Copyright 2023 Deseret News Publishing Company. They tore out turf and replaced it with native plants and rocks. The full statewide program will launch through utahwatersavers.com in spring 2023. You read that right, Why theres not much room for optimism with Utah water supplies, Saving the otherworldly place of Utahs declining inland sea, The Deseret News is on a journey to help the Great Salt Lake. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Mayor Randall said other policies being looked at include ordinances that required a certain percentage of landscaping be turf or prohibiting certain water-hogging trees in developments. What is skijoring? First, the property must have living and maintained grass and intend to replace it with a drought-resistant type of landscaping. The Washington County Water Conservancy District has said it has enough water to get through this year, but plans are being made for drastic measures in the years to come. Completed projects must be covered with 3-4 inches of gravel, bark, or compost mulch. Additional program rules will also require adoption of the following ordinance for a city to remain eligible for incentives: With the exception of Washington County, the statewide landscape rebate program will be facilitated through utahwatersavers.com. Sponsored by Rep. Val Peterson, R-Orem, HB242 provides $250 million in grants to fast track the metering of secondary water. But the bill also requires the state to take steps to conserve water. 1/12/2022. ", Water conservation authority considers 'turf buyback' as St. George reviews wasteful ordinances. At minimum, the following water-efficient landscape standards for new residential construction will be required: *Lawn limitations do not apply to residential lots with less than 250 square feet of landscaped area. Spencer Cox and Lt. SALT LAKE CITY Most of Utah's municipal water goes outdoors about 70 percent. You can sign up here for information on the turf buyback program. Gov. Further information can be found on the states website. The program, authorized by the Utah State Legislature earlier this year, is expected to launch in the spring. No matter what Cox proposes, there wont be any impact in the near term. Utah Gov. Spencer J. Cox joined water officials from around the state to highlight current conservation efforts and outline measures needed to plan for Utahs water future. "Were lush. sltrib.com 1996-2023 The Salt Lake Tribune. And can he win? Max Peck of West Jordan runs through the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District garden in West Jordan on Thursday, July 29, 2021. It. Should parents follow singer Pinks advice for kids and social media? "Because its more work!". The this is the Utah Legislatures passage of a dozen water-related bills and ensuing endorsement by Cox that transform them into law. This assessment has been folded into the, Many residential connections use secondary water for outside irrigation. Utah governor wants to buy back your lawn, Utah lawmakers took good first step on environment worries, Baby, its dry outside: How the drought is affecting Utah. The goalis to plant grass in areas where it's actively used The state passed a bill trying to change that. In those areas of Utah where meters have been installed to track use of secondary water, providers have found that consumption on a per-household basis has decreased by as much as 30%, and when compared against neighbors use, people become increasingly conscious about water savings. The bills, which will be . Rather than using grass as the default groundcover thats only walked on when its mowed, implementing a statewide rebate program will show that Utah is serious about conservation, Cox said. Lawn areas shall not exceed 50% of the total landscaped area for front and side yards.*. Is there a connection? Turf buyback programs like " Flip Your Strip " incentivize people to replace thirsty grass with waterwise options. No, This program is only for exisitng landscapes with grass park strips. The governor also said all secondary water systems should be metered. 06 Feb 2023 19:59:44 TownLift is a web and mobile-based Entertainment & News media outlet providing Park City and Summit County Utah with Breaking Local News & Community Updates. Gov. Rebate amount varies by location. New study says worst in 1,200 years. Apply for the program through your WaterSmart Customer Portal at mywater.stpud.us or contact the District for assistance at [email protected] or 530-544-6474. ii. Legislative Research and General Counsel. Consider that 99% of Utah is in severe drought and 28 of Utahs largest 45 reservoirs are below 55% of available capacity. Nominate Someone for a FOX 13 Dream Team Surprise! The federal government stopped states from removing people from Medicaid during the pandemic, but that's changing now. The division has partnered with the Central Utah, Jordan Valley, Washington County and Weber Basin Water Conservancy Districts to increase program awareness, increase