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TWCA Announces Changing Climate, Changing Communities Panelists

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https://tgwca.info/greenmunistgwca.info/greenmunis

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​Turfgrass Water Conservation Alliance (TWCA) is excited to announce the panelist for the Changing Climates, Changing Communities discussion at the Green Municipalities Field Day event. The roundtable takes place from 1pm-2pm Eastern and is the central component of the virtual event. Addressing the climate challenges facing communities and the green industry are representatives from government, industry and academia each presenting a unique approach and viewpoint. 

PANELISTS:

John Cochran, owner of Turf Merchants International –
Developing, producing and marketing turf grass seeds for the United States, North America and more than 20 other countries around the world, our varieties have topped the National Trials many times, as we have focused on achieving superior performance in:

•         Wear Tolerance
•         Disease Tolerance
•         Drought Tolerance
•         Reduced Maintenance

 
TBA representative of Zander Sod-
Fred Zander started Zander Sod Co. Limited when sod was harvested, loaded, and unloaded by hand!
Nowadays, we have automated harvesters that cut, roll, and pile the sod directly onto skids. We have forklifts to load sod onto trucks, automatic tarping systems on our trailers, and truck-mounted forklifts to efficiently offload products at the homes and businesses of our customers. Times have certainly changed.
As much as technology has changed our business, three constants over the years have been our dedication to providing quality turf, exceptional customer service, and great value for our customers.
 
Stephanie Duer, Conservation Programs Manager at Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities (SLCDPU)-
As climate change continues to impact the southwestern US, 72% of Utah is under extreme drought with the remainder of the state under severe drought conditions. And while there is always uncertainty in the climate outlook, the Utah Climate Center has stated that residents of the state must prepare for and adjust to an ongoing drying trend across the region.
SLCDPU has identified the need to reduce outdoor water use by 15 percent by 2030. Surveys have indicated that, while many households and commercials properties are open to modifications to their landscapes, there are still a significant percentage of property owners/managers that resist relinquishing the lawn. Though Utah is generally considered a desert climate, the higher elevation of the service area precludes a full desert plant palette while supporting turfgrass. The issue isn’t that lawns exist, rather the wrong lawns exist.
 
Kelly Kopp Professor and Extension Specialist in the Plants, Soils & Climate department at Utah State University-
Kelly Kopp is a Professor and Extension Specialist in the Plants, Soils & Climate department at Utah State University, where her research efforts are focused on landscape water conservation and sustainable turfgrass management. She serves on the Board of Directors of USU's Center for Water Efficient Landscaping and is board member and past president of the Utah Water Conservation Forum. She works directly with many of the federal, state, and municipal agencies that are working toward achieving water use efficiency in the state of Utah, the Intermountain West, and beyond.
 
Jack Karlin, Program Administrator, Turfgrass Water Conservation Alliance (TWCA)-
Jack is the Principal at Karlin Consulting llc, and Program Administrator of TWCA since 2014.  His primary interest is the role of regulation in enhancing the sustainability and livability of the managed environment. Jack received his B.S. in Environmental Science from Oregon State University where he specialized in Water Science and Policy.  He is a small grants reviewer for the Mid-Willamette Valley Watersheds group for the Oregon Watershed Enhancements Board. 

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Make every drop count

TWCA is an investment in the future. Members pay more now than ever for TWCA membership because now, more than ever, drought tolerant turf provides important ecological services while conserving water. For TWCA members the 30% reduction in water use represents more than saved water or reduced maintenance; every drop of water saved is energy saved, is emissions, reduced, is impact lessened. Together we make every drop count.

Our Story

​Founded in 2010 by direct competitors in the turfgrass industry, the Turfgrass Water Conservation Alliance (TWCA) is a 501 c(3) non-profit committed to water conservation and dedicated to preserving the ecological benefits of turfgrass in the managed environment.
Our approach to conservation relies on the 3rd party peer review of objective data to qualify only those turfgrasses that demonstrate a statistically significant water saving potential over conventional varieties of the same species.  By testing with research collaborators in locations across North America, the TWCA eliminates confounding factors such as soil type, heat, and pest management from the results.

