fire and water 2014

8/12/2019 Fire and Water 2014

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Published in partnership withPublished in partnership withPlacer County Water gencyPlacer County Water Agency

Supplement toSupplement toGold Country Media publicationsGold Country Media publications

Manage your waterManage your water Manage your watersupply reduce usesupply reduce usesupply, reduce use s your property s your property Is your propertyn fire danger?n fire danger?in fire danger? How do I startHow do I start How do I start

saving water?saving water?saving water?PCWAs Hell

Hole Reservoir


2/19

2 June 1, 2014 FIRE & WATER Supplement to Gold Country Media

Placer County resi-dents should beassured that Placer

County Water Agency(PCWA) is doing every-thing in its power to easethe impacts of thedrought on our cus-tomers and communi-ties. Even so, we needyour help.

The drought were fac-ing this year has reachedthe point where we allmust reduce our wateruse so that we can pre-

serve enough water stor-age in mountain reser-voirs to get us throughnext year, if it should alsoturn out to be dry.

PCWA is anticipating

up to a 40 percent reduc-tion this year in the watersupplied to us by thePacific Gas and ElectricCompany.We are makingup some of this shortfallby pumping maximum

levels of water from theAmerican River and wehave activated two emer-gency wells in the Rock-lin area. Even with thisadditional water, we

must reach a demandreduction of 10-20 per-cent.

We are asking all of ourcustomers to reducewater use this year by 10percent, 20 percent ifpossible. Other areawater suppliers are tak-ing similar measures.

Saving water is not ashard as it may seem. As arule, were not using asmuch water as we usedto; our fixtures and appli-ances are more water-

efficient, our landscapesand gardens use mulchand drought-tolerantplants and, most impor-tantly, water conserva-tion has become part of

our community dia-logue.

After three dry years,

lets use our limited watersupply as efficiently as wecan and look forward anew and wetter 2014/15precipitation season.

Weather scientists arepredicting a building ElNio climate pattern inthe southern PacificOcean. In the past, ElNios have sometimesbrought wet conditionsto the West Coast.

To help you save waternow, weve compiled lotsof helpful informationhere and on the PCWAwebsite, pcwa.net. I hopeyou find it to be helpful.

COURTESY

Folsom Reservoir (seen here on Jan. 4) reached lows in January before late winter and spring rainsbrought needed relief.

David A.

BreningerPCWAGeneralManager

Manage your water supply, reduce your use

BY SCOTT SERENBETZ

BUSHWACKERS, INC.

You may think the worstthing about your over-grown property is that itssimply an ugly mess. Butdid you know that thesame conditions thatmake it unattractive alsomake ita fire hazard? All it

takes is one spark to ignitea patch of brush or pile ofdried leaves, and theresulting damage to yourland or worse, to yourhome can be devastat-ing.

Take a look at the fol-lowing list to identify ifthere are hazardous con-ditions on your property.

Lack of defensiblespace, which is simplythe area around yourhouse where the plantmaterial has been modi-fied to reduce wildfireintensity. Contact yourlocal Fire Safe Council orCDF for defensible spacerequirements.

Dead plant materialon the property, includingdead trees and shrubs,dead branches lying on

the ground or stillattached to plants, yel-lowed and dried grasses,leaves and brown needles.

Height of grasses,shrubs and flowersexceeding 18 inches.

Masses of plants orbrush, referred to asahorizontal layer of veg-etation.

Too many flammableshrubs, including man-

zanita, bear clover/mountain misery, buckbrush, Scotch/SpanishBroom, juniper, blackber-ry and incense cedar.

Trees and plants at

varying heights locatednext to each other, re-ferred to as ladder fuel.Flames will climb up theladder created by thevarying heights.

Sloped areas on yourproperty can have aninfluence on fire behav-ior. The steeper the slope,

the faster the fire willspread. South- andsouthwest-facing slopestend to have drier materi-al. Once youve set out totackle hazardous vegeta-tion, carefully evaluatethe risk of doing the workyourself before youassume its a good idea.

