Prescott Valley staff present "Growing Water Smart" plan to cut water use, expand green infrastructure

Prescott Valley — Town staff on Wednesday described a coordinated “Growing Water Smart” effort to reduce potable water use across parks, streetscapes and new development and to expand green infrastructure and stormwater best practices.

John Jacobson, principal planner in Development Services, led the presentation and said the initiative pulls together work by development services, parks and recreation, public works and utilities as an intentional, interdisciplinary program. “Applied research and best sustainable practices significantly improve environmental conditions, economic stability, ecosystem services, and human health and culture,” Jacobson said. That statement framed staff recommendations and planned next steps.

The presentation covered four topic areas—design, manage, recharge and conserve—and applied those headings to vegetation and the built environment, parks and open space, green infrastructure and a conservation plan staff intends to draft for council adoption. Staff said the draft conservation plan will document current practices, evaluate irrigation and code, assess new technologies and identify incentives and funding partnerships.

Nick Grablowski, parks manager, described operations and day-to-day conservation measures in the town’s park system. “We manage 45 acres of turf,” Grablowski said, and the parks team uses a centralized, cloud-based irrigation control system installed with a 2011–2012 Bureau of Reclamation grant. The system adjusts run times by evapotranspiration, sprinkler type, slope and soils; staff said it can be shut off remotely when it’s raining or when a break occurs. Grablowski said most parks are on the system except for a Stoneridge location where cell connectivity is insufficient.

Staff described specific code requirements that affect vegetation in new development. Jacobson pointed to Chapter 13 of the town code and gave an example: a required seven-foot street-front planting depth with tree spacing calculated at roughly one tree per 30 linear feet (with a maximum spacing cap) and a specified ratio of shrubs per tree. Staff emphasized “skillful use” of plantings—selecting species and densities appropriate to microclimates and function rather than maximizing plant count.

Tracy Lund, water resources advisor in Utilities, said the conservation plan will prioritize actions that maximize water saved per acre-foot and will identify grant and partner opportunities. “This plan, when it’s all written, needs to be formally adopted by the council,” Lund said, adding that some conservation recommendations will feed into the town’s upcoming rate study and could require code or policy changes beyond the utilities department.

Arianna Odom, stormwater coordinator, described green infrastructure goals to capture and treat stormwater on-site, improve water quality and recharge groundwater. She said the town is planning a green-infrastructure planting at George Anderson Park with Scout Troop 303 on July 16 and plans to seek Growing Water Smart funding for future pilot projects; staff estimated grant awards from the Water Smart program at roughly $12,500–$25,000 for targeted projects.

Staff outlined technology and retrofit priorities: additional soil moisture sensors to improve zone-level control, continued replacement of inefficient sprinkler spacing, expanded hydrometers/master valves to reduce pressure and leak volume, and selective conversion of underutilized turf to low-water xeriscape. Grablowski noted the town evaluates artificial turf for high-use fields but weighs tradeoffs including surface heat and lifecycle costs.

Council and commission members asked about regional approaches and infrastructure. Staff said reclaimed (recycled) water is under active discussion but noted a high capital cost to extend distribution pipelines and uncertainties about water quality, including PFAS, before using reclaimed water broadly for irrigation or to recharge the aquifer. Staff said reclaimed lines already reach portions of Glassford Hill Road, Lakeshore/Granville and Stoneridge/Stone Ridge and that adding connection points is being considered.

Staff also discussed public engagement and incentive options: education campaigns, residential and commercial green-infrastructure guidebooks, and potential incentive programs to encourage rainwater harvesting, cisterns or turf conversion. Staff said emergency code provisions exist and can restrict outdoor uses during declared droughts, but no new mandatory townwide restrictions were adopted at the session.

Next steps: staff will prepare a written conservation plan that compiles current practices, identifies pilot projects and funding sources, and returns to council for formal adoption. Staff also said it will continue interdepartmental coordination and regional conversations with neighboring jurisdictions on shared water objectives.

Ending

Staff closed by asking council and the planning commission for feedback on priorities for the conservation plan and scheduling for pilot projects and funding applications.