SALT LAKE CITY The state legislature approved a $5 million rebate program for residents that remove their grass. Weve seen significant reductions in water usage across the state. She's urging residents to think of things like covering a swimming pool when not in use to avoid evaporation, and second-homes in the area that water a lawn that the owner isn't even there for. Weve been lucky, but this is a direct response to peoples behavior, he said. 1/12/2022. Asking people to conserve is not a bad idea in terms of our water usage, said Brian Steed, Executive Director of the Utah Department of Natural Resources. The state passed a bill trying to change that. With 100% of the state experiencing drought conditions, Gov. Dozens of creative bills been introduced, including ones to increase turf buyback incentives and to appropriate money to require treated water systemslike for plumbing and drinking in rural areas to implement water metering.. House Majority Leader Mike Schultz (R) introduced a bill Feb. 16 that would appoint a Great Salt Lake commissioner to coordinate state efforts and create a . Sixty percent of our municipal water goes toward outdoor watering. The measure, HB410, tasks the Utah Department of Natural Resources with undergoing a selection process for a conservation organization that will be in charge of the trust and award money for restoration in the Great Salt Lake watershed and the acquisition of water rights to benefit the lake. The Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District created a site that tracks rebates that can be offered. This year, though, Utah became the first in the nation to implement a statewide turf buyback program. The programs are available to all eight counties within the districts coverage area and being funded at a half million dollars. Applicant must be in good standing with a participating water provider. Will Mitt Romney seek re-election in 2024? Projects required by governmental codes or policy are not eligible for this program. (Utah State Capitol. Secondly, the owner has to be paid up and in good standing with their water provider. Utahs 2022 legislative session concluded with a record number of water conservation bills and appropriations totaling nearly $500 million in spending. 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. 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. Increase your curb appeal, reduce water use, and get money back when you participate in the Flip Your Strip rebate program. The federal government stopped states from removing people from Medicaid during the pandemic, but that's changing now. House Bill 121(water conservation modifications) provides $5 million in incentives for people that want to voluntarily replace turf with drought-resistant landscaping and imposes water conservation requirements by state agencies at state government facilities. Rep. Joel Ferrys HB33 is another significant piece of legislation that grew out of the session and designates, for the first time in the history of the state, the bed of the Great Salt Lake essentially the lake itself as a beneficial use for water rights. I just heard a lot about the drought, grasshoppers in the middle of the country, how it is affecting farmers, and our yard honestly is not amazing. Heres the one word you cant say in a room full of Republicans, 106 wild horses have died in Colorado. If landscape fabric is used (not recommended), it must be permeable to water and air. Applicants must be participating voluntarily. The Jimenezes have already recorded some water savings. Washington County Water Conservancy District. Here are some of the best resources to make your workplace work better for Deaf and hard-of-hearing employees. 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. This is a huge win for Utah. "What were looking at is when you only walk on it once a week (to mow it), you really shouldnt have that grass.". Today Full time ", Water conservation authority considers 'turf buyback' as St. George reviews wasteful ordinances. Call said this summer has jump-started fruitful discussions by residents on water conservation practices. The largest share goes toward agriculture, which accounts for more than 72% according to figures from the United States Geological Survey. The area within the public right of way between the curb and gutter and the sidewalk, otherwise known as the park strip, shall not be landscaped with lawn. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. and establishing a statewide turf buyback program. The program, authorized by the Utah State Legislature earlier this year, is expected to launch in the spring. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Most water providers have moved to a twice-a-week-only irrigation regimen and some are shutting down the season early, such as Davis and Weber Counties Canal Co., which will cease providing water in September. The state is facing critical long-term reliable water supply issues. Communities are welcome and encouraged to add additional standards, based on local need. Abortion rights advocates at Utah rally pledge to fight after leaked Supreme Court draft opinion, The next phase of Salt Lake City International airport is taking shape. 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. Rebate checks will be made payable to the property owner. Governor Deidre Henderson ceremonially signed key water legislation on Monday, April 18, 2022. Residents in these areas are eligible for rebates. The idea is very preliminary, but it would offer money to help people get over the hurdle of new landscaping. Nominate Someone for a FOX 13 Dream Team Surprise! If we can cut back on that, weve already had substantial savings. The Salt Lake Tribune, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity and contributions are tax "We still have a little bit of grass here, but we plan to eliminate the rest of that and continue with the desert landscape," Kari Jimenez said, showing FOX 13 News her new landscaping. Will horrific drought make lawns in the West a memory? "No, we dont," he chuckled. H.B. HB 121 appropriated $5 million for statewide turf buyback, making Utah the first that offers a statewide rebate program. During the legislative session, there was significant action to help the Great Salt Lake, which reached its historic low last year and continues to shrink. Really to have the state government setting the example on water-wise use in our landscaping, said Rep. Robert Spendlove. Renstrom said the water conservancy district is not pushing people to get rid of their lawns, but reimagine how it could look with less grass and more drought-friendly plants. Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here. This drought has caused all of us to reevaluate how we conserve and motivated us to do more, Gov. Communities outside of a partner water districts service area, including unincorporated areas, should work with the division. About 70% of Utahs municipal water use is outside the home, mostly for thirsty turfgrass. The Washington County Water Conservancy District told FOX 13 it is considering a "turf buyback" program to incentivize people to move toward drought-friendly landscaping. Spencer Cox and Lt. Begin your application. If you have already killed or removed lawn, your application will be denied. Drip systems must include filter and pressure regulators visible for inspection: Drip emitters must be rated at 5 gallons per hour or less. A study for the prioritization of water rights who gets what and how much during an extreme water shortage. I understand why they may want to use water more, but I think the restrictions we have been given are still enough to keep our yards from completely drying out, she said. As for now, there is no standardizaton of turf buyback in Utah, or anywhere else in the country. "We haven't gotten any rebates," Wilson said. Perennial plants must cover at least 50% of the converted park strip at maturity. In an effort to cut back on wasteful water use, Utah lawmakers approved the first statewide turf buyback program in the country, providing $5 million in incentives to residents who want to. While noting that turf buyback programs like Jordan Valleys Flip Your Strip are local-centric, Cox said he wants Utah to be the first state in the nation to implement its own. Across the state there are multiple cities that have enacted various restrictions or taken other measures to cope with the effects of this drought. The law does require you to have "living grass." Aware of an additional resource that would would be helpful to include on this site?Please send an email to greatsaltlake@utah.gov. Utah is the fastest growing state in the nation, growing 18.4% over the past decade compared to the national average of 7.4%. GET REBATES: Water conservation resources for Utah residents. "Theres going to be people that are going to have some pain points on this," Mayor Randall said. Under Flip Your Strip, $1 per square foot is offered or $1.25 per square foot if a free park strip class is attended. Central Utah Water Conservancy District announced the launch of two new water conservation incentive programs: its own Flip Your Strip & Localscapes Rewards. Weve taken the guesswork out of it for you with our ready-made plans. SALT LAKE CITY Most of Utahs municipal water goes outdoors about 70 percent. Water Conservation Program staff will contact you to schedule a lawn verification site visit. "When a lot of these. SB 110 Requires a water use and preservation element to be part of a municipal or county general plan. The biggest hurdle will be selling lawmakers on the idea. She understands that homeowners who have invested a lot of time, money and sweat into having perfect landscaping may be dismayed. Utah wants to be the first and is working to expand this program statewide. Projects should remove all lawn from the park strip and replace it with water-efficient landscaping. Were identifying acres and acres of turf that were going to be removing so we can conserve water. deductible, Report a missed paper by emailingsubscribe@sltrib.comor calling801-237-2900, For e-edition questions or comments, contact customer support801-237-2900or emailsubscribe@sltrib.com. Taller plants block views, impede safety, and can interfere with city maintenance. Heres what to expect. SALT LAKE CITY Most of Utah's municipal water goes outdoors about 70 percent. Cities can opt in for their residents, who can be compensated $1 per square foot of lawn strip removal or $1.25 if they take a class. Are we overreacting about the future of Twitter? Attend a park strip class. To all those people who asked what are YOU going to do, this is the answer, Cox said. Utah has reduced its per capita water use by 25% since 2000, and the state is committed to implementing additional, more aggressive water conservation programs. ST. GEORGE, Utah Mayor Michele Randall's backyard is turning brown and she's OK with it. 06 Feb 2023 19:59:44 This will be the first statewide turf buyback program in the United States, with an expected rollout in the fall. An effort to require all new secondary water connections be metered was brought up legislatively a few years ago, but the bill was modified and not nearly as aggressive as its sponsor wanted it to be. People can buy it for $8.50 a bag, which will cover 1,000 square feet. Read all of our stories atgreatsaltlakenews.org. 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%. One idea being considered to get Washington County residents to change their outdoor watering habits is paying people to kill their lawns. Landscape Consultations. Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District. Thats a good first start.. Copyright 2021 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. 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. We want our kids to play on it and our dogs," Hasenyager said. Nominate Someone for a FOX 13 Dream Team Surprise! You save a lot of money in your water bills if you convert that lawn, so I dont know if we need to add more of a financial benefit on it, Sandall added. Governor Deidre Henderson, South Jordan Mayor Dawn Ramsey, Central Utah Water conservation manager Rick Maloy and Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District general manager Bart Forsyth. 