- Home
- Government
- Departments I through Z
- Utilities
- About Aspen Water
- Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper Program
Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper Program
QWEL in Aspen
The City of Aspen is a Professional Certifying Organization (PCO) for the Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper Program. Aspen became a PCO in 2018 in order to provide local landscape professionals with a free training course to become certified third party water auditors as specified in Aspen’s Water Efficient Landscaping Standards.
The Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper program is an affordable, local training providing landscape professionals with 20+ hours of education on principles of proper plant selection for the local climate, irrigation system design and maintenance, and irrigation system programming and operation. QWEL is an EPA WaterSense labeled Professional Certification Program for Irrigation System Audits.
COVID-19 Landscape Rules
As of April 23, 2020 you may return to your landscape jobs in Aspen; however, you must adhere to Pitkin County Public Health rules.
English Version:
Spanish Version:
(https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HI8C_j3zk5TRk-W8IlDgWxIM6wy8B3Bh/view?usp=sharing)
In order to obtain the QWEL certificate, an individual must demonstrate their ability to perform an irrigation system audit and pass the QWEL exam.
The list of topics covered in the QWEL curriculum includes:
• Where Your Water Comes From
• Irrigation Systems
• Efficient Irrigation
• Soils
• Plants
• Water Management
• Determining Water Budgets
• Irrigation Scheduling
• Irrigation Controllers
• Valve, Controller and Field Wire Trouble Shooting
• New Technology
• Putting It All Together
Upcoming Classes:
This virtual Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper (QWEL) Training is sponsored by the City of Aspen and registration is free for local landscape professionals in the Roaring Fork Valley.
Interested in Attending: This class is for landscape professionals working in the Roaring Fork Valley. Please contact Lindsay Rogers (ler@waternow.org) if you would like to attend and do not live and work in the Aspen area.
More information will be provided to attendees after registering.
Space is limited and participants will be accepted on a first come, first serve basis! Click Here to Sign-Up
Location: Virtual
Presenter: Brandi Rice, Norris Design Joshua Orth, Norris Design Bob Howey, Irrigation Analysis Doug Smith, Irrigation Analysis Rick Magill, City of Aspen Rob Gregor, City of Aspen Steve Hunter, City of Aspen Chris Menges, City of Aspen
When:
Monday, November 16th, 2020 8am - 10am and then again from 2pm - 4pm - Location: Virtual
Tuesday, November 17th, 2020 8am - 10am and then again from 2pm - 4pm - Location: Virtual
Wednesday, November 18th, 2020 8am - 10am and then again from 2pm - 4pm - Location: Virtual
Thursday, November 19th, 2020 8am - 10am and then again from 2pm - 4pm - Location: Virtual
Friday, November 20th, 2020 8am - 10am and then again from 2pm - 4pm - Location: Virtual
Registration Closes: 11/12/2020
Sponsored by: City of Aspen
For more information, contact:
Lindsay Rogersler@waternow.org
415-360-2999
City of Aspen Classes:
The City of Aspen will host its 3rd QWEL Training in Spring 2020. Please check back for training dates or Click Here to Sign-Up to receive notifications about upcoming QWEL trainings.
Landscape professionals may also elect to participate in QWEL trainings offered by other professional certifying organizations in - and outside of - Colorado. You can view the full QWEL training calendar here. If you receive your certification from a different QWEL PCO, please contact Lee Ledesma to be added to the Certified Auditors webpage and to receive valuable Aspen-specific QWEL training materials.
Past Classes:
Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper Training Course
May 20th - 22nd, 2019, 9am -5pm
Aspen Police Department, 540 East Main Street, Aspen, CO 81611 in the Community Meeting Room (2nd Floor)
July 9th – 11th, 2018 | 9am – 5pm
18 Truscott Place, Aspen, CO 81611
Read highlights from Aspen’s first QWEL Training here.
QWEL professionals receive quarterly newsletters with program updates, Continuing Education Unit (CEU) opportunities, and other relevant water efficient landscaping information. Past newsletters are archived below:
The City of Aspen’s QWEL Program is made possible with the support of the following organizations:
WaterNow Alliance is a network of local water decision-makers across the county who want to advance sustainable, affordable, climate resilient water solutions in their communities. WaterNow has been a QWEL Professional Certifying Organization since 2015 and provides support to the City of Aspen in developing and maintaining their QWEL program.
Roaring Fork Conservancy is one of the largest watershed organizations in Colorado and serves residents and visitors throughout the Roaring Fork Valley through school and community-based Watershed Education programs and Watershed Action Projects. The organization provides outreach support and guest instruction for the QWEL program.
