Knowledge Base

The City of Thornton Parks & Forestry Division is responsible for maintenance of over 960 acres of parks and public lands. We use a variety of water delivery methods from overhead spray irrigation to subsurface drip irrigation. It is our intent to replace the loss of ET, evapotranspiration, when possible; however, site conditions dictate what final adjustments are made to watering schedules. ET is the loss of water from evaporation of water from the soil and transpiration by the plant. This ET rating is generally given on local weather reports.

The City follows a practice called Cycle and Soak when we apply the water to our landscapes. Our maintenance staff will determine what the infiltration rate is for the soil, this is how much water the soil can take in before the water begins to puddle or run off.  This infiltration rate is different throughout the City as well as throughout any given park. Slope areas have a different rate than flat areas; clay soils have different rates than amended soils or sandy loam soils. High-use compacted areas have a different rate than passive areas. Once the infiltration rate is determined for that park area, the water is divided into 2 or 3 watering cycles. The watering cycle will water for a given time-frame then the water is allowed to soak into the soil before the second or third cycle begins. This practice allows for the soil to take in more water over a given period of time and helps to promote deeper roots for the turf or plant.

Given the number of acres we have to water, it is not always possible to complete the watering schedules between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. We also have to give high-use sport turf areas different watering schedules to keep the sites safe for play while maintaining a viable green lawn. If you have any questions about our watering practices, please call us at 303-255-7833 or enter a request for service.