Do you have access tothe appropriate equip-ment and safety gear? Willsteep or rocky terrain,equipment operation orexposure to poison oakand rattlesnakes compro-mise your safety? Manypeople try to perform thework themselves to savemoney. In the interest ofgetting the job done cor-rectly, safely and in atimely manner, dontskimp on your budget,

even if it means thatspending a little more toget help from a profes-sional service company.Finally, implement anannual maintenance rou-tine to keep your propertysafe. Every year, revisit thethings that make yourproperty a fire hazard andaddress those that needattention. Remember,theres a bonus in making

your property fire safe itsbound to look better andbe more usable, too!

Contact Scott Serenbetz,

president of Bushwackers, Inc.

Is your property

a fire danger?


3/19

Supplement to Gold Country Media FIRE & WATER June 1, 2014 3

Owner, Scott Serenbetz

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The concentration of flammable materialin the fuel break before it was cleared six

years ago would burn too hot to go nearand even if a firefighter could get near theblaze it wouldnt make a difference, FireChief Mark DAmbrogi said.

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4/19


Three years of below-averagerainfall has put the entirestate of California under

some level of drought, rangingfrom moderate to exceptionalseverity. This is the first timethis has occurred in 15 years.

The latest drought monitorreport released by the NationalClimatic Data Center showedthe entire state is under at leastmoderate drought conditions,with 76.6 percent of the total

experiencing extreme droughtand for 24.7 percent of the state,the level of dryness was termedexceptional.

During the same period lastyear, none of the state was con-sidered to be under extreme orexceptional drought condi-tions, and just 30 percent fellunder the severe categor y.

How To ReduceTreated Water UseOutdoor Water Use

Limit landscape watering toa maximum of two days perweek during the months ofApril, May, June, September,October and November.

Limit landscape watering toa maximum of three days perweek during the months of Julyand August.

Water only between thehours of 6 p.m. and 9 a.m.

Reduce irrigation cycles to

limit runoff. Repair irrigation leaks

promptly. Apply 2 to 3 inches of mulch

around trees and plants toreduce evaporation.

Use a bucket and hose witha shutoff nozzle for vehicle orequipment washing or go to acommercial establishment thatuses recycled water.

Use a recirculation pump inall decorative water features orturn them off.

Cover pools to preventevaporation.

Use a rake or broom insteadof a hose to clean hard surfaces.

Adhere to landscaping spec-

ifications outlined in the states

Model Water Efficient Land-scape Ordinance for any newlandscaping (contact PCWA fordetails).

Indoor Water Use Limit showers to five min-

utes or less. Wash only full loads of dish-

es and clothes. Convert to high-efficiency

fixtures and appliances such astoilets, showers and faucets,dishwashers and clothes wash-ers.

Check plumbing and appli-ances for leaks and fix leakswithin 48 hours.

Turn off the faucet when

brushing teeth, washing dishes

by hand, or when shaving.

How To ReduceIrrigation Water Use

PCWA customers receivingone (1) miners inch or more ofwater have had their deliveryoutlets adjusted and water billswill be adjusted accordingly. Ifit is determined that this reduc-tion is insufficient to achievethe needed water savings, addi-tional reductions may occur.

Customers who receive one-half (1/2) miners inch or less ofwater will not have their waterdelivery orifice reduced but arestrongly encouraged to reducewater use by a minimum of 10

percent, with a 20 percent

reduction as a desired goal. Customers with untreatedmeter service will not have theirwater delivery orifice reducedbut are strongly encouraged toreduce water use by a mini-mum of 10 percent, with a 20percent reduction as a desiredgoal.

As may be necessary, peri-odic water outages of canals orditches may occur as circum-stances warrant. Customers

having unique circumstancesshould contact PCWA to dis-cuss alternative means ofachieving target water usereductions. Irrigation watercustomers should always beprepared with onsite water stor-age.

Customers may request vol-untary water service reductionor temporary discontinuance.Any customer who informsPCWA in writing that they arewilling to limit or forego waterdelivery during the droughtemergency will not lose theirpriority of service.

