Contact: Larry Rupp, 435-797-2099, larry.rupp@usu.edu
Writer: Jacob Roskelley, 435-797-1350, jacobr@cc.usu.edu
LOGAN - Three Utah State University professors received the U.S.
Department of the Interior's Cooperative Conservation Award during
a ceremony June 14 in the Agricultural Science Building on the USU
campus.
The Cooperative Conservation Award was presented to Larry Rupp,
department head of Plants, Soils and Biometeorology; Roger Kjelgren
and Kelly Kopp, professors in the same department. All received the
award for their research and work on urban water conservation
performed in cooperation with Michael Stuver and Fred Liljegren of
the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's Upper Colorado Region.
"This is a great honor for USU and an accomplishment to work in
conjunction with such fine national researchers on a project that has
real impact," said Brent Miller, USU's vice president for research.
"This research is one example of the hard work being done by
professors and students throughout the university."
Rupp, Kjelgren and Kopp helped implement the Landscape Irrigation
Simplified program that educates residential, commercial and
institutional land owners about water use on turfgrass. The program,
which was supported by congressionally directed funds, teaches how
much water to apply to grass landscapes, how often to apply it and
how to apply it evenly.
"We searched to find an area of water conservation we could study
that would affect the most lives," said Kopp. "That desire led us to
some very interesting research."
The team looked at recent studies showing that turfgrass is the
largest irrigated crop in the United States. Research done by Rupp
and Kjelgren showed that double the amount of water, or more, is
applied to turfgrass than needed.
One of the many criteria of the award was promoting the use of
natural resources in a responsible manner that encourages a healthy
and dynamic economy. The programs created by these professors
provide an opportunity for university graduates, trained in these
principles, to educate professionals and the public about responsible
water usage.
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View the press release as it appeared on Utah State Today.
