wa+er^sm is a collaboration of experts in water conservation and advanced design of sustainable / water saving landscape and irrigation solutions. For the past 20 years, Environs Landscape Architecture has worked together with water conservation and irrigation experts to design / redesign “regionally appropriate” landscape and irrigation systems for diverse projects in the Southwest U.S. It is with this applied understanding of drought conditions and water restrictions in California (now a Stage 2 Drought Alert) and expertise in landscape and irrigation that the wa+er^sm (water analysis and evaluation resource) team was formed. wa+er^sm brings new technologies and approaches to address the needs of property owners, property managers and homeowner associations throughout San Diego and the Southern California region.

Our Mission

Our passion and mission is to share and leverage our substantial experience and proprietary process to help property owners and property managers:

• Understand the impact of water use restrictions and water rate increases, now and in the future
• Evaluate current site water usage in landscaped areas and identify areas for greatest opportunity and impact to meet compliance targets, conserve and reduce water use, and save money
• Identify existing site conditions / issues and prepare detailed recommendations
• Design and recommend regionally-appropriate plant materials and landscape solutions
• Detail and implement water-saving and money-saving irrigation strategies and systems
• Optimize installation of landscape and irrigation improvements
• Maintain landscape investments and their functional and aesthetic value

The wa+er^sm Team

Martin Schmidt – Environs Landscape Architecture (www.environs.us)

Martin Schmidt, Principal and Registered Landscape Architect envisioned the wa+er^sm team, utilizing more than 20 years of experience with a broad spectrum of project types and scales. Expertise in sustainability and design of regionally appropriate landscapes and irrigation systems. Peter Abernathy, Managing Director with experience in landscape architecture, irrigation, value engineering, project management and construction. Kent Piekarczyk and Bethany Fee, Project Managers with experience in landscape architecture and Southern California plant materials.

Steve Baker

One of the top irrigation designers in California. More than 18 years of experience in water use assessment and design of water-conserving irrigation systems for projects ranging from residential to municipal public improvements, commercial real estate, sport complexes and master planned communities.

Lawrence O’Leary

One of the region’s experts in water use assessment and water conservation. More than 20 years of experience integrating scientific technologies to achieve water, energy and resource conservation.