Stargazing this Friday at TecH2O

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Don't Miss Desert Skies Viewing

Here's an upcoming Celebration of Our Mountains event produced by TecH2O of El Paso Water.

Suggestions for Managing Drought from Israel

Read Seth M. Siegel's Daily Beast story: Israel's Drought Lessons for California. There may be good advice here for us in the El Paso Desert Southwest. Here's a list of his suggestions:

1. Ban flood irrigation
2. Provide tax incentives to purchase drip irrigation equipment
3. Re-use highly treated wastewater
4. Have desalination plants ready for drought
5. Use special (non-GMO) seeds that thrives on useless brackish water
6. Require dual flush toilets everywhere toilets are installed
7. Add conservation to school curriculum
8. Centralize control of water
9. Preserve aquifers
10. Fix infrastructure

Thanks to the EPWU, we already have desal and we are reusing highly treated wastewater. TecH2O continues to be an outstanding learning center for young and old concerining conservation.

In a sense the State of Texas has centralized (or coordinated) planning (if not control) of water. 

Preserving aquifers (especially cutting down on the loss of water by evaporation) is a matter for the El Paso County Water Improvement District.

Texas A&M Research Center is working on the issue of salinity and plant growth.

All of this sounds good. The question is how much are we doing and how well. Stay tuned.

Siegel is the author of Let There Be Water: Israel's Solution to a Water-Starved World.

Small Is Beautiful

I'm a candidate for City Council District 2. Please visit www.jimtolbert.com and like us on our Facebook page. 

Read, mark and digest: Why smarter land use can help cities attract and retain young adults.  Particularly look at the data at the end of the post revealing what researchers discovered about Millennials (people born from 1979 to 1996 – my kids are in this group):  prefer to live in a core city, desire walkability, value diversity, emphasize connectedness (ergo, the success and soaring popularity of social media).

It’s not just Millennials.  A baby boomer (my generation) couple who are friends of mine are not just interested in the small house concept (think adobe construction for the southwest) but in co-housing where “dining room and kitchen, lounge, recreational facilities, children’s spaces, and frequently a guest room, workshop and laundry room” are held in common.  It’s easy to see that space is developed conservatively and sprawl isn’t even part of the equation. Neighbors know each other and form communities.

So, when we talk about “infill” and walkability and downtown re-development, think Millennials, the creative class, small houses and co-housing. Take a look at what code allows for building materials. This is not to take away from what business models we have – but to encourage greater flexibility in design and planning. 

Persons interested in the real estate market may want to read a December 2011 post from Ken Bennfield’s blog.

Think water smart homes too.  The EPWU/PSB is convening a cutting-edge committee to look at what goes into (and outside of) a water smart home. Read the scope of work for this committee. There are three meetings tentatively planned for this committee on Mondays February 18^th, March 4^th and 11^th from 6 to 8 p.m. at TecH2O.  They are open to the public.  Members of the committee can be found in the Scribd presentation at elpasonaturally.  Two more members have been invited and have accepted: Jennifer Barr and Dr. John Walton both of whom will enrich the committee’s work.  After their work, residential plumbing codes for El Paso should be reviewed IMHO.

Rhonda Berry, President and CEO of Our City Forest (also on Facebook) recently cited another study that shows the “growing evidence that the natural environment provides major public health benefits.”  New EPWU CEO, John Balliew, at a recent breakfast meeting said that EPWU’s conservation initiatives never suggested the overuse of concrete and asphalt as landscape solutions. He suggested people visit the grounds of TecH2O. EPWU even promotes water smart plants.  Learn about the City’s Memorial Tree Program. Rep. Susie Byrd’s office recently donated a tree to Newman Park in memory of my mother, Margaret Hudson Tolbert.

Texas Parks and Wildlife has recommended a better alternative entrance to the Tom Mays Unit of the Franklin Mountains State Park. Posts about the route can be found here and here.  On January 24^th the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission approved the transfer of eight acres plus to TxDOT for the construction of the new underpass, bike and vehicle route and animal corridor for the park.

Speaking about the Franklin Mountains State Park, see their February schedule of events and hiking.  For great hikes and events just check out El Paso Hiking Group, GeoBetty, Guadalupe Mountains National Park Meetup Group,  Las Cruces & El Paso Adventurists, Peak Fitness Challenge,  High Desert Hikers and Las Cruces Hiking Meetup.

Not just a coffee table book – Cacti of Texas by El Pasoans, Gertrude and Ad Konings, should be in the library of every Chihuahuan Desert recreationalist.

El Paso history comes alive with Melissa Sargent and Jackson Polk every Saturday morning from 10 to Noon on the El Paso History Radio Show on KTSM AM 690 Talk Radio.  This Saturday Melissa and Jackson  welcome some Harvey Girls and hear about their role in railroad history . We talk with President Dehrkoop and a master mistress re-enactor, Patricia Kiddney, who will portray several of the old West famous women. On February 16 El Paso City Manger Joyce Wilson is on hour one to talk about preservation of downtown buildings.

Finally, here is a really cool, grand idea: Klyde Warren Park.  Read the story in Parks & Recreation. Talk about finding park space and connectivity!

Earthquakes in El Paso?

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