funding and develop program requirements. While noting that turf buyback programs like Jordan Valley's Flip Your Strip are local-centric, Cox said he wants Utah to be the first state in the nation to implement its own. Cox hails generational effort in Utahs water law history, What happened after a governor asked his state to pray for rain, Anatomy of a drought: How the West may change for decades to come, How bad is the Western drought? The Bear Lake Monster Winterfest is an annual weekend event jam-packed full of fun activities the whole family can enjoy. This drought has caused all of us to reevaluate how we conserve and motivated us to do more, Gov. By leaving the ice in this year and not letting it melt and then freeze again, the water savings will be substantial. Turf buyback . Communities are welcome and encouraged to add additional standards, based on local need. People can buy it for $8.50 a bag, which will cover 1,000 square feet. Any culinary water use on lawns remains against city ordinance, and residents who abuse that rule could be subject to a fine as high as $250. Raising Our Political IQ. Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall issued a drought advisory in late March, looking ahead to what was predicted to be an unprecedented drought year. The city said new landscaping, especially lawns, require a lot of water to germinate, and it would be best to wait to plant it in a cooler time of the year. (Utah State Capitol. Governor Deidre Henderson ceremonially signed key water legislation on Monday, April 18, 2022. The program encourages waterwise landscaping, including having lawns only where theyre actively used. The Jimenezes have already recorded some water savings. Copyright 2021 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. H.B. It would be nice to see them replacing that with xeriscape," Mayor Randall said. Cox emphasized, too, that land use planning needs to be integrated with water use planning, but more often than not, that coordination does not take place at the level it should. How Orrin Hatch protected people of faith. "Im trying to do my part and set the example," the mayor said in a recent interview with FOX 13. To conserve, we need to plant grass in areas where its actively used, not treat grass as the default ground cover. Water Conservation Program staff will contact you to schedule a lawn verification site visit. Projects required by governmental codes or policy are not eligible for this program. The bill passed on the 3rd reading and will now be considered in the House. If we can cut back on that, weve already had substantial savings. This article is published through the Great Salt Lake Collaborative, a solutions journalism initiative that partners news, education and media organizations to help inform people about the plight of the Great Salt Lakeand what can be done to make a difference before it is too late. This will be the first statewide turf buyback program in the United States, with an expected rollout in the fall. Deidre Henderson, Department of Natural Resources Executive Director Brian Steed, St. George Mayor Michele Randall, Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District General Manager Bart Forsyth, Central Utah Water Conservancy District Water Conservation Manager Ricky Maloy and others attended the announcement at the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy Districts Conservation Garden in West Jordan. The newly passed turf buy-back bill encourages people to replace their lawns with landscaping that uses less water. Donate to the newsroom now. No, this program requires plants and drip irrigation to be installed. Deidre Henderson, South Jordan Mayor Dawn Ramsey and Central Utah Water Conservation District manager Rick Maloy participate in a press conference at the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District in West Jordan on Thursday. Now, for the bad news. Then theres how to pay for it. City Manager Jon Call said normally the use of any culinary water outside is strictly prohibited, but a shortened irrigation season is requiring flexibility to be built into the system. The this, he added, is the unprecedented funding effort of nearly $450 million for water-related infrastructure, and lastly the this is the extensive amount of collaboration to lift a desire for change into actual action. Shasta daisies are pictured in the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District garden in West Jordan on Thursday, July 29, 2021. #utleg #utpol . We have not put a lot of time and effort into our yard. He noted the water savings achieved over time would be enough to fill Jordanelle Reservoir or approximately 80,000 acre-feet. Communities can work with either a partner water district or the division to adopt landscape standards that qualify for the statewide program. Perennial plants must cover at least 50% of the converted park strip at maturity. Increase your curb appeal, reduce water use, and get money back when you participate