Puddle-Stompers

Valley Water Scheduler

The Valley Water Scheduler creates custom irrigation schedules for any address in California. We created it for Santa Clara Valley Water District, also known as Valley Water.
This scheduler uses your California address and historical weather data to calculate an irrigation schedule for your landscape. For returning users, simply enter your address to view your saved controller information and schedule.

You can find the app here: https://www.valleywaterscheduler.com/

App credits: Programming and algorithms by Lori Palmquist. User interface and graphic design by Linda Brandon.

Drip Designer
Premium app (Members only)

The Drip Designer app (temporarily out of order) puts irrigation design superpowers into the hands of the user. It is a platform that generates valuable first-level irrigation design and water management information about landscape projects that the user can then provide to their clients.

This app takes our original WUCOLS plant search tool (WaterWonk.us), and expands it into a platform for achieving various irrigation design and installation productivity results. Processing a project through this app outputs a pdf report that can be handed over to the client and/or the installing contractor. It takes most of the guesswork out of determining how best to design and schedule drip systems for new and established landscapes.

Also included in this app's workspace is a resource page that is a virtual treasure trove of drip design information, tips, links to videos, and much more. You have to see it to believe it!

Create a project plant list and apply drip design parameters to it
Creating a plant list will immediately generate information on peak water requirements for each of the plants on the list. The worksheets for point source drip and line source drip provide the opportunity to either gather water-use data for the whole landscape, or divide the landscape into separate zones.
Use a WUCOLS plant search app with expanded search capabilities
The WUCOLS plant database search tool is more powerful than the ones publicly offered. We have added exposure, plant width, and plant height to the searchable criteria, as well as being able to search Bob Perry’s excellent reduced summer water plant list.
Create custom plant lists for different purposes
Currently, custom lists are created by us on request.

This app available to Puddle-Stompers members upon request. (Sorry, temporarily out of order)

App credits: Programming and algorithms by Lori Palmquist. User interface and graphic design by Linda Brandon.

WaterWonk WUCOLS Database Search Tool - Enhanced Search Criteria
Premium app (Members only)

This app (temporarily out of order) lives inside the platform of the Drip Designer app, described above. We have been receiving requests from users of the WaterWonk.us WUCOLS search tool for increased functionality for the tool. This app has answered many of those requests.

We added more search criteria to the mix: exposure, plant heights, and plant widths. We've also plugged in auto-complete functionality into the search field for much easier and faster plant searching.

This app available to Puddle-Stompers members upon request.

App credits: Programming and algorithms by Lori Palmquist. User interface and graphic design by Linda Brandon.

Web Soil Survey Search

This app (temporarily out of order) provides the possible soil type of any address in the continental United States. It taps directly into the database of the USDA NRCS website (U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, National Resource Conservation Service). It very simply shows the soil type determined from soil surveys. This is a premium app that can be accessed by subscribing to the Puddle-Stompers site. You can find it here.

App credits: Programming, algorithms, and user interface by Lori Palmquist.

Emitterline Calculator

Use this tool to calculate the hydraulics of an irrigation zone designed with emitterline tubing. The user enters the area of the zone in square feet, then chooses an emitter flow, emitter spacing, and row spacing from the drop-down menus in the tool. The hydraulics for the zone will then be calculated, as well as the number of linear feet of tubing needed. Other relevant data is given that allows the user to make the best choices for designing a zone that uses an emitterline grid. This is a premium app that can be accessed by subscribing to the Puddle- Stompers site. You can find it here.

App credits: Programming, algorithms, and user interface by Lori Palmquist.

WELO Calculator for California

This tool is for running the water-use calculations for WELO projects (Water-Efficient Landscape Ordinance for California) or for any project where you would like to know how the landscape would measure up to a water budget. It is set up to match the Appendix B form in the MWELO document from December 2015. This tool is also great for running potential scenarios for different square footages and water-use values. It can be a useful design tool in this way. You can find it at WaterWonk.us/welo.

