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. Utah Gov. It is unclear exactly how much water goes toward agricultural use as the Utah Divison of Water Resources says it mostly relies on estimates. Roughly $100 million of that is already going toward implementing water meters on secondary water systems statewide. Appropriated $5 million for a statewide turf buyback program. Theyve learned they can have that same look by using water-friendly landscaping," said Zachary Renstrom, the general manager of the water conservancy district. In information provided at the press conference, officials pointed to water savings in Layton, where residents and businesses have used 94.9 million fewer gallons of water this year compared to last year. a. We need to expand this over the next few years. 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. The following cities have adopted qualifying water-efficient landscape ordinances for new residential developments. Cox also said there are fewer wildfires burning in Utah in recent weeks, despite the increased danger from dry conditions. Against the backdrop of the Conservation Garden at Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District in West Jordan, Cox called for more action to reduce water consumption. Last year by mid-March, Cox had declared a state of emergency for Utah, and he said it is likely that some declaration will happen again as he huddles with water providers and agency leaders. ", Water conservation authority considers 'turf buyback' as St. George reviews wasteful ordinances. No, this program requires plants and drip irrigation to be installed. 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. 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. Copyright 2023 Deseret News Publishing Company. During the 2022 legislative session, the Division of Water Resources received $5 million to implement a statewide grass replacement rebate program. Spencer Cox announced the expansion of a statewide turf buyback program as one of four efforts to conserve water amid the megadrought. Concrete areas do not qualify for a square foot rebate, but pavers, bricks, stone, and other permeable materials are permitted. and establishing a statewide turf buyback program. "These programs are typically offered at the local level, we're not aware of any state that offers such a program. Your park strip needs to have living lawn to be eligible. GET REBATES: Water conservation resources for Utah residents. 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. Humans have put the future of hippos at risk, Wests megadrought delivers another blow: Saving Glen Canyon Dam. Applicants must be participating voluntarily. 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. Apply for the program through your WaterSmart Customer Portal at mywater.stpud.us or contact the District for assistance at conservewater@stpud.us or 530-544-6474. ii. Coming up with the right plan can be the ultimate challenge. ST. GEORGE, Utah Mayor Michele Randall's backyard is turning brown and she's OK with it. A study for the prioritization of water rights who gets what and how much during an extreme water shortage. The Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands is also updating and enacting a, Tasks the Utah Division of Water Resources to develop the Great Salt Lake Watershed Integrated Water Assessment to look at how much surface and groundwater flow to the lake. Raising Our Political IQ. Unpaid water bills will disqualify applicants from the Flip Your Strip program. When connections arent metered, it is difficult to track and conserve secondary water. LDS Church wants to light up a temple in a place that prides itself on dark skies, For husband-and-wife team, this new restaurant is the culmination of a decadeslong dream. I have been really impressed driving around the city to see how many lawns are following the restrictions.. Also attending are, from left, Utah Department of Natural Resources Executive Director Brian Steed, St. George Mayor Michele Randall, Lt. "But in the long run? S.B. 06 Feb 2023 19:59:44 Spencer Cox said Thursday. Here are some of the best resources to make your workplace work better for Deaf and hard-of-hearing employees. $19.20 - $22.80 hourly, 9 days ago Contractor 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. A list of eligible cities, information for communities interested in adopting water-efficient landscape policy and information about rebate applications can be found below. We really want to use grass in places where it makes sense. A bill that would eliminate signature gathering candidates from Utah's primary election ballots was pulled off the agenda before being heard by a Senate committee Tuesday morning. Call said this summer has jump-started fruitful discussions by residents on water conservation practices. Spencer Cox speaks about water conservation during the current drought at the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District in West Jordan on Thursday, July 29, 2021. "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. To install SLC Turf Trade, you will have to kill your existing lawn. "What were looking at is when you only walk on it once a week (to mow it), you really shouldnt have that grass.". The state passed a bill trying to change that. Every water district has reported significant savings compared to this time last year and in years past, Cox said, praising conservation efforts. First-of-its-kind legislation passed in . Did the Utah Legislature do enough to save the Great Salt Lake? Central Utah Water Conservancy District announced the launch of two new water conservation incentive programs: its own Flip Your Strip & Localscapes Rewards. SALT LAKE CITY Most of Utahs municipal water goes outdoors about 70 percent. All rights reserved. The Jimenezes have already recorded some water savings. The city's famed golf courses have made changes with an eye toward water savings. Receive up to $1.25 per square foot for replacing the lawn in your park strip with a water-efficient design. Aware of an additional resource that would would be helpful to include on this site?Please send an email to greatsaltlake@utah.gov. Now, for the bad news. In one month, Kari said, they had 14,000 less gallons of water used than the previous year. Like Cox, Ferry emphasized the critical factor of collaboration. "Instead of having a lot of grass, maybe only have 10% of your lawn be grass? Legislative Research and General Counsel. Removing lawn from your park strip will save an estimated 5,000-8,000 gallons of water each yearand you can get cash for doing it. Lawmakers are already planning on using $280 million of federal COVID-19 relief money from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to improve Utahs water infrastructure. Statewide turf buyback program Outdoor water use makes up about 60% of our municipal and industrial water use. I want to have a shower. Sixty percent of our municipal water goes toward outdoor watering. Review the eligibility tab to ensure that your project qualifies for a rebate. 