SAWS PROJECT DRAWS CLOSER BUT NO AGREEMENT YET

            For the past two years, TPT has been working with the San Antonio Water System (SAWS) and Texas A&M University to develop a research project to determine which grass varieties would be acceptable to San Antonio. 

            While no agreement has been reached, the plan is to test varieties for their ability to recover from a 60-day drought.  The site will be Bladerunner Farms’ Leon Creek facility that is owned by SAWS.  Up to 25 varieties can be tested.  A rainout shelter is proposed that would cover the plots during a rainfall event.  The grasses will be grown on four inches of topsoil.  The San Antonio City Council recently passed an ordinance requiring a minimum of four inches of topsoil on new construction.

            Essentially, SAWS wants to know which grasses growing on four inches of soil will recover following a sixty-day drought. 

            University personnel from the Soil and Crop Sciences turfgrass section and the Department of Agricultural Engineering will oversee the research. The study will be a two-year project.  In addition to the drought study, TPT hopes to gain information on the agronomic characteristics of the grasses.

            It is anticipated that SAWS will contribute over $100,000 to the effort.  As the current plan stands, TPT will invest $23,500 to the research.  Most of this money is expected to be recovered through entry fees for the grasses.

            SAWS wants to include all the grasses that are currently being sold in San Antonio.   Public varieties will not be charged a fee but proprietary varieties will.  TPT will notify its members by mail when the agreement is reached.  Members wishing to enter varieties in the test will be required to furnish one-half pallet of grass.

            In addition to the test under the rainout shelter, we will have plots on native soil without root restrictions.  For more information, contact John Cosper at 979-531-9306.