Additionally, fees or chargesrelated to this temporary dis-continuance or reinstitution ofservice will be waived.

For helpful water efficiencyinformation, visit the PlacerCounty Water Agency website atpcwa.net or call their customer

services at (530) 823-4850.

A look at statewide drought conditions

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COURTESY

Runoff is an unecessary waste of water that can be prevented by adjusting your sprinklers.


5/19


H

ow dry is it?The 2013

calendar year was thedriest ever measuredin Northern California.This condition prevailedthrough a mostly dry2013/14 winter. Late win-ter and spring broughtneeded precipitation butby early May the moun-tain snowpack held only16 percent of average

water content.The thin snowpack is

producing little runoffinto mountain reservoirsthis spring and summerand is causing concernover levels of water stor-age that will be availablefor next year, shouldanother dry year occur.

Wide areas of PlacerCounty rely on water thatflows from the snowpackof two mountain water-

sheds.Most Placer CountyWater Agency (PCWA)customers are supplied

with water that flowsdown the Interstate 80corridor from the Yuba

and Bear river watersheds,and PCWA also is able topump a limited amount of

water from the AmericanRiver. The City of Rosevillereceives most of its water

from the American Rivervia Folsom Reservoir.

Area water suppliers,including PCWA, are uni-fied in efforts to reduce

water use this summer.Most have adopted volun-tary and mandatory wateruse restrictions. ThePCWA board in April

adopted a series of wateruse regulations andrestrictions and urgedconservation in letters to38,000 customers.

Exactly how dry is it?

COURTESY PHOTOS

Folsom Reservoir reached lows in January before late winter and spring rainsbrought needed relief. This photo was taken Jan. 4.

Castle Peak, situated at 9,109 feet on the northside of I-80 near Donner Summit, is usually cakedwith snow in winter. This year, on Jan. 20, therewas no snow.

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Camping, boating, hik-

ing, fishing, swimmingand whitewater rafting areamong the public recre-ational attractions of thePCWA Middle Fork Amer-ican River Project.

Located on the westernslope of the Sierra, theMiddle Fork Projectincludes seven camp-grounds, three groupcampgrounds, three pic-nic areas, four boat

launch ramps and a vistapoint.

Most of the attractionsare clustered aroundFrench Meadows and HellHole reservoirs; otherattractions are found nearSouth Fork Long CanyonCreek and the Ralston

Afterbay/ Oxbow Reser-voir. The two primaryaccess roads are MosquitoRidge Road fromForesthill and ElevenPines Road from George-town.

A cautionary note forthis year: Water levels willbe lower than normal dueto the drought, and obsta-cles such as tree stumps,sand bars and rocks maybe exposed.

This years campingseason opened in mid-

May and is planned tocontinue through mid-September. Camping fees

range from free to $10 and$24. Boat launch ratesrange from free to $15.

Commercial outfittersoffer whitewater raftingexcursion on the Middle

Fork. Adequate waterflows for rating are antici-pated through summer.

COURTESY PHOTOS

Camping, boating, hiking, fishing, swimming and rafting are among the public recreational attractionsof the PCWA Middle Fork American River Project, including this vista point at Hell Hole Reservoir.

RECREATION

RESOURCES

Campground Reserva-tions: recreation.gov or(877) 444-6777. Somecampgrounds are firstcome, first serveTahoe NationalForest: fs.usda.gov/rec-main/tahoe/recreationEldorado National For-est: fs.usda.gov/rec-main/eldorado/recre-ation

DFG Fish Stocking atFrench Meadows, HellHole:nrm.dfg.ca.gov/Fish-Plants/Default.aspx,(916) 351-0832Placer VisitorsBureau: visitplacer.com,(530) 887-2111Foresthill Divide Cham-ber of Commerce:foresthillchamber.org,(530) 367-2474Auburn Chamber of

Commerce: auburn-chamber.net, (530) 885-5616

WildfireProtectionSystem

Tim Gunn, [email protected]

P.O. Box 274Foresthill, CA 95631

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Residential/Commercial

Landscaping Maintenance

& Clean Ups Irrigation

Drainage Water Features Retaining Walls

Take advantage of outdoor recreation resources

mPower Placer offersfinancing to propertyowners making waterefficiency and other

energy efficiencyimprovements. The loanis then repaid on your

property tax bill (the cur-rent interest rate is sixpercent).