Element Water Consulting is a water resources engineering and hydrological consulting firm that supports the development and management of the QWEL program.
Hunter Industries has provided in-kind donations and guest instruction.
Rachio has provided in-kind donations and guest instruction.
Are you interested in renovating an existing landscape or creating a new yard?
Trained in water-wise landscape practices including soil selection, irrigation system design and water management, a QWEL professional will help meet your landscape needs while keeping your outdoor water use in check. QWEL professionals are third party Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditors and will assist homeowners, developers, and design professionals in meeting the irrigation audit requirements of Aspen’s Landscape Ordinance.
Note: Some individuals who earned a QWEL certificate may not appear on this list due to their publication selection.
Nick Calderone | Escape Garden Design | Residential, Residential Development, Commercial | calderonenick@gmail.com | 970-920-3700 |
Tom Friel | Roaring Fork Landscapes, Inc. | Residential, Residential Development, Commercial | Tomfriel@roaringforklandscapes.com | 970-309-4578 |
Bob Howey | Irrigation Analysis | Residential Development, Commercial | Bhowey@Irrigationanalysis.com | 303-726-1952 |
Catherine Markle | Alpine Design & Planning, Inc. | Residential, Residential Development, Commercial | alpinedp@comcast.net | 970-379-3996 |
Doug Smith | Irrigation Analysis | Commercial | Dsmith@Irrigationanalysis.com | 303-471-7377 |
John Steuble | Grand Junction Pipe & Supply | Residential, Residential Development, Commercial | john.steuble@gjpipe.com | 970-243-4604 |
Kevin Tucker | Escape Garden Design | Residential | kevin@escapegardendesign.com | 970-920-3700 |
Shawn Bailey | Premier Landworks | Residential, Residential Development, Commercial | sbturfman@gmail.com | 970-319-7575 |
Rachel Bechhoefer | Sundew Design, LLC. | Residential, Residential Development | sundewdesign@gmail.com | 303-903-1816 |
Neil Reilly | Sundew Design, LLC. | Residential, Residential Development, Commercial | sundewdesign@gmail.com | 303-903-1816 |
Michael Pagan | Aspen Grove Property Services | Residential, Residential Development, Commercial | mike@aspengrovepropertyservices.com | 970-279-5530 |
Sean Solon | Fitzgerald Landscaping | Residential, Residential Development | info@fitzgeraldlandscaping.com | 970-920-3005 |
Jeff McMahan | Fitzgerald Landscaping | Residential, Residential Development, Commercial | info@fitzgeraldlandscaping.com | 970-920-3003 |
Brandi Rice | Norris Design | Commercial | brice@norris-design.com | 970-368-7068 |
William Howell | Aspen Tree Service, Inc. | Residential, Residential Development | bill@myaspentree.com | 970-420-0796 |
Ryan Smith | GreenSmith, LLC. | Residential, Residential Development, Commercial | ryanwaynesmith@gmail.com | 970-987-1436 |
Nad Luchetta | Busy Beaver Gardening | Residential, Residential Development | slowida@yahoo.com | 970-309-6450 |
Demetrios Hassos | Alpine Sprinkler Repair | Residential, Residential Development, Commercial | alpinesprinklerrepair@yahoo.com | 970-927-8700 |
Ed Price | Hines Inc. | Residential, Residential Development, Commercial | ed@hinesinc.com,matt@hinesinc.com, nate@hinesinc.com | 970-282-1800 |
Travis Green | Green Landscapes | Residential, Residential Development, Commercial | greenlandscapesllc@gmail.com | 970-319-8696 |
Chris Preusch | Ute City Landworks, Inc. | Residential | Utecitylandworks@hughes.net | 970-923-5157 |
Tiffany Chin | Spoonful of Manuka | Residential, Residential Development, Commercial | tl808c@gmail.com | |
Britni Johnson | Stan Clauson Associates | Residential, Residential Development, Commercial | britni@scaplanning.com | 970-925-2323 |
Joshua Borgmann | Hines Inc. | Residential, Residential Development, Commercial | josh@hinesinc.com | 970-818-1373 |
Rick Morey | R2 Systems, LLC | Residential, Residential Development, Commercial | rickmorey@gmail.com | 970-640-3951 |
Bryan Becker | Nordic Gardens Landscape Company | Residential, Residential Development, Commercial | accounting@nordicgardens.co | 970-963-3023 |
John Washburn | Nordic Gardens Landscape Company | Residential, Residential Development, Commercial | accounting@nordicgardens.co | 970-963-3023 |
Contact Us
Lee Ledesma
Utilities Finance & Administrative Manager
970-429-1975