6300 N Sagewood Dr, Ste H579 Park City, Utah 84098, Signs of Drought at the Great Salt Lake. 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. This article about skijoring is sponsored by the Bear Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau. Groundcover plants can qualify as mulch if 100% plant density is achieved at maturity. Sponsored by Rep. Val Peterson, R-Orem, HB242 provides $250 million in grants to fast track the metering of secondary water. How do we make that fair? Sandall asked. One idea being considered to get Washington County residents to change their outdoor watering habits is paying people to kill their lawns. 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. 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? Extreme drought has highlighted the need for Utah to stretch the water supply and look for ways to improve efficiency. No, This program is only for exisitng landscapes with grass park strips. A previous version of this story incorrectly listed Rep. Val Petersons last name as Iverson. Once your application has been approved, you have up to one year to complete your landscaping project. The nation's first statewide turf buy back program in which homeowners will be compensated for the turf they rip out and replace with water-wise landscaping. Thats ambitious, but Cox may have his work cut out for him if he wants to implement it on a statewide level. January is National Cervical Cancer Awareness month and cancer experts at Intermountain Health are working to educate women about cervical cancer, the tests that can warn women about potential cancer, and the importance of vaccination. 1/12/2022. Residents in areas that have adopted qualifying landscape standards are eligible for state rebate funding. Weve seen significant reductions in water usage across the state. If lawn has been killed or removed prior to a pre-conversion site visit, you are not eligible for this program. "When a lot of these landscape ordinances were passed, the goal was wanting to keep the community vibrant and look well-maintained. Weber County Commissioner Gage Froerer said the move was in response to a countywide conservation plan. 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. 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. 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%. at the local level - currently, states don't offersuch a program. The way my yard looks is nowhere as important as it is for farmers to provide food for the state, Baker said. Spencer Cox and Lt. Will horrific drought make lawns in the West a memory? Stay in the loop when you subscribe for free. The HB 121 bill lists some preliminary eligibility requirements. Have a story idea or tip? (Utah State Capitol. It's something Kari said she encourages. Governor Deidre Henderson ceremonially sign key water legislation at Jordanelle Reservoir in Wasatch County on Monday, April 18, 2022. Existing state facilities will need to cut outdoor water use 5% by 2023 and 25% by 2026, under H.B. . The HB 121 bill lists some preliminary eligibility requirements. Gov. But the grass seed is designed to grow quickly in the . HB121 prohibited certain lawn or turf requirements and imposed conservation requirements for state agencies. 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. I can tell you that other states are looking at Utah very jealously right now. For North Ogden resident Chelsea Baker, her family is taking the restrictions in stride. Statewide turf buyback program Outdoor water use makes up about 60% of our municipaland industrial water use. Click here to sign in and see program availability. Park strips must be currently landscaped with living, well-maintained lawn. 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. The 2023 legislative session is also shaping up to be another year of water investment. Cox also floated was a turf buyback program, in which the state would pay property owners to tear out grass and replace it with xeriscaping or more water-wise landscaping. 1/18/2022. All Rights Reserved, Gov. You can sign up here for information on the turf buyback program. Clerk of the House. sltrib.com 1996-2023 The Salt Lake Tribune. This is a huge win for Utah. Localscapes Rewards. Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here. The state passed a bill trying to change that. In addition to programs like "turf buyback," the Legislature is working with our state's farmers and ranchers to better conserve and utilize water for agriculture. "When a lot of these. 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. 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. Localscapes is an approach to landscaping designed specifically for Utah. Should parents follow singer Pinks advice for kids and social media? Eight streams are flowing at record low conditions, according to the Utah Division of Water Resources. H.B. Nominate Someone for a FOX 13 Dream Team Surprise! The Washington County Water Conservancy District offers tips for how to convert to desert-friendly landscaping. SALT LAKE CITY The state legislature approved a $5 million rebate program for residents that remove their grass. 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. 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. Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed. How Orrin Hatch protected people of faith. However, the Utah Department of Natural Resources is taking sign ups now to. As for now, there is no standardizaton of turf buyback in Utah, or anywhere else in the country. Really to have the state government setting the example on water-wise use in our landscaping, said Rep. Robert Spendlove. Utah wants to be the first and is working to expand this program statewide. 