Water improvements

that may qualify includeirrigation replacementwith new high efficiency

irrigation, spray nozzlesand low volume drip sys-tems, weather-based orsmart irrigation con-

trollers, fixture and toiletreplacements, other cus-tom replacements.

For information on the

Placer County program,see mpowerplacer.org orcall (877) 396-7693.

Financing Water Efficiency


7/19


PLACER COUNT Y WATER

AGENC Y CONTACT INFO

Location: 144 Ferguson Road,Auburn, CA 95603Phone: (530) 823-4850(800) 464-0030Online: pcwa.netTwitter: @PlacerWater

Having a beautiful yard doesnt have to mean usinga lot of water or spending a lot of money.

Go to pcwa.net to find local professionals andresources that can help you upgrade, repair, design orinstall your water-wise landscape and water efficientirrigation system.

Restaurants can do their part to Be Water Smart byserving water only upon request. Call PCWA Cus-tomer Services at (530) 823-4850 for table tents or win-dow clings.

Runoff is anunnecessarywaste of waterthat can beprevented byadjusting yoursprinklers.

COURTESY PHOTOS

Save water, install a water-efficient drip system

Restaurants can be Water Smart byonly serving water upon request

EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS


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10/19

10 June 1, 2014 FIRE & WATER S upplement to Gold Country Me dia S upplement to Gold Country Me dia FIRE & WATER June 1, 2014 11

Check Sprinklers MonthlyEspecially in a drought, its important to check your sprinklers each month for water-wastingproblems. These include sprinklers that are broken, leaking, tilted, clogged, spraying the sidewalkand misting versus spraying from too much pressure. Turn off water to the problem area and makerepairs within 48 hours

Soak and Cycle

Some sprinkler systems apply water faster than the ground will absorb, causing water to runoff yourlandscape into the street and gutter. Heres how to stop runnoff using the soak and cycle method:

Turn on sprinklers and see how long it takes for water to begin running off. Adjust your sprinkler timer to water in three shorter segments. (If water begins running off

after two minutes but your landscape needs six minutes of watering time set your timerto water in three shorter segments of two minutes each.

Leave an hour between watering times to allow water to soak into the soil.

Water Early or LaterWatering early in the day or later at night conserves water by allowing water to soak intothe soil before evaporation can whisk it away.

Mulch, Mulch, Mulch!Mulch is like icing on a c ake, because it keeps the soil moist the way icing keeps a cake moist.Mulch slows evaporation, allowing water to sink into the soil, moderates soil temperatureand breaks down into nutrients for plants. Be sure to add two to three inches of organicmulch (e.g. leaves, wood chips) around trees and plants for the greatest benefit.

Use the Screwdriver TestThe best way to tell if your need towater is by testing. Stick an eight-inchscrewdriver into the ground. If you canpush it more than three inches belowthe surface, your landscape does notneed to be watered.

Leave Grass LongAdjust the height setting on yourmower up one or two notches. Tallergrass promotes a deeper, more extensiveroot system with increased droughttolerance, reduces evaporation andshades out weeds.

PrioritizePrioritize your landscape into three categories:

High value/must save (including valueable trees and shrubs that have taken years to

establish, will die without water and have many benefits)

Moderate value/try to save (including certain perennials, newer shrubs that can be

replaced and low-water use and native plants that will require little water anyway once

established) Low value/save if possible (including lawn, which can often bounce back successfully from

drying out, and annuals)

Ration Water Across Your LandscapeUse limited supplies to water high-value trees and plants first. This will help them survive the

drought. If there is sufficient water, move on to the moderate- and low-value plants.

