Irrigation and Landscaping Update – Summer 2022

Irrigation The City of Austin is implementing Stage 1 water conservation measures beginning June 6, 2022. This means that they will be reducing the total number of hours available for watering via automatic irrigation systems from 15 hours to 13 hours per allowed day. They will also be increasing their investigation into non-compliance reports received via Austin 3-1-1 and water waste patrols. For details: https://www.austintexas.gov/news/austin-enters-stage-1-drought-contingency-plan-0 This stage has resulted in the postponement of two HOA projects: replacement of (8) front-yard (mainly) lacebark elms that were lost from last year’s freeze and storms, and the planting of new nandinas to “beautify” several electrical boxes around the Rim. Because there is only one day that our irrigation can run per week, and the new tree and nandina shrub watering requires more than that, those projects will be postponed to the next suitable planting period in the fall. Our “multi-family” automatic irrigation will now run for approximately 10 minutes per zone on Tuesdays from midnight – 8 am and from 7 pm – midnight. (Weeks with significant rainfall may cause an interruption of this schedule.) Tenants may add further water to grass, plants, and trees with a hand-held hose without restrictions, and/or water with hose-end sprinklers on Tuesdays at the same times as our irrigation schedule above. Exempt from Stage 1 restrictions are automatic bubblers, automatic drip irrigation, and soaker hoses beneath the tree canopy and in vegetable gardens. Patio misters are limited to the hours between 4 pm and midnight. Landscaping Because of crew scheduling and resource issues, our HOA Board is working with Yellowstone Landscaping for May, June, and July to alternate backyard lawn mowing, trimming, and blowing unit back yards with common area mowing on a weekly basis. There will also be limited front yard shrub trimming during this time. On the other hand, there will be another clearing of our fire prevention zone behind units 1-27 and weekly road leaf and debris removal during the next two months. Yellowstone has provided overall excellent service throughout the year and apologizes for these limitations. They have worked with the Board to minimize disruption of our community and to maintain the attractiveness of our neighborhood since they joined us this past year. We look forward to getting back to “full landscaping” mode in August, and with new trees, enhanced entrance plantings, and other special projects that the Board has planned. We would like to thank our owners and tenants for their understanding and patience with the above temporary changes. June 2, 2022