Project Overview
SmartScape I is the first installment of four SmartScape areas, created during the Fall and Winter of 2019.
The design and installation of SmartScape I complies with the Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO). This means that the area has a calculated water budget via MWELO standards, and must perform within or below this water budget.
SmartScape I features both native and non-native, water-conserving plant and shrub species as well as Eco-Wrap sub-surface irrigation.
SmartScape I Plant Species List
SmartScape I 2024 Water Applied Data
Below, readers can find the 2024 water applied data and key findings for SmartScape I at SmartLandscape.
Key Findings
- SmartScape I North and South Hydrozones
Our SmartScape I landscapes really are “low water use”! The SmartScape I demonstration landscapes were designed to meet California’s Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO). SmartScape I was designed with low water use plants as for our location in Davis. Our sub-surface irrigation is buried fleece-wrapped dripline (Eco-Wrap) with irrigation managed by a weather-based smart controller. As per MWELO, we chose the “prescriptive water budget approach” and calculated Maximum Applied Water Allowance (MAWA) for our landscaped area and Estimated Total Water USE (ETWU) using plant factors from WUCOLS. While ETWU is an estimate, we have gone one step further by actually measuring the applied water to this landscape. Our inline flow meter monitors the amount of water applied to the north and south hydrozones and our SmartLandscape team records the number of gallons applied to each zone on a weekly basis. In the 2024 year, we have found that in SmartScape I North, 7,843 gallons of water was applied to the tree hydrozone, while MAWA was calculated at 20,264 gallons. We applied 12,940 gallons to SmartScape I South, while MAWA was calculated at 31,407.
SmartScape I Trees Hydrozone
Our SmartScape I tree hydrozone is also “low water use”. As per MWELO, landscape trees are required to be planted in their own hydrozone. Our 3 trees are irrigated using 2, 18" root zone watering systems per tree. All 3 trees are irrigated by a weather-based smart controller. As per MWELO, we chose the “prescriptive water budget approach” and calculated Maximum Applied Water Allowance (MAWA) for our landscaped area and Estimated Total Water USE (ETWU) using plant factors from WUCOLS. While ETWU is an estimate, we have gone one step further by actually measuring the applied water to this landscape. Our inline flow meter monitors the amount of water applied to our tree hydrozone and our SmartLandscape team records the number of gallons applied to this zone on a weekly basis. In the 2024 year, we have found that 2,772 gallons of water was applied to the tree hydrozone, while MAWA was calculated at 3,734 gallons.
SmartScape I Installation & Progress Photos