App credits: Programming, algorithms, and user interface by Lori Palmquist.

How Much Water?

This app is for finding out how much water any plant or planted area needs in any incorporated city in California, for any time period. This tool is based on the WUCOLS list (Water-Efficient Landscape Ordinance for California). You can find it at WaterWonk.us/how-much.

App credits: Programming, algorithms, and user interface by Lori Palmquist.

Irrcalc - Irrigation Run-time Calculator

This app is for irrigation scheduling for landscape professionals. It assumes the user understands ETo, plant factors, precipitation rates, and distribution uniformity. The output of this app is weekly run-time minutes. You may enter in five zones at a time. At this time, there is no way to capture the output of this app, other than to take a screen shot. You can find it at waterwonk.us/irrcalc.

App credits: Programming, algorithms, and user interface by Lori Palmquist.

WaterWonk WUCOLS Database Search Tool (current free version)

This is the third generation of our WUCOLS-based plant database search tool. (Water Use Classifications of Landscape Species for California) It has been housed at WaterWonk.us since early 2012. The user interface was designed by Linda Brandon, an award- winning graphic designer; and the app and search algorithms were created and programmed by Lori Palmquist. It is our current free WaterWonk WUCOLS search tool. This app has grown in popularity over the years. We currently have more than 1,200 active registered users, who have logged more than 63,000 plant searches, just since May 1, 2018. You can find it at WaterWonk.us.

App credits: Programming and algorithms by Lori Palmquist. User interface and graphic design by Linda Brandon.

WaterWonk WUCOLS III Search Tool for Cell Phones

This is the mobile version of our WUCOLS-based plant database search tool, and has been housed at WaterWonk.us since early 2012 (Water Use Classifications of Landscape Species for California). The user interface was created by graphic designer Linda Brandon; and the app and search algorithms were developed and programmed by Lori Palmquist. This app makes the WUCOLS list accessible on cell phones.

We created this app before WUCOLS III was updated to WUCOLS IV. When the update came out in 2014, we had a tough time figuring out how we could handle five more plant-type categories and 1,600 more plants, on the small-format phone version. As we were unable to reconcile this, we decided to postpone porting this new version for the phone. This app version (WUCOLS III) is missing the 1,600 new plants found in version IV. However, we have updated the plant classifications to the most current ones. So now, in 2019, the classifications are all correct and current, but the new plants from the latest update are missing. m.WaterWonk.us.

App credits: Programming and algorithms by Lori Palmquist. User interface and graphic design by Linda Brandon.

WhenToWater Irrigation Scheduler for California

This web application is a free landscape irrigation scheduler for California, based on historical weather data. This app features an in-app drawing program that allows the user to draw a site map, as well as calculate an irrigation schedule for either a base schedule, or a month-to-month schedule for a whole year. This app works well on all devices except cell phones. The gorgeous user interface was created by graphic designer Linda Brandon; and the app was developed and programmed by Lori Palmquist. This project was funded by California Department of Water Resources, U.S. Department of the Interior, Municipal Water District of Orange County, and other water agencies in California. It was created by WaterWonk in cooperation with EcoLandscape California (now merged with ReScape California). It has been serving California since January of 2016, at no cost to users. You can find it at http://whentowater.loripalmquist.com/.

App credits: Programming by Lori Palmquist. User interface and graphic design by Linda Brandon. Algorithms by the California Department of Water Resources. Project management by Cheryl Buckwalter representing EcoLandscape California, and Melissa Baum-Haley and Joe Berg representing Municipal Water District of Orange County.

Sacramento Region Smart Irrigation Scheduler

This irrigation scheduling app was created for the Sacramento region of California, and is a free public service. It covers Sacramento, Yolo, El Dorado, and Placer counties. It is based on current weather. The program goes out to the CIMIS website (California Irrigation Management Information System), and retrieves the ETo values for the past week. It then creates an irrigation schedule of weekly run-time minutes based on that data. The gorgeous user interface was created by graphic designer Linda Brandon; and the app and scheduling algorithm was developed and programmed by Lori Palmquist. This app was paid for by the Water Forum, and created by WaterWonk in cooperation with the Regional Water Authority in Citrus Heights, CA, and EcoLandscape California (now merged with ReScape California). It has been serving the Sacramento Region since January of 2015. You can find it at Beyondthedrought.com .

