Case Studies

Fort Huachuca - Main Gate, Arizona

John Miller studied forestry at the University of Washington - big trees and a wet climate were his forte. But when he moved from his position at Fort Lewis to his present position as Forester at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, he entered the sunbelt of the hot, dry southwest. About five years ago at Fort Huachuca, he was offered the opportunity to tackle the job of conserving water at the Fort's main gate. John developed a plan that, once implemented, reduced water consumption by 99% and water costs by 82.5% at the main gate, when compared to the previous year, and saved a large, unknown amount of money.

How did he do it?

John recognized that the Bermuda grass must go. With the help of volunteers, John had about 2.5 acres of the water-loving grass removed, and replaced it with decomposed granite in the natural desert hues of pinks, purples and whites. Other water hungry plants, such as the Tombstone Rose, were also removed. In their place, John planted trees from climates similar to Arizona's - middle east pines, Australian eucalyptus, mesquites - and plants that like dry arid environments - purple fountain grass, yucca, agave, prickly pear, desert spoon, Hesperalo and Mexican primrose. He created some relief with the flat landscape by constructing small hills, and used landscape fabric to help stabilize soils.

The savings John has achieved have gone beyond water conservation. By commissioning the help of volunteers, John saved the Fort approximately $87,000 in labor costs. Recurring savings are also gained through the minimization of mowing and shrub maintenance, fertilization and hatching.

The next project John is planning involves the capturing of runoff water, or water harvesting. The project, if implemented, will involve the construction of gabions across creeks to help slow the runoff and form water catchment areas, some of which could hold as much as a quarter acre of water. Trees would be planted along the edges of the creeks and water catchment areas to help stabilize the banks and hold water in the soils.

John's work has been recognized by FEMP, and in 1996 he was awarded the “Beneficial Landscaping Practices Award to an Individual.”

John Miller can be reached at (520) 533-5701, or email: millerj@huachuca-emh1.army.mil.

Funding for this project is provided by US Department of Energy as part of their Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP). For further information visit the FEMP web site.