Close up of a Blue Agave plant

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 2023 Water Applied Data

Below, readers can find the 2023 water applied data and key findings for SmartScape I at SmartLandscape. 

SSI North 2023 end of year water use data

 

SSI South 2023 end of year water use data
SSI Trees 2023 end of year water use data

 

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. 

  • SmartScape I Trees Hydrozone

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.


SmartScape I Installation & Progress Photos

SmartScape team members prepare the bare ground in SmartScape I for irrigation installation.
Ground prep & Irrigation installation
Two SmartScape students plant a Crepe Myrtle tree amidst novel Hunter tree bubbler irrigation technology
Two students plant a Lagerstroemia indica (Crape Myrtle) Sapling
Students from the Student Leadership in Green Infrastructure club construct water drainways for Smartscape I
Kevin Perry & two students from the Student Leaders in Green Infrastructure club construct a water drainway
Blooms of pink and yellow appear on fresh green, 2 month old plants in SmartScape I
The first blooms, three months post-planting: 2020
A matured midsummer view of SmartScape I; the crape myrtle carries hot pink blooms, and myriads of colors and textures fill the once bare area
Midsummer growth: 2020