Water Worries: An Issue That Won't Go Away
Concern over limited water resources receives national attention these days. Watering bans make front-page news. Communities once confident of an abundant supply, struggle to meet demands. Drought, once a distant whisper on some other horizon, has arrived in our own backyard.

While tornados, floods and earthquakes have the ability to unite a community, drought can tear it apart. One drought mitigation specialist called it an "insidious intruder."

Metropolitan and rural areas alike are restricting landscape watering - often to the detriment of the green industry.

Your Water Wise Resource
Within this site, you'll find ideas to help you cope with increasing competition for water. The menu to your left lists specific areas you may find useful in your own Water Wise mission.

A Water Supplier's Perspective
Steve Masters is public utilities administrator for Lincoln, Nebraska. Lincoln, a city coping with ongoing drought, is a model of industry and government cooperation. Masters comments, "When conditions mean there's not enough water for both plants and people, municipalities must reduce usage. Before that happens, the nursery industry should build a working relationship with water departments. The industry must educate the community about drought resistant plants and water conservation practices. A real change is occurring in our weather--it's important we work together to use water wisely."

Meeting the Water Shortage Challenge
Remember, challenges can be opportunities. Water restrictions provide the chance to promote better land stewardship and create a more positive image for plants and the industry.

Content on the Water Wise site was prepared by Nancy Moreland n_moreland@yahoo.com.