Add Compost and MulchAdding compost to soil builds a support system for plants. The sponge-like nature of compost means t hatany water applied to your landscape will be absorbed and stay in your soil. Follow compost with two tothree inches of organic mulch to slow evaporation, protect roots, and moderate soil temperature.

Befriend the BucketPlace buckets in your kitchen and bathroom sinks to capture water than can be put on plants outside. Ifyou take a bath, dont drain the water. Instead, use the buckets to haul the bath water outside. You canalso keep a bucket in the shower to capture water as it warms up. Be sure to use plant-friendly soaps(biodegradable, non-toxic, sodium and borax free) to avoid harming your plants.

Consider Gray WaterDuring drought, slightly used water can maximize water efficiency inside your home whilekeeping precious plants and trees alive. Gray water includes water from bathtubs,showers, bathroom washbasins, clothes washers and laundry tubs, but does not includewastewater from kitchen sinks or dishwashers. Note that gray water systems are guided bystate building and permitting codes. You should check with your local government andcounty health department for guidelines.

Consult a Green GardenerGreen Gardeners are landscape professionals trained in sustainable, water-wise landscaping. They can helpyou determine theminimum amount of water required to keep plants alive and develop strategies for helping your landscape survive the drought.


11/19


For information onhow to take care of youryard or garden during thedrought call the PlacerCounty Hotline at (530)889-7388 or visit

pcmg.ucanr.org. Compost, compost,

compost. Adding organicmatter to the soilincreases its water hold-ing capacity.

Mulch, mulch, mulch.Covering the surface ofthe soil decreases therate of evaporation up to50 percent and cutsdown on thirsty weeds.

Choose crops you like

to eat. Limit your vegeta-bles to the ones yourfamily likes and will eat.

Plant only as much asyou can eat. Limit thenumber of plants to areasonable amount foryour uses.

Plant closer to shadebetween plants. Sun onsoil increases evapora-tion. Shade your beds

with your veggies. Plantin blocks, instead of rowsand reduce spacing

between plants. Inspect irrigation

often. Look for leaks andwasted water. Be surewater is getting to theroots of your plants.

Apply water slowly tothe base of plants. Besure your water only goesto the vegetable plantsroots. Water deeply andless often to encourageroots to go deep into thesoil.

Water early or late.There is less water loss inthe cooler times of day.

Check soil moisture.Before you water, look at

and feel the soil to checkdryness, not just at thesurface, but 4-6 inchesdown.

Plant in containers.Less soil needs lesswater. Water is directedright to plant roots. Put abucket in your showerand use shower warm-up water.

~ The University ofCalifornia, Placer

County Master Gardeners

Maintain your

vegetable gardenwith less water

COURTESY PHOTOS

Teaching children about low water use plants helps them build a foundation for smart gardening.

Small,directedsprinklerscanprovideefficient

irriga-tion.Water efficient landscapes can save water and money.

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There are a lot of ways tosave water, but sometimes itsbest to start with the biggestbang for your buck:

Outdoor Tips Limit landscape watering to

three days per week in the sum-mer.

Use native and drought-toler-ant plants in your yard or garden.

Adjust sprinklers to reduceoverspray and runoff.

Indoor Tips Limit showers to five minutes

or less. Check plumbing and appli-

ances for leaks and fix them with-in 48 hours.

Install high-efficiency fixturesand appliances such as toilets,showerheads, faucets, dishwash-ers and clothes washers.

Best ways to save water

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Cruisers Loves our CommunityCruisers Loves our CommunityCruisers Loves our Community!The water problems we face are complex and urgent. The only way to create a healthier future is for everyone to do theirpart. We must use less water and protect water sources to reduce the impact of the current water shortage. There areactions that each of us c an take at home, online and outside to reduce the impact. When you wash your car at home oron pavement, the water runoff along with all the chemicals it contains can go to storm drains that empty directlyinto rivers and streams. This pollution has been proven to negatively impact aquatic life and ecosystems. These home-washes can easily use up to 100 to 300 gallons of fresh water, by completion.