App credits: Programming and algorithms by Lori Palmquist. User interface and graphic design by Linda Brandon. Project management by Cheryl Buckwalter representing EcoLandscape California.

Beyond the Drought Website

The BeyondTheDrought website was created by WaterWonk (Lori Palmquist and Linda Brandon) in cooperation with EcoLandscape California and the Regional Water Authority of Sacramento, and funded by the Water Forum of Sacramento. The website features nine videos, as well as the Sacramento Region Smart Irrigation Scheduler featured above. The videos direct the public how to manage their landscapes in times of drought. The videos were filmed by videographer Margo Dean, and featured Cheryl Buckwalter and Lori Palmquist as the experts. Beyondthedrought.com

App credits: Programming by Lori Palmquist. User interface and graphic design by Linda Brandon. Project management by Cheryl Buckwalter representing EcoLandscape California.

The New California Landscape Website

The New California Landscape website was an extensive and exciting project we created in cooperation with EcoLandscape California, back in 2015. This project was a collaboration between around 12 landscape and graphics professionals, all at the top of their game. The product consists of four stunning templates of water-efficient and sustainable landscape and irrigation design. You have to go there and surf around the site to take in the scope and value of its offerings. Words written here cannot convey the treasure trove that is there. See for yourself, by visiting New California Landscape website.

App credits: Programming by Lori Palmquist. User interface and graphic design by Linda Brandon. Project management by Cheryl Buckwalter representing EcoLandscape California.

Flash Cards - Puddle-Stompers website offering (Members only)

Our Flash Cards app is a service on the Puddle-Stompers site. It offers the user a way to either brush up on existing knowledge, or study for exams and certifications. So far, 11 subjects are offered for study: All Subjects, Sprinkler Auditing, Drip, Water Efficiency, Irrigation Formulas, Hydraulics, QWEL, Scheduling, Smart Controllers, Soil, and Troubleshooting and Repair.

The Flash Cards present facts randomly in the category chosen. If the user clicks the "All" button, any of the facts across all subjects could be displayed. The user can proceed at her own pace, clicking any button to go on to another fact. These facts are used to generate quiz questions for the app called "Flash Quizzes." Cycling through and understanding all of the facts, would give one excellent, supplemental study material for various trade certification exams. Find this app here.

App credits: Programming, algorithms, and user interface by Lori Palmquist.

Flash Quizzes - Puddle-Stompers website offering (Members only)

Our Flash Quizzes are a service on the Puddle-Stompers site. They offer a way to test oneself on the subjects covered in the Flash Cards. So far, 11 subjects are offered: All Subjects, Sprinkler Auditing, Drip, Water Efficiency, Irrigation Formulas, Hydraulics, QWEL, Scheduling, Smart Controllers, Soil, and Troubleshooting and Repair.

This app chooses questions randomly in the chosen category. If the user clicks the "All" button, any of the facts in our collection could be displayed. The user proceeds at her own pace, clicking a button to go on to another fact. If needed, the answer to each question is provided.

Once the user has cycled through and understands all of the questions and answers, a much greater understanding of irrigation water efficiency will have been achieved. Find this app here.

App credits: Programming, algorithms, and user interface by Lori Palmquist.

Monthly ETo Values for California

This app is a reference that lists historical, monthly ETo values for every incorporated city in California. We extrapolated this data from the ETo values found in the MWELO document, in Appendix A (Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance). This listing is proprietary. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the values listed. You can find the Monthly ETo Values at http://WaterWonk.us/monthly_eto.php.

App credits: Programming, algorithms, and user interface by Lori Palmquist.

