Thacher School outdoor learning laboratory
The Thacher School Water Management Plan (WMP) analyzes water resources, both existing and available to Thacher School. As part of the WMP, Watershed Progressive helped establish the Thacher School Orchard Best Management Practices (BMP) Laboratory on the 12.5 acres of citrus and avocado orchards at the campus. The goal of the project is to identify and implement water savings strategies in the orchards and monitor their effectiveness while serving as a “living laboratory” for the students and neighbors of Thacher School.
In turn, all identified water management recommendations were formed with these objectives:
• Increase stewardship and leadership opportunities for Thacher School community
• Increase independence of water resources for Thacher School
• Reduce water consumption and expenditures from offsite sources
• Reduce water consumption from ecologically sensitive sources, such as Thacher Creek
• Decrease nutrient loading in San Antonio watershed
• Decreasing runoff velocity and volumes during storm events
• Recharging groundwater base flows for landscape availability and ecological benefits
