Current Irrigation Practices
The following sites are currently receiving alternative irrigation programming due to safety implications or new landscaping that has been installed prior to the current Water Restrictions Stage:
Fire Station 4 – 6000 Roundrock Trail
Plano’s water conservation plan allows the City of Plano Parks and Recreation Department to operate using alternative water conservation methods. The City will exceed the current North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) reduction goal by managing all sites as a whole. Some irrigated areas will be reduced well beyond the current NTMWD reduction goal to offset watering at high use sites that have safety implications. The scale of operation for over 4,000 acres of parkland and 1,200 irrigated acres of parks, athletic fields, and other public property, requires alternative conservation methods. A centrally controlled computer operating system is used to program and run irrigation systems at sites throughout the city.
Large site irrigation systems cannot water all zones within the same water window as a residential system, but they can still be programmed to apply less water. One athletic site has over 500 stations, which cannot all be run in one or two nights. The need to water play surfaces and high use areas must also be balanced with scheduled activities and public use patterns. Parks and outdoor sports venues are typically used in the early morning or after school/work hours up to 11 pm, so watering schedules must be adjusted accordingly. Irrigation is necessary for the safety of the users. Cracks in the ground or injuries caused by falling on a very hard surface are thereby reduced.
The Plano Parks and Recreation Department is committed to participating in the water conservation plan. In fact, during the drought of 2005-06, the department reduced water consumption by 45%. Significant water reduction also has the potential to damage grass, trees, trails, pavilions slabs, and other site features paid for with taxpayer dollars. The protection of these public assets using best available practices and existing irrigation systems is being done to mitigate future repair and replacement costs by the taxpayers. Residents may utilize soaker hoses, hand water, and can fully utilize the approved water windows to protect private assets such as foundations, driveways, and home landscape plant materials. Due to the scale of operations and size of public properties, the City’s computer controlled system provides an alternate means to make incremental reductions and adjust programs times to assist in meeting these asset protection and reduction goals. Pecan Hollow Golf Course uses reclaimed water and the Legacy Business Park uses private lake water supplied by wells to irrigate their respective sites, rather than treated drinking water. The large special event field near the Amphitheater at Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve may be watered using temporary above ground irrigation to insure the safety of those attending a special event or activity such as the Plano Balloon Festival in September.
The public is encouraged to report malfunctions or problems. An accurate description and location of a problem helps speed the repair or resolution of the issue. For additional information, or to report a problem, please call the Plano Parks and Recreation Department at 972 941-7263
Impact of Drought
Even with the implementation of Stage 3 in Plano’s Water Conservation Plan residences, commercial, and public properties have benefited from the North Texas Municipal Water District and City’s planning and development of a superior water supply system. Water use, while limited by ordinance, still allows private and public property owners to protect their assets. Often this is inconvenient, or requires additional effort and expense, but the opportunity to minimize loss is available. Compared with other areas of the Texas, Plano’s developed urban landscape has been relatively sustainable.
There will be unavoidable consequences of the 2011 Texas drought for many years. The record heat and exceptionally dry conditions will have varying degrees of effect on private property and structures, public infrastructure, plant materials, wildlife, and other environmental conditions.
The City of Plano is monitoring the condition of trees and other plant material. Operation and maintenance practices may be adjusted to promote survivability, with an emphasis on public safety. Due to the extreme conditions and large scale of public outdoor spaces and infrastructure, the public is encouraged to report the first signs of park problems caused by the drought at parksinfo@plano.gov.
Trees and landscapes are showing signs of stress despite The Parks and Recreation’s current watering practices. Sometimes the plants are not a drought tolerant species or they were planted in an inappropriate location. Plant losses after the drought in 2005-06 resulted in the use of more sustainable landscape materials better suited to Plano’s environment and emerging water use trends. With thoughtful re-planting after the drought, landscapes can be better planned and prepared for situations requiring water conservation in the future. The preferred tree planting time is in the fall/winter months; however, new landscapes should not be initiated in Stage 3 of the Water Conservation Plan. Replacements may have to wait well beyond this fall/winter season depending on when the drought subsides.
Infrastructure such as foundations, roads, sidewalks, trails, or underground utilities (water, sewer, electrical, irrigation, etc,) are susceptible to shifting soils when moisture levels cannot be evenly maintained. Unlike most other areas of Texas and the rest of the country, North Texas soils typically consist of highly expansive clays which can cause damage as they shift, either by contraction during the drought, or expansion during soaking rainfall. The contracting soils may also result in large ground surface cracks that can be a safety issue, especially in un-irrigated areas.These areas will be addressed as they appear, but may require extensive backfilling or leveling after the drought has subsided. The public and user groups such as athletic participants are encouraged to inspect turf and open space areas before they decide whether or not to use the area. Conditions at sports fields and athletic practice areas may result in schedule adjustments if the drought persists. Potential problem areas should be reported.
