By Brett Rosenberg
October 13, 2008

The graceful crepe myrtles that line the main thoroughfare of the sleepy North Texas city of McKinney belie a coming storm on the horizon. With a population expected to double within the next ten years and eventually build out to 350,000, this community of 135,000 must explore new and innovative ways to grow and develop while keeping within its natural resource means. With a water supply based primarily on a regular, if not decreasing amount of annual rainfall, and a high salt content in some of its local aquifers, the specter of such drastic population growth threatens to undermine the city’s efforts towards sustainable growth.

In an effort to reduce per capita water use by 30 percent, to 140 – 160 gallons per day (the average Dallas Metroplex usage is 240 gallons per day), McKinney has already implemented programs to educate city employees, teachers and water utility customers about the necessity of water conservation and efficiency. The city issues regular public service announcements and other outreach strategies and has restrictions on lawn watering and premium fees for high water use; in spite of the positive impact of these efforts, however, the community has struggled to slake its overall thirst.

With these ongoing water conservation strategies in place and an eye to the future, McKinney Mayor Bill Whitfield hosted a forum for local, state and federal political leaders this summer to highlight the extreme need for even deeper conservation efforts, coupled with developments in horticultural materials and methods that have created new opportunity for both conservation and sustainable urban landscaping.

In a six-year partnership agreement with The Urban Solutions Center, an agency of the Texas A & M University system, McKinney has dedicated $100,000 annually to focus on science based water conservation strategies that are specific to the community’s particular needs. While a proportion of the funds are slated for the existing conservation strategies and seeking conservation-based grants from the state and federal governments, one of the center’s main areas of research involves making the most of native plant material and adapting other vegetation to landscaping suitable to the urban environment. In McKinney’s case, the center has installed several test plots of a newly crafted drought and salt tolerant turf grass for use in city landscaping, traditionally one of the highest volume water uses.

The new grass, a variant of palisades zoysia, uses 40 percent less water than the existing turf grass and is adapted to the local environment. It grows in full sunlight and partial shade and, according to Dr. Frank Gilstrap, the center director, the grass becomes dormant when water is lacking but easily revives upon minimal irrigation. It’s a “no brainer,” Gilstrap added, noting that the grass has a tight root system that discourages weeds from growing and has minimal fertilizer requirements. The Urban Solutions Center is in the process of producing 10,000 plugs of the grass for additional testing and distribution throughout the community. Depending on how successful the tests are, the city may proceed with new landscaping ordinances for developers and others.

Whitfield also brought attention to other city and center-sponsored initiatives, including a web-based virtual garden store, in which residents can fill a “shopping cart” the plants that meet specific water conservation and aesthetic requirement, print a list, and then go shop at an actual nursery. The city also has permeable walkways throughout its parks, along with efficient drip irrigation systems. “On behalf of McKinney,” Whitfield said, “we’re trying to do what is right and be part of the solution – we’re happy to share with other cities.”

Texas Congressman Ralph Hall, whose district includes McKinney said, “This is a great thrust. It’s very positive…if it weren’t for [Mayor Whitfield], I’d be a greeter at Wal-Mart.” He continued, “When a bottle of water is as valuable as a good bottle of beer, we have to rethink some things.”

Whitfield will discuss McKinney’s water conservation efforts further at the upcoming Mayors Water Summit November 19-20 at the Breakers Hotel in West Palm Beach (FL).