PRESS RELEASE

DIRECTOR OF LOCAL NONPROFIT RECEIVES XERISCAPE LEADER AWARD

Lisa Shipek, Executive Director of the Tucson-based non-profit Watershed Management Group (WMG), was presented the 2008 Community Xeriscape Leader award in the annual Xeriscape Contest.  The contest, organized by the Arizona Department of Water Resources in partnership with the Tucson Botanical Gardens, was concluded in an evening ceremony at the Tucson Botanical Gardens on May 15th.  Judges included local designers, landscapers, and members of the Tucson Botanical Garden. Lisa was awarded the honor based on her achievements in promoting water harvesting and native landscaping in the Tucson community.  Stated contest officials, “Lisa is one of Tucson’s unsung heroes who hasn’t been in the limelight, but who has been in the trenches.  For the past five years Lisa has worked tirelessly to spread the word about water harvesting to people and organizations throughout our community.  She doesn’t just talk about it, she gets out there and DOES water harvesting!”

The award is timely in that it also marks WMG’s completion of six public demonstration sites on water harvesting.  Lisa has overseen the design and implementation of the six sites including Ward III Council Office, Esperanza en Escalante (transitional housing for veterans), and The Nature Conservancy offices.  

WMG’s vision is to make Tucson a shining example of water harvesting for the world.  Along with the demonstration sites, WMG has initiated several new programs to bring water harvesting to schools, neighborhood groups, and homeowners.  

To learn more about WMG’s innovative water harvesting programs, visit their website at www.watershedmg.org . 

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For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact
Lisa Shipek
Executive Director
Watershed Management Group
lisa@watershedmg.org
www.watershedmg.org
520-396-3266 (office)

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