Where possible, the City of Plano will wait to make a decision on plant removal, or infrastructure repair until drought conditions have ended. Enough time must elapse to fully evaluate the potential recovery of plant material or the effect of an opposite shift (expansion) of the soil. Obvious health, safety, and public welfare issues will be addressed as soon as possible. Other evaluation times may take more than a year. Due to the unpredictable nature of the impact and potential widespread consequence over time, the City of Plano appreciates the public’s patience as drought recovery efforts are implemented.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q – What types of areas are irrigated by the City of Plano Parks Department?
A – Irrigated areas include:
• Athletic fields and sports turf areas
• Practice and casual use field areas in park sites
• Special use areas in park sites
• Reservation/rental facilities in park sites
• Open play areas
• Public building lawns and landscapes
• Median trees and landscapes
Q – What areas are not irrigated by the City of Plano Parks Department?
A – Non-irrigated sites:
• Nature preserves (open areas)
• Greenbelts
• Linier parks under power transmission lines
• Median and right of way turf
• Large open community park areas
• Limited and seasonal use areas
• Selected park perimeter areas
• Undeveloped open spaces
Q – Why does the City of Plano Parks Department irrigate?
A – Irrigation during summer months is necessary for many reasons.
• Protect building and horizontal structure foundations
• Protect concrete walkway sub-grades to prevent dangerous and damaging grade shifts and misalignments (trip hazards) between surface joints
• Prevent dangerous and hazardous ground cracking or heaving on programmed, casual play and high use foot traffic areas
• Protect citywide living assets including sports turf, trees and other living plant materials
Q – Why does the City of Plano Parks Department water during the day?
A – The City of Plano Parks and Recreation Department does not routinely make it a practice to irrigate during the day. Should you witness daytime watering taking place at a park site or public building, it may be one of the following:
• Routine maintenance, adjustments, calibrations, inspections and/or repairs of a system by an onsite licensed irrigation technician
• Temporary irrigation of recently installed turf or landscape materials
• Watering for the recovery of turf, trees, or landscape materials due to an irrigation system being out of service recently
• A system malfunction
Q – A golf course is a large site to irrigate. Where does Plano Parks and Recreation obtain the water to irrigate the Pecan Hollow Golf Course?
A – The Pecan Hollow Golf Course maintains its turf surfaces through the use of recycled water when irrigating. This has no impact on the City’s water consumption through typical utility infrastructure.
Q – How is Plano Parks and Recreation doing its part to conserve water?
A – The City of Plano Parks and Recreation Department has a highly sophisticated, highly capable irrigation central control system. All irrigated areas have site specific, custom written irrigation programs so as to maximize water distribution efficiency. All irrigation programs are monitored daily and adjusted as needed. The irrigation central control is capable of shutting down the complete system citywide from a single computer while also delivering water anytime on demand, to any site necessary. The irrigation central control monitors and gathers field reports on historical and real time data along with reports on system malfunctions that may occur. In addition, the system is capable of shutting itself down automatically should a malfunction or failure such as a major leak be detected. When this information is received, it is evaluated by trained technicians. The technicians then make any necessary changes and may also execute work orders should there been a need for field repairs and/or adjustments. Some of the data available to be evaluated includes:
• System and zone start, run, and stop times
• Water usage reports
• The area/zones where water was applied
• System malfunctions and failures
• System leaks and line breaks
Q – What other measures has Plano Parks and Recreation taken to reduce its water use within the park system?
A - The City of Plano Parks and Recreation Department also has additional water conservation measures and programs in place. They include:
• Non-recreational turf irrigation reduction program
• Ongoing irrigation system preventative maintenance program
• Conduct ongoing routine system inspections
• Renovations of older systems with improved irrigation design and component installation
• Improved leak detection practices
• Remote access to irrigation central control computer to make immediate changes when needed
• All irrigation systems are equipped with a master valve to shut down the complete or partial system should a mainline leak occur
• All irrigation systems have flow meters to monitor the amount of water flowing to a site allowing technicians to detect water leaks remotely
• The reduction or elimination of irrigation were landscapes have been renovated with more drought resistant landscaping materials
• Landscaping to meet the minimum requirements of a building or site
• Tree specific watering
Q – What should I do if I witness or suspect the parks department is overusing water or happen to see a system malfunction such as a leak or excess water running?
A – The department makes every attempt possible to keep irrigation systems operating properly and eliminate fugitive water without incident. Occasionally, as is the case with all irrigation systems, malfunctions occur. Should you suspect there is a problem, please report your sighting to:
From 8:00AM – 5:00PM Mon-Fri
Call: 972-941-7263
After Hours
Call: 972-727-1623
OR
Email - parksinfo@plano.gov