Valley Water Landscaping Summit May Be Followed Online

SAN JOSE, CA -- Landscapers: Get out your tools -- including your computer.

More than 100 horticulture and yard designing professionals in Santa Clara County will gather to learn about the latest advancements in sustainable landscaping, including methods of efficiency in maintenance, green stormwater infrastructure and fire-safe practices.

The landscaping summit is set for Feb. 28 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m at the Valley Water headquarters located at 5700 Almaden Expressway in San Jose.

Valley Water has sought to engage Santa Clara County’s professional landscaping community and create a forum for landscapers to learn about water issues in the county and state. The first event was established in 2016 during an historic drought. The Santa Clara Valley Water District, now known as Valley Water, saw great value in reaching out to landscapers to begin a discussion on sustainable landscaping that conserves water, protects the watershed and enhances habitats.

The Valley Water’s Landscape Committee leads all summit efforts through discussion topics and themes. The committee is comprised of two Valley Water board directors Richard Santos in District 3 and Nai Hsueh in District 5, district conservation specialists and leaders in the professional landscaping community serving as volunteers.

This year’s summit panel will feature landscape architects and designers, an environmental inspector and a fire marshal. Each panelist will speak to the importance of an efficient landscape design that can contribute to water conservation, stormwater pollution prevention, maintenance and fire prevention. The summit will also include a presentation on the state of the valley’s water supply by Jerry De La Piedra, assistant officer in the Water Supply Division.

Additional details, including past summit presentations, are available at: https://www.valleywater.org/saving-water/landscaping/landscape-summit. Although this year’s event is at maximum capacity, interested parties can attend virtually via Facebook on www.facebook.com/SCVWD/.

Speakers who have currently signed on to take part:

• Honorable Linda J. LeZotte, Chair, District 4, Valley Water Board of Directors
• Honorable Richard Santos, Director, District 3, Valley Water Board of Directors
• Brian Boyer, Superintendent, Cinnabar Hills Golf Club, Chair of Valley Water Landscape Committee
• Jerry De La Piedra, Assistant Officer in Water Supply Division, Valley Water
• Sarah Sutton, LandscapeArchitect and Board President, ReScape California
• Nicholas Ajluni, Senior Environmental Inspector, City of San Jose
• Amy Palmer, Vice President of Estate Garden Management, Ruskin Gardens
• Jenn Simmons, Operations & Senior Garden Manager, Ruskin Gardens
• BC DwightGood, Fire Marshal, City of Morgan Hill