Cruisers Carwash and Detail Center has taken the challenge, and has become a WaterSaverscar wash. We havechosen the equipment, chemicals and treatments that prevent water pollution by routing wash water to treatment priorto its return to the environment. Cruisers car wash uses only 6 to 10 gallons of fresh water per car, wash less thanrunning a batch of wash in the washing machine. We recommend that you consider washing your vehicle at a car wash

that focuses on making a difference with water conservation and the environment.What Cruisers is trying to do to focus on water conservation, and do our part:

At Cruisers Carwash the water discharge is routed to water treatment underground tank.

A backflow prevention device has been installed and operated with the potable water supply.

All spray nozzles are inspected regularly to ensure maximum efficiency of water used.

All water-saving devices are maintained to original or improved specifications for the conservation of water.

Spot-free reverse osmosis concentrate is being used in the wash process.

Cruisers car wash meets all local effluent criteria.

The products that we use are certifiably eco-friendly and have chosen the manufactures and companies that areleaders is their pursuit of soaps that meet the highest environmental protection tests.

Please take advantage of our Free Car Washes held monthly. These events are posted at the wash, on our facebookpage, and through our texting c lub. Traditionally they are held the last Friday of the month. Pl ease call for thespecifications and more details. If you Like us on facebook, you will receive courtesy reminders. If you choose to visitus on Customer Appreciation Day, you will receive a free was, use our vacuums free of charge, and be given theopportunity to give a donation to that months local charity.

We, at Cruisers Car Wash and Detail Center, are committed to do our part for the environment in this finecommunity. Will you do the same?

COURTESY PHOTOS

Dont be a gutter-flooder. Adjust sprinklers to reduce overspray and runoff. Promptly repair any broken sprinklers.


14/19



15/19


Treated water usersCustomers who use

treated, piped water arebeing asked to limit out-door irrigation to no morethan three days per weekin July and August; twodays per week in April,May, June, September,October, November. Irri-gate only during theovernight hours (between6 p.m. and 9 a.m.), addmulch to preserve soilmoisture and do not allow

runoff onto streets ordriveways. Many moreindoor and outdoor watersaving tips may be foundat pcwa.net.

Early in the year, whendrought conditionsappeared more critical,Placer County WaterAgency (PCWA) directorsconsidered limiting water

connections for new con-struction. After springrains eased the situation,the board allowed newconnections to continuewith the provision thatnew services adhere tospecifications outlined inthe California ModelWater Efficient LandscapeOrdinance.

Irrigation waterusers

PCWA has installed 10

percent smaller orificeson the canal water outletsof approximately 2,600irrigation water cus-tomers with one-inch orlarger services. This isexpected to produce sig-nificant water savings.Customers with outlets ofless than one inch areinstructed to reduce their

use by 10-20 percent.Mandarin orange grow-

er Tony Aguilar Jr. of High-land Orchard, Inc. in Pen-ryn receives irrigationwater from PCWA. Hesaid a 10 percent usereduction is reasonableand should be achievableby most local farmers.

I feel that PCWA isdoing a great job in work-ing with the raw watercustomers, Aguilar said.

PCWA directors also

determined that irrigationcustomers who choose tolimit or forego service thisyear would not lose prior-ity or face reconnectionfees next year.

Agricultural water usersin Zone 5 west of Lincolnwho receive surplus waterfrom PCWA and are beinglimited this year to a total

5,000 acre-feet, about 25percent of average. Thewater comes with a price;it must be pumped fromthe American River andincludes added chargesfor electrical pumping.The one-year rate is$106.85 per acre-foot,more than four timeswhat the farmers normal-ly pay.

Drought impactsbudget

This years water short-age is expected to be cost-ly for PCWA. Director ofFinancial Services JoeParker estimates theagency is facing financiallosses of about $6.6 mil-lion this year in reducedwater sales along withincreased costs of droughtyear operations.

COURTESY

Tony Aguilar Jr., left, operator of Highland Orchardin Penryn, walks along the Morgan Canal withJustin Rawlins of PCWA. Aguilar uses PCWA canalwater to irrigate his mandarin orange groves andberry patches. He said this years 10 percent wateruse reduction is reasonable considering the severi-ty of the drought.