118 Water Efficient Landscaping Incentives, sponsored by Sen. Sandall, expands on the popular "turf buyback" program. Program funding is available statewide. Spencer Cox and Lt. The Washington County Water Conservancy District offers tips for how to convert to desert-friendly landscaping. If a homebuyer purchases a property that took advantage of the turf removal program, then plants a lawn where it was removed, they will be required to pay back any funds the previous homeowner. Appropriated $5 million for a statewide turf buyback program. ), The Best Tools for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Workplace Success. Copyright 2022 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Cox also said there are fewer wildfires burning in Utah in recent weeks, despite the increased danger from dry conditions. Some ideas include metering secondary water systems, which the Legislature is already planning to do, improved technology for farmers and ranchers so they can use water more wisely, and mandating more water-wise landscaping for new developments. State officials say don't start killing your lawn quite yet, though they encourage you to just do the bare minimum of recommended watering. 350 North State, Suite 320 PO Box 145115 Salt Lake City, Utah 84114; Telephone: (801) 538-1408 https://senate.utah.gov; Contact a Senator In addition to urging Utahns to continue to conserve water, Gov. To register visit. All new state facilities in Utah may be required to have less than 20% turf. Whether if you are looking at the water conditions, we were facing last year. 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? All Rights Reserved, Gov. Cox said. No, this program requires plants and drip irrigation to be installed. 6300 N Sagewood Dr, Ste H579 Park City, Utah 84098, Signs of Drought at the Great Salt Lake. HB 121 also requires water conservation at state facilities. Will horrific drought make lawns in the West a memory? Roughly $100 million of that. Outdoor water use makes up about 60% of Utahs municipal and industrial water use. "Were lush. Riverdale in Weber County recently reported its aquifer had dropped 17 feet since May 1 and water conservation goals fell way short of what authorities had hoped. Humans have put the future of hippos at risk, Wests megadrought delivers another blow: Saving Glen Canyon Dam. Further information can be found on the states website. 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. Lawmakers are already planning on using $280 million of federal COVID-19 relief money from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to improve Utah's water infrastructure. Localscapes is an approach to landscaping designed specifically for Utah. Cox announces Utah Home, a new plan of priorities for Utah, Utah leads nation streamlining occupational licensing reform, Understanding Utahs child abuse reporting law, Guest opinion: Why do Americans support Ukraine? Residents in areas that have adopted qualifying landscape standards are eligible for state rebate funding. Water-saving strategies are showing some success in unique ways. HB121 prohibited certain lawn or turf requirements and imposed conservation requirements for state agencies. Donate to the newsroom now. The requirement that general plans of cities and counties integrate land use planning with water as a consideration. You still have a place where neighbors can congregate and stand and have that feel, but the entire front lawn isnt grass," Renstrom said. Now, for the bad news. Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed. No, This program is only for exisitng landscapes with grass park strips. Against the backdrop of a half-full Jordanelle Reservoir, Cox and Lt. Gov. TownLift is a web and mobile-based Entertainment & News media outlet providing Park City and Summit County Utah with Breaking Local News & Community Updates. 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. 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. A list of eligible cities, information for communities interested in adopting water-efficient landscape policy and information about rebate applications can be found below. Even if lawmakers find the cash to fund these programs, the earliest they will go into effect is next spring or early summer. Personal Data: various types of Data as specified in the privacy policy of the service. Free Localscapes Rewards programs classes are offered at a variety of locations throughout the state. 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. . 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. "Im trying to do my part and set the example," the mayor said in a recent interview with FOX 13. Those against a new Utah state flag spoke of maintaining history, while supporters said it was time to give a fresh look to the state. First, the property must have living and maintained grass and intend to replace it with a drought-resistant type of landscaping. Completed park strips must be irrigated with low-volume drip systems. Is there a connection? I want to have a nice drink of water. Photo: Paul Nelson), Teenager dies in two-vehicle crash near Moab, Bill mandating counties to provide homeless shelters, enforce camping laws passes Utah House, Economic committee hears from public on changing the Utah State Flag. Establish a statewide turf buyback program: Outdoor water use makes up about 60% of municipal and industrial water use. Review the eligibility tab to ensure that your project qualifies for a rebate. Extreme drought has highlighted the need for Utah to stretch the water supply and look for ways to improve efficiency. If lawn has been killed or removed prior to a pre-conversion site visit, you are not eligible for this program. To conserve, we need to plant grass in areas where its actively used, not treat grass as the default ground cover. While some turf areas are important and provide a lot of benefit (e.g., parks and playgrounds), many turf areas are hardly used and could be replaced by beautiful drought-tolerant vegetation that requires little to no water at all. Consider that 99% of Utah is in severe drought and 28 of Utahs largest 45 reservoirs are below 55% of available capacity. $16.00 hourly. This rule is in place to follow local city ordinances. This will be the first statewide turf buyback program in the United States, with an expected rollout in the fall. The full statewide program will launch through utahwatersavers.com in spring 2023. During the 2022 legislative session, the Division of Water Resources received $5 million to implement a statewide grass replacement rebate program.