in the Flip Your Strip rebate program. Appropriated $5 million for a statewide turf buyback program. LocalScapes target a revamped landscaping design for residents with reward money being distributed based on lot size and water savings. Thats a good first start.. Depending on where you live, there are different rebates that can be offered. This bill appropriated $250 million in. Existing state facilities will need to cut outdoor water use 5% by 2023 and 25% by 2026, under H.B. State Facility Water Conservation (HB121), Washington County Water Conservancy District site. Mayor Randall said some of the policy changes may be painful for some residents, but they are necessary. Legislative Research and General Counsel. Governor Deidre Henderson ceremonially sign key water legislation at Jordanelle Reservoir in Wasatch County on Monday, April 18, 2022. New developments in the area have prohibited turf lawns or kept them small. "We haven't gotten any rebates," Wilson said. Residents in these areas are eligible for rebates. Last month, Ogden officials declared a moderate water shortage and providers of secondary water from Pineview warned of a potential early shutdown. Receive up to $1.25 per square foot for replacing the lawn in your park strip with a water-efficient design. House Speaker Brad Wilson, R-Kaysville, worked to establish the Great Salt Lake Watershed Enhancement Program, which creates a $40 million water trust to help the dwindling lake. Did the Utah Legislature do enough to save the Great Salt Lake? . Plants may not exceed 24 inches in height at maturity. Washington County Water Conservancy District. With the dramatic decline of the Great Salt Lake and repeated pleas from state leaders to conserve water in the ongoing mega-drought, people have remarked at the high cost of replacing landscaping with drought-friendly turf. Once your application has been approved, you have up to one year to complete your landscaping project. Aware of an additional resource that would would be helpful to include on this site?Please send an email to [email protected]. Start typing to see results or hit ESC to close, Utah Council on Financial and Economic Education raises awareness of savings resources, focuses on reducing barriers for Utahns to access critical financial services, Texas Instruments to build new chip factory in Lehi, bringing hundreds of jobs to the state, Gov. Concrete areas do not qualify for a square foot rebate, but pavers, bricks, stone, and other permeable materials are permitted. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. I want to have a nice drink of water. Even though its water is filtered and recycled, the city said it is shutting down its splash pad on Aug. 2 due to some water loss. Utahs water agencies are in the process of developing a comprehensive state water plan that builds on the previous version developed by the Division of Water Resources. Coxs proposal is similar to the Flip Your Strip initiative offered by the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District which offers homeowners a financial incentive to replace the grass on parking strips with water-wise landscaping. Starting a turf buyback program According to the Governor's office, areas that have installed secondary meters include Spanish Fork, Saratoga Springs and Weber Basin Water Conservancy District, and they have seen a reduction in water use by about 20-30%. In terms of individual water use, one measure by a Utah County lawmaker will create a great opportunity for water saving measures. It is unclear exactly how much water goes toward agricultural use as the Utah Divison of Water Resources says it mostly relies on estimates. This rule is in place to follow local city ordinances. The idea is very preliminary, but it would offer money to help people get over the hurdle of new landscaping. With upward of 70% of municipal and industrial water used for outdoor landscaping, Cox said it is past time for the state and cities to aggressively embrace water-saving strategies. The state of Utah has begun signing people up ahead of its launch of a "turf buyback" program, offering incentives for residents to get rid of grass they don't really use. 6300 N Sagewood Dr, Ste H579 Park City, Utah 84098, Signs of Drought at the Great Salt Lake. Completed park strips must be irrigated with low-volume drip systems. And were not alone, How metering could help conserve water as drought continues to plague Utah, The worth of water and what conservation strategies are working, Brown lawns, flushing less: How Utahns plan to save water. Photo: Kevin Cody. Weve taken the guesswork out of it for you with our ready-made plans. This Application collects some Personal Data from its Users. Drip emitters and spray heads must be on separate zones. With 100% of the state experiencing drought conditions, Gov. SALT LAKE CITY The state legislature approved a $5 million rebate program for residents that remove their grass. 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