Weekly ETo Values for California

This app is a reference that lists historical weekly ETo values for every incorporated city in California. We extrapolated this data from the ETo values found in the MWELO document, in Appendix A (Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance). This listing is proprietary. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the values listed. You can find the Weekly ETo Values at http://WaterWonk.us/weekly_eto.php.

App credits: Programming, algorithms, and user interface by Lori Palmquist.

ETAF Irrigation Study - Water Use Processing Tool (retired)

This is the water meter and flow sensor processing app that Lori Palmquist created for the ETAF Irrigation Study (Evapotranspiration Adjustment Factor). This study was run by the California Department of Water Resources from 2012 through 2016. The lead investigator was Dave Fujino, at the California Center for Urban Horticulture at UC Davis. William Baker and Associates of Temecula, CA did a fantastic job of administering the study. This study monitored the irrigation water use at 31 sites in six sites in Northern California in Sacramento and San Joaquin Counties, and 25 sites in Southern California.

Lori Palmquist and Cheryl Buckwalter, owner of Landscape Liaisons, worked with William Baker and Associates LLC in Temecula CA to facilitate and monitor the Northern California sites. Lori Palmquist created and programmed this tool so that all auditors in the project could enter their water meter and flow sensor readings. The tool calculated the amount of water, applied a pre-set water budget, and produced data that was used in the study.

App credits: Programming, algorithms, and user interface by Lori Palmquist.

Second WUCOLS Tool (retired)

This was our second generation WUCOLS-based search tool that was housed at Hydrozone-Pro.com from 2011-2012 (Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance for California). It was also the first Drip Calculator tool Lori developed. It assigned the point source emitters to each individual plant, based on its water-use value, the size of the plant, and the ETo of the city of the project. It also produced a weekly run-time schedule for every month of the year.

This tool was used by many landscape professionals in the field. It was retired in late 2012, as Lori started porting it over to a different programming language, adding the functionality of creating and saving projects. This tool reappeared in March of 2018 as the Drip Designer app, which is currently in beta test.

App credits: Programming, algorithms, and user interface by Lori Palmquist.

First WUCOLS Tool (retired)

This was our original WUCOLS-based search tool that was housed at Hydrozone-Pro.com from 2010-2011 (Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance for California). This is the web application that started it all. Lori Palmquist and Linda Brandon paid a web developer to create this first tool. After this was up and running publicly, Lori decided to learn to program herself, and created the rest of the web apps and tools, after this one. This first tool not only created a WUCOLS plant list, but also processed the list as a WELO project, and calculated the water budget (MAWA) and the water use (ETWU) of the plant list for the city of the project.

[NOTE: The WUCOLS project was initiated and funded by the Water Use Efficiency Office of the California Department of Water Resources (DWR). Work was directed by the University of California Cooperative Extension.]

App credits: Programming, algorithms, and user interface by Lori Palmquist.

WELD Tool - our first WUCOLS online database (retired)

This is the very first app we developed back in 2010, and it converted the WUCOLS list from a pdf to a web database look-up application. I would love to say we were the first to put the WUCOLS list online, but these folks beat us to it. So our WELD Tool was the second application on the web to incorporate an online WUCOLS look-up database. The official version (UCANR) of the online WUCOLS list came along a few years later, in January of 2014.

A web programmer and developer named Dana Keil programmed the app and Lori Palmquist provided the algorithms. This app was programmed in a server-side language called Web-DNA that was so obscure, and expensive to house on a hosting service, that Lori decided to learn to program herself, and port this app over to php. She created all the rest of the apps after this one.

This tool was the precursor to the WELO Calculator for California that Lori later developed, which is shown above. It allowed the user to enter projects, and process the water-use data for each irrigation zone in the project. Lori used this tool in her irrigation design practice for several years, while at the same time developing other similar apps that were more powerful and fully-featured.

App credits: Algorithms by Lori Palmquist. User interface by Linda Brandon Programming by Dr. Dana Keil.