to the Ranchers’ RoundUp was about Rainlog.org. The article raised awareness of citizen science projects and their importance, explained Rainlog.org, and was a call to action. Next up were articles promoting the annual Spring Expo, due to my internship, which eventually led into this monthly column. Writing about various environmental topics, with an emphasis on water conservation, was a dream of mine from grad student (Go RedHawks!).

I am about to embark on a new opportunity with the City of Mesa, so it is with deep appreciation to you, and to all the editors that made the articles look so good, to write that I am stepping down from this role.

Here is a list of top conservation tips, websites and related information from over the past 10+ years (in no particular order):

At the Ranch:

• SRP, the Salt River Project, is where Dobson Ranch draws the water to fill the lakes. SRP also supplies water to the City of Mesa that is pumped into our homes. Find many conservation-related events and rebates at SRPnet.com.

• Out of the 92 acres of common areas in our neighborhood, 84 acres are covered by the lakes. In addition to being filled by SRP water, the 8 lakes detain storm water run-off and are linked together through an intricate underground piping system.

• Quagga, zebra, and other mussels have infected Arizona water systems, causing damage to boats, fisheries, and recreation systems. Help keep these invasive pests out of our lakes and Don’t move a Mussel! Aquatic Invasive SpeciesArizona Game & Fish Department

• Feeding of wildlife (fish, fowl, feral cats, turtles) is not permitted in the common areas/lakes (Section 6 Common Area Usage, 6.7). Not only is feeding food harmful to wildlife, it leads to pollution, disease, non-migration, and overpopulation.

• Attend the Spring Expo on April 26, sponsored by the Water & Lake Management Committee.

At Home:

• Install a Smart Irrigation Controller, since up to 70% of household water is used outdoors.

• Save up to 2½ gallons of water each minute by turning off the faucet while brushing your teeth.

• Use a broom instead of a hose to clean patios, sidewalks and driveways to save up to 80 gallons each time.

• How much rain falls at your place in a year? Keep track at Rainlog.org.

• Check out what is acceptable in the blue bins, the City of Mesa recycling program at MesaRecycles.org.

• Calculate how much water your household should be using at Know Your H20 Water Calculator.

• To determine the correct amount of water to use on your plants and functional turf (i.e. grass that pets/humans use and enjoy), use the Interactive Water Guide.

• Record any new trees you plant at mesalistens.com/treesare-cool to help the city achieve the 1,000,000 - Trees are Cool initiative.

• Removing turf and replacing it with desert landscaping is one of the best things desert dwellers can do to conserve water. Find out more about Mesa’s residential incentive program at Residential Grass-to-Xeriscape and Tree Bonus Incentive Program - City of Mesa.

• Bees are considered the most important pollinators of plants. Planting a pollinator garden or added pollinator plants are great additions to your yard.

• Since 95% of food waste goes into landfills or is incinerated, backyard compost containers are available from the city, for just a $5 non-refundable delivery fee - Backyard Composting - City of Mesa

Around and About:

• Go Zombie Hunting and participate in other citizen science projects with kits available for check-out from the Main Library, MesaLibrary.org, or find one at SciStarter. org.

• ASU’s Kyle Center for Water Policy has an easy-to-use resource to help you learn more about Arizona’s water resources - AZWaterBlueprint.asu.edu

• Drop off your hazardous materials, such as batteries, paint (even nail polish) at Mesa’s Household Hazardous Materials Facility (2412 N. Center Street, Mesa 85202)Household Hazardous Materials - City of Mesa

• Water Awareness Month is every April - Water Awareness Month

• Mesa has a Climate Action Plan for a sustainable community, including establishing policies for reduced greenhouse gas emissions and water stewardship - Mesaaz. gov/ClimateAction

• The Colorado River supplies water to 7 states, indigenous tribes and Mexico. It covers over 1400 miles and is the primary source of water for 40 million Americans.

• Celebrate our planet on Earth Day, every April 22. Now going on its 55th year, the theme for 2025 is This is our Power, Our Planet™ #RenewableEnergyNow

• Easy choices to make:

• Get up to two free desert-adapted shade trees from SRPsrp.net/shadetrees

• Using bar soap instead of shower gel helps to lessen the estimated 1.4 billion empty plastic bottles tossed out every year.

• When waiting for hot water at an indoor tap, collect the running water and use it to water indoor and outdoor plants, or to fill up pet water bowls.

• Instead of feeding the wildlife, bring out your smart phone and enter what you observe at iNaturalist.com.

• Consume seafood that is caught and managed sustainably - SeafoodWatch.org

• Resale shopping is an affordable and sustainable way to update your family’s wardrobe, especially since it takes 700 gallons of water to produce a single T-shirt. Plus, according to the EPA, the average person throws away 70 pounds of clothing per year, so be sure to donate to keep out of landfills.

• Instead of reaching for a new single-use plastic water bottle each day, use a refillable water bottle. Dobson Ranch has refillable water stations and drinking fountains throughout the community to make refilling easy.

• Get 100+ water savings tips and activities for kids at WaterUseitWisely.com.

In sum, to quote Water - Use It Wisely, “You may be a drop. Your actions create a ripple” which has always been the theme of the Conservation Corner; your environmental actions today do make a difference. As always, I wish you all the best on your conservation journey. Carpe diem, friends!

-Kathrine

If all the water in the world was in a gallon container, just over a tablespoon would be available to drink.

All the water on earth breaks down to:

• 97% salt water

• 2% locked-up in glaciers and ice caps

• 0.997% too deep to reach in the earth

• 0.003% available for drinking

Editors note:

On behalf of the Dobson Ranch Homeowners Association, I say thank you to Kathrine Blomquist for her many years of devotion to informing our community of the ways to be aware of the Earth’s fragile environment and how to be good stewards of the State of Arizona, the City of Mesa, and our own neighborhoods. Kathrine, you will be missed as a contributer to the Ranchers’ RoundUp, and we wish you the best of luck in your new role at the City of Mesa. Something tells me, we haven’t heard the last from you yet. Until then...

If any Dobson Ranch homeowners would like to continue the efforts that Kathrine Blomquist has started, please contact Chad Turner at cturner@dobsonranch.com.