Additional Resources
Helpful Links
University of Arizona
- University of Arizona Cooperative Extension
- University of Arizona College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Publications
- SmartScape
- Cochise County Master Gardener Program
- Master Watershed Steward Program
- Water Resources Research Center
- Center for Sustainability of semi-Arid Hydrology and Riparian Areas
- Backyards and Beyond Magazine -- Rural Living in Arizona
Cochise County
City of Sierra Vista
Local Water Companies
State
- Arizona Department of Water Resources(ADWR)
- Arizona Department of Agriculture Protected Arizona Native Plants
- Arizona Department of Environmental Quality - Water Quality Division
- Arizona Water Awareness Month - WAM! (Every April)
- Arizona Project WET - Water Education
- Arizona - Water Use it Wisely
Water Conservation Organizations & Tips
- Cochise County Conservation and Recharge Network
- American Water Works
- The Upper San Pedro Partnership
- EPA WaterSense
- On-Line Watershed Training
- Alliance for Water Efficiency
- The Water Conservation Guide
- Water Conservation Tips
Natural Resource Organizations
- Coronado National Memorial Arizona
- Natural Resource Conservation Service
- Hereford Natural Resource Conservation District (Sierra Vista Subwatershed area)
- The Nature Conservancy
- Friends of the San Pedro River
- Community Watershed Alliance (Benson, AZ)
- Sky Island Alliance
Rainwater Harvesting
- Texas Cooperative Extension
- American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association
- Water Harvesting in Drylands
- Permadesign Rooftop calculator (use for measuring collection area)
- Rainlog.Org - Rain Data
- US Climate Data - Arizona Rainfall Averages
- NSF Certified Products and Systems
- Harvest H2O
- Learn how to use a water level (bunyip) 1 VIDEO
- Learn how to use a water level (bunyip) 2 VIDEO
- Watershed Management Group
- Pumping Rainwater
- Ecosence Sustainable Landscapes : This video shows how to turn an average backyard into a sustainable landscape.
AZ River and Groundwater Issues
- Bills focus on strengthening rules on Arizona groundwater
- Sources of Perennial Water Supporting Critical Ecosystems, San Pedro Valley, AZ
Drought/Weather
- Arizona Meteorological Network
- Precipitation predictions
- Climate Science Applications Program
- Rain Data
- Weather - NOAA
Erosion Control/Passive Water Harvesting
-
Hereford Natural Resource Conservation District (Sierra Vista Subwatershed area)
-
USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service Fact Sheets
-
Arizona Revegetation and Monitoring Company (AZ native seeds)
Soil
Irrigation
- Drip Irrigation, the basics (brochure)
- Time it Right with Irrigation Controllers (article on scheduling an irrigation timer)
- Watering schedule (Chart)
- When Do I Water? (2-sided sheet)
- Watering Trees and Shrubs (brochure)
Off-the-Grid
Plants
- Cochise County Herbarium
- Cochise Chapter of the Arizona Native Plant Society
- ITIS - Integrated Taxonomic Information System (for up-to-date botanical plant names)
- Firewise
- AZ CE Firewise Plant Lists
- Arizona Native Plant Society
- Arizona Weeds by Kittie Parker
- USDA Department Natural Resource Conservation Service Plant Data Base
- International Society of Arboriculture (ISA)
- Problems and Pests of Agave, Aloe, Cactus and Yucca
- How to Propagate Agaves and Cacti from Cuttings and Seed
- Cactus, Agaves, Yucca and Ocotillo
- Pruning Deciduous Shade Trees
- Pruning Shrubs in the Low and Mid-Elevation Deserts in Arizona
- Planting Guidelines: Trees and Shrubs
Gardening
- Cochise County Master Gardeners
- Ten Steps a Successful Vegetable Garden
- Videos: Ten Steps to a Successful Vegetable garden (UA)
- Fertilizing Home Gardens in Arizona
- Straw Bale Gardening (instruction sheet)
- Backyard Fruit Production
- Training and Pruning Newly Planted Fruit Trees
Groundwater
Wells and Water Quality
- Bucket Test for Well Efficiency (By Bill Cook)
- Arizona Water Testing Labs
- Arizona Know Your Water
- Arizona Well Owner's Guide to Water Supply
- Arizona Water Well Association
- Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
- Well information: Arizona Department of Water Resources
- Well Registry Information: Arizona Department of Water Resources
- What Well Owners Should Know about Shock Chlorination
- Nitrates in Private Water Wells
- CDC Guide to Water Filters
- Well Owners: Water Systems Council
- Arizona Domestic Water Wells
- USGS - National Water- Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program
- USGS Circular
- Obtaining a Water Sample for Bacterial Analysis
- Maintaining Private Water Well Systems
- Do Deeper Wells Mean Better Water?
- An Arizona Guide to Domestic Well Registration and Record-Keeping
Septic Care
- Septic System Care
- Understanding Your Household Septic System
- Inspecting Your Household Septic System
- Maintaining Your Septic Tank
- Managing Your Household Septic System
- Antibacterial Products in Septic Systems
- Operation and Maintenance Tips for Your Septic System
- Septic System Transfer of Ownership Program
Plumbing Fixtures (toilets, washers, etc)
- Toilet Performance Testing - Alliance for Water Efficiency
- Toilet Performance Testing - Maximum Performance (MaP)
- High-Efficiency Plumbing Fixtures: How you can Save Energy, Water, and Money
Gray Water
- Gray Water at Home Presentation - Oct. 2020
- ADEQ - Reclaimed Water (see Type 1 General Permit) (PDF)
- ADEQ - Using Greywater at Home
- Cochise County Gray Water Regulations (PDF)
- Oasis Design - Graywater Central
- How to Estimate Your Rain Harvesting and Gray Watering Potential