Water agency makes effort to conserve

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There are several things youcan do right now to con-serve water and still have

an abundant harvest. I am list-ing several strategies for main-taining an effective home veg-etable garden when waterresources are limited.

Compost and mulch. Perhapsthe two most important ele-ment of sustainable garden-ing. Compost is a fully decom-

posed organic soil amendmentthat enables the soil to retainmoisture while adding nutri-ents. Mulch goes on top of soil;a 3 to 4 inch layer of mulch canreduce watering needs as muchas 50 percent. Mulch reduceswater evaporation and keepssoil temperatures down duringthe hot summer days. Mulch isalso a good weed suppressor.

Choose the right kind andamount of crop. Choose onlythe crops that your family will

eat. The seed packets have greatpictures on them and they alllook good, but do you reallyneed seven varieties ofbeans? Limit the amount ofplants to a reasonable amountfor your own use. Many heir-loom varieties from theMediterranean regions aredrought tolerant and produce amore abundant yield per plant.

Plant in enclosed spaces.Raised beds retain water betterthan gardens planted in opensoil. The soil does not becomecompacted and the plants canbe planted closer together to

shade each other. Thinkbunches or squares instead ofrows. You can obtain the sameamount of harvest in much lessspace.

Companion planting. Plantcrops together that have thesame moisture needs. Thethree sisters approach ofplanting corn, beans and

squash together is an excellentexample of companion plant-ing. The corn provides shadeand support for the climbingbeans. The beans return nitro-gen back into the soil, while thesquash spreads across the soilacting as mulch and keepingthe soil cool.

Control the weeds. Weedstake valuable water, sunshine,and nutrients from the soil.

Remove them as soon as yourecognize them.

Water effectively. Before youwater, look and feel the soil tocheck the dryness. Water earlyor late in the day as there is lesswater loss in the cooler times ofthe day. Add water slowly onlyto the roots, water deeply andless often to encourage the

roots to go deeper into the soil.

Incorporate good wateringhabits. Drip or trickle irrigationis ideal for the vegetable garden,reducing water usage up to 50percent. Use flag valves toturn the drip off on unplantedor harvested areas. Do notwater where you have harvest-ed the crop. For example, if youhave harvested the cabbage, donot continue to water the

remaining plant.

For more detailed informa-tion. Check out the PlacerCounty Masters Gardeners website, pcmg.ucanr.org and clickon Drought Advice in the leftside column. It contains manyresearch-based articles to get-ting the most from your gardenduring low water availability.

RichardHuntleyPlacerCountyMasterGardener

Creating a garden that needs less waterDrip or trickle irrigation isideal for the vegetable

garden, reducing water

usage up to 50 percent.


18/19


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The 9th ANNUAL

AUBURN CITY FIREGOLF TOURNAMENT

June 20th 2014The Ridge Golf Course

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CHIEF SPONSOR $700Fee includes: Foursome in the Tournament, Sign on the Hole,

Tournament Advertising, 2014 Sponsor Plaque, 4 Dinner Tickets, and

Auburn Journal Thank You AD!

DIVISION CHIEF SPONSOR $300Fee includes: Sign on the Hole, Tournament Advertising, 2014 Sponsor

Plaque, 4 Dinner Tickets, and Auburn Journal Thank You AD! $125 ENTRY PER PERSONFee includes: Tournament Gifts, Hot Dogs/Refreshments, Dinner at The

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OTHER DONATIONS:Other Donations and Raffle prizes gratefully accepted!

The Auburn Fire Open proceeds go toward much needed fire

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Thomas Carlisle, John Rogers,

Chairman, Auburn Fire Open 2014 Foreman, Auburn Hook and Ladder Co. #1

[email protected] more information on your Auburn Firefighters, check out our website:

www.auburncityfire.com

2014 Auburn Fire OpenThe Auburn Hook & Ladder Co.#1

and the Auburn Fire Department


19/19


fire and water 2014

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