TWCA: 30 Years to Here

2022

• Green Municipalities Field Day
•  Congressional Visit Day with Tri-Societies
• Advocacy efforts to #keepitreal 
• TWCA Qualifies 8 new bluegrasses
• TWCA Releases CPF methodology
• The first ever landscape conversion program to feature turf-to-turf conversion rolls out
  • USU CWEL releases end-user videos w/ TWCA

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TWCA returns to live events w/ first international effort

2021

•  Congressional Visit Day with Tri-Societies
• Create Data Evaluation and Statistical Analysis
• Complete Irrigation Calculator
•  Coordinate Greenscape Alliance
• Launches Tri-Societies Grant
• Initiate Advocacy grant
• Purdue University is first cooperator to earn TWCA Performance Incentive
• Serves on American Seed Trade Association Seed Advocacy Leadership Team
• SEED Ambassador

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2020

• Nothing weird happened
• TWCA Qualified Turf earns NGBS Green Building Points
• Scotts Miracle Gro acquires the turf unit of Columbia Seeds
• Program goes fully remote
• ​Tall Fescue trialing begins

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2019

• First trialing program to offer incentives for reliable data collection and submission
• Extend trialing requirements to 3 years
• Initiate partnership talks w/ other turf organizations
• Construct Penn State Berks ROS
• Evaluate Walker water use: 12% reduction in water use
• Conclude Volumetric Water Study

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2018

• Initiate Bluegrass trial
• Conclude Tall Fescue trial
• TWCA participates in Congressional visit day with ACSESS
• ​​Walker Elementary overseeds
• M Richardson leaves Research Review Committee (RRC)
• ​J Stier joins RRC
• RRC ends trialing exception
• ​Add University of Guelph as an active cooperator

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2017

• Co-chair MWELO Technical Standards and Water Budgeting Committee
• Serve on sites and lots work group for NAHB
• ​Walker Elementary overseeds
• Launch Irrigation Calculator program
• Construct ROS at Virginia Tech. Blacksburg
• Construct 2nd ROS at Purdue University
• Karcher, Hignight(s), and Purcell release Turf Analyzer
• ​TWCA Seed Producer membership increases by 150%

2016

• Constructs 2nd ROS at University of Arkansas
• Ryegrass Trial Concludes
• Ashland OR drought ends.  HTHK project begins
• Initiate Tall Fescue Trial​
• Release MWELO Calculator

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2015

• Engage with the CA DWR LSAG
• Become OR Champion for Healthy Turf. Healthy kids.
• TWCA Quarterly becomes a magazine
• ​Identify Walker Elementary for HTHK

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2014

• Add Program Administrator
• Partner w/ Project EverGreen
• Copyright Low Maintenance Protocol
• Initiate Perennial Ryegrass Trial
• ​Conduct first low maintenance trials 

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2013

• Construct Purdue ROS
• Construct University of Arkansas ROS

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2012

• Pennington Seed Company acquires NexGen (now NexGen Plant Science Center)

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2011

• ​Construct ROS at Virginia Tech, VA Beach

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2010

• ​​Turfgrass Water Conservation Alliance (TWCA) incorporates.  Adopts the TWCA drop and seal as the mark of quality turf with exceptional drought tolerance​

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2007

• ​4 direct competitors informally begin the TWCA

2008

• Initiate formal trialing program

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1992

• Turfgrass breeders Kenneth Hignight and Crystal Fricker independently begin selecting for drought tolerance

2002

• D Karcher introduces lightbox technology
• Karcher, Hignight(s), and M Richardson begin collaborating on Digital Image Analysis (DIA)

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Contact us
Do you have questions about the TWCA that are not answered on tgwca.org?  Contact us directly at info@tgwca.org or call our office at 541-257-1962; we are happy to help answer your questions.

Jack is the Principal at Karlin Consulting, providing administrative services to TWCA.  His primary interest is the role of regulation in enhancing the sustainability and livability of the managed environment. Jack received his B.S. in Environmental Science from Oregon State University where he specialized in Water Science and Policy.  He is a small grants reviewer for the Mid-Willamette Valley Watersheds group for the Oregon Watershed Enhancements Board. 

Jack Karlin
​Program Administrator
jack.karlin@tgwca.org
541-257-1962