APRIL 2014 SUNRAYS | 9
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The usual answer is, “The Board manages the affairs of the
Association,” but in reality, there is so much more. Good boards
use common sense when making decisions, look for ways to
improve communication with the members of the community,
follow a well-designed business plan and value honesty and fair-
ness. This is how a good Board member governs.
Board Member Views
Continued from the previous page
Water Matters
Submitted by Carlton M Mathis, Water Management
Due to logistics, I am required to write
these articles at least one month in
advance, which, as youmay imagine,
can be quite challenging. Because so
much of what I write about is season-
ally specific, I have to share informa-
tion that will be relevant to weather
conditions being experienced at the
time of distribution of this article, and not so much at
its inception. Even as I write, temperatures today are
expected to reach near 80 degrees, when just yesterday
morning it was 27 degrees. At this moment, the forecast
for rain this coming Sunday is 80 percent, but that will
probably change by tomorrow morning—hence, the
expression, “If you don’t like the weather in Central
Texas, wait a couple of days.”
Every year, I attend several water and irrigation semi-
nars, two of which were held recently. Here are a few of
the higher points I came away with from these seminars:
• Long-term weather models for this year are some-
what inconclusive and noncommittal. My overall
interpretation is that we are going to have an average
summer of temperatures and rainfall. According to
Bob Rose, LCRA’s chief meteorologist, there is also
an above-average chance that we will see a wetter
than normal autumn due to an El Niño/La Niña
pattern change.
• Though not everyone realizes this, all water is re-
cycled; it is a finite resource. We are drinking the
same water the dinosaurs drank.
• Irrigation comprises 55 percent to 80 percent of all
water use in the United States—that’s more than
all other uses for water combined!
Current Water Restrictions
The current watering restrictions from the City of
Georgetown allow you to water on up to two (2) days
per week based on your address. It is probable that
this is the new norm. Exact guidelines can be found
at their website: water.georgetown.org.
I would recommend watering one day a week, or two
days a week at 50 percent water budget.
