In the landscape architecture industry, we must consider climate change’s role in designing future projects. In our home state of Utah and the surrounding regions we serve, one effect of climate change has been severe drought conditions. Just this past summer alone, in the broader Western U.S. states, the percentage of land experiencing moderate to exceptional drought jumped from 18.8% in June to 28.7% in July 2024, according to the Palmer Drought Index. This jump, driven by higher-than-expected temperatures in July, exacerbated underlying drought conditions, which had already been high for several years.
As a landscape architect firm operating in the western U.S., we have to consider the role of ongoing drought conditions and climate change in our design projects. For our team, that means water conservation. Integrating water conservation best practices and drought-tolerant design into our projects is more important than ever because it helps boost climate resilience and biodiversity conservation and helps us meet regulatory environmental demands.
The fight to implement water conservation
The ongoing drought in the Western US has pushed many states to implement water conservation practices and sustainable management policies. For example, in Utah, the state established Regional Water Conservation Goals in 2019. These goals aim to tailor water conservation by region and led to the 2021 Water Resources Plan, which focuses on three principles of water management: reliable data, obtaining a secure water supply, and healthy watersheds.
Similarly, the neighboring state of Colorado implemented its first state water plan in 2015, with the objective that 75% of Coloradoans will live in communities that have incorporated water-saving actions into land use planning by 2025. This plan encouraged municipalities to determine their water-saving actions in the development process. One town in Colorado, Castle Rock, implemented a rule that only allows 30% of a lot of 7000 sq ft or less to be irrigated turf.
Federal legislative actions and policies
The Federal government is also advocating for water conservation practices. Two federal initiatives, the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) and the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), provide funding for water-related projects. These initiatives include programs that encourage landscape architects to implement responsible water design in the planning and design of infrastructure projects for stormwater management, natural landscape protection, and the restoration of damaged shorelines.
The role of landscape architects in water conservation
Landscape architects have a critical role in the fight for water conservation and mitigating drought conditions brought on by climate change. Their designs are crucial for managing water resources and incorporating water-saving systems into commercial landscape designs. Some examples of designs that are becoming more commonly used in landscape architecture include stormwater management systems that allow for rainwater reuse, natural landscape protection for better biodiversity, and the use of drought-tolerant design principles and plants in landscape projects.
Project Spotlight: Consulting on drought-tolerant designs for remodels and new church projects for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
One of our ongoing projects in drought-tolerant design and water conservation landscape design is our partnership with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS Church) Landscape Architectural division at the Church’s Salt Lake City headquarters. Our role has been as the primary consultant for their meeting house projects in the Western US. We focus on site accessibility issues, resolving problematic draining areas, renovating outdated irrigation systems, and converting their landscaping to a more water-wise xeric design. Our work has even been recognized with awards by the Southern Nevada Water Authority and the Henderson City Public Works department.
Best practices for drought-tolerant design
So, what does drought-tolerant design look like in the commercial landscape space? It can be a lot of different things. Some of the most popular techniques include:
- Xeriscaping is the practice of incorporating drought-tolerant plants that require minimal irrigation. Many of these designs include native plants from the project’s region, which promote water conservation and increase biodiversity and overall ecosystem health.
- Smart Irrigation Systems that allow for adjusting water schedules based on local weather conditions are also becoming more popular in water conservation designs. These systems can help reduce water waste and usage.
- Water conservation training programs are also an excellent way for landscape architects to learn more about sustainable design practices. These continuous education efforts are crucial for architects to incorporate sustainable design practices into future projects.
We’re committed to sustainable landscape architecture
As climate change threatens our water supply and worsens drought conditions in the Western US, sustainable landscape architecture is more important than ever. Designs incorporating water conservation measures, drought-tolerant principles, and encouraging ecological diversity are key tools landscape architects can use in this fight. Our landscape architecture team at McNeil Engineering is working hard to incorporate these practices into our work, just as we have done on the meeting house remodel and new build projects with the LDS Church. We’re committing to learn new sustainable practices, technologies, and systems to help fight for water conservation.