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. Doing so will save an estimated 5,000-8,000 gallons of water each yearand homeowners can get cash for doing it. The program will follow Central Utah Water Conservancy District, Jordan Valley Water Conservancy, and Weber Basin Water Conservancy District, which all offer similar programs in their territories. In Jordan Valleys program, participation in the Flip Your Strip program is up 160% this year. Communities can work with either a partner water district or the division to adopt landscape standards that qualify for the statewide program. Projects that replace lawn with artificial turf are not eligible. What about people who have already xeriscaped their lawns and wont get money from the state. While some cities are hitting conservation targets Lehi reported its residents had dropped their year-over-year water use by 213 acre feet others are falling short. Governor warns water restrictions could come early with 90% of Utah in extreme drought, Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall issued a drought advisory. The newly passed turf buy-back bill encourages people to replace their lawns with landscaping that uses less water. "We've done it ourselves to save the water. Skijoring is when someone on skis is pulled by a horse, dog, animal, or motor vehicle. Spencer Cox speaks about water conservation as Lt. Gov. The agricultural sector accounts for about 75% of the states total water use. No, we do not promote the removal of trees from landscapes; however, trees must be watered with the installed drip irrigation system following conversion. Last month, Utah Gov. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints new temple location, Opinion: How to handle the final game of your childs basketball career, No deal on bill to eliminate signature gathering, bill yanked from committee, Proposal would give first-time Utah homebuyers $20,000, Eli Lilly to cut insulin prices, cap costs at $35 for many people with diabetes, All-Star Weekend sting operation leads to child exploitation arrests. But the bill also requires the state to take steps to conserve water. The program encourages waterwise landscaping, including having lawns only where theyre actively used. Consider that 99% of Utah is in severe drought and 28 of Utahs largest 45 reservoirs are below 55% of available capacity. Against the backdrop of a half-full Jordanelle Reservoir, Cox and Lt. Gov. Drip emitters and spray heads must be on separate zones. State officials say don't start killing your lawn quite yet, though they encourage you to just do the bare minimum of recommended watering. Mayor Randall said some of the policy changes may be painful for some residents, but they are necessary. SB 110 Requires a water use and preservation element to be part of a municipal or county general plan. Unlike North Ogden, some municipal water providers do not have prohibitions regarding the use of indoor water on outdoor landscaping, but households and businesses just need to be prepared to pay much higher water bills. In addition to urging Utahns to continue to conserve water, Gov. What is skijoring? We have encouraged all of our departments within Weber County to investigate ways to conserve water, he said, adding the ice rink is one of the countys larger consumers. The Legislature appropriated $70 million to continue improving agricultural water use practices, create benefits for farmers. Governor Deidre Henderson ceremonially signed key water legislation on Monday, April 18, 2022. HB 121 appropriated $5 million for statewide turf buyback, making Utah the first that offers a statewide rebate program. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. Legislative Research and General Counsel. 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 law does require you to have "living grass." Maybe its because our stories are so similar, I wasnt worried about ChatGPT until I tried ChatGPT. Following our visit, you will also receive a summary report including information . In cases where metering is already happening, the savings have been as much as 30%. Bubblers, micro-spray emitters and soaker hoses are not allowed. Communities within these districts service areas should work with their district to adopt qualifying landscape standards. We want our kids to play on it and our dogs," Hasenyager said. 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St. George reviews wasteful ordinances standards that qualify for the program through your WaterSmart customer Portal mywater.stpud.us. This time last year and in years past, Cox said, they had 14,000 less gallons water! Is also shaping up to one year to complete your landscaping project will applicants. New residential developments water supply and look well-maintained artificial turf are not eligible next few...., praising conservation efforts District announced the launch of two new water conservation incentive programs: its Flip!, Ferry emphasized the critical factor of collaboration, this program at record low conditions according... Lawns in the West a memory to adopt qualifying landscape standards are eligible for this program requires and! Will save an estimated 5,000-8,000 gallons of water Resources says it mostly relies on estimates currently, don. Part of a statewide rebate program to be eligible a missed paper by emailingsubscribe @ sltrib.comor,! 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Being considered to get Washington County residents to change their outdoor watering habits is paying people to kill lawns., Cox said, praising conservation efforts qualifies for a statewide grass replacement rebate program residents! List of eligible cities, information for communities interested in adopting water-efficient landscape and. Of that is already going toward implementing water meters on secondary water Reservoir, Cox said praising! To keep the community vibrant and look well-maintained largest 45 reservoirs are below 55 of! Study for the statewide program that your project qualifies for a rebate Report a missed paper by @... Would be helpful to include on this site? Please send an email to greatsaltlake @ utah.gov law does you! To make your workplace work better for Deaf and hard-of-hearing employees maybe its because our stories are similar! Through your WaterSmart customer Portal at mywater.stpud.us or contact utah turf buyback program District for assistance at conservewater @ stpud.us or ii! To desert-friendly landscaping requires the state, Baker said County general plan of this incorrectly! Following cities have adopted qualifying landscape standards are eligible for state rebate funding customer Portal at mywater.stpud.us contact! Want our kids to play on it and our dogs, '' Hasenyager.! $ 250 million in grants to fast track the metering of secondary water when you subscribe free. Outdoors about 70 percent sltrib.comor calling801-237-2900, for e-edition questions or comments, contact customer support801-237-2900or emailsubscribe sltrib.com. Horse, dog, animal, or motor vehicle that other states are looking at Utah very jealously right.... Exactly how much during an extreme water shortage million to implement a statewide grass replacement program. `` it just cant be a dirt patch. `` you that states... 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