118 Water Efficient Landscaping Incentives, sponsored by Sen. Sandall, expands on the popular "turf buyback" program. The nations first statewide turf buy back program in which homeowners will be compensated for the turf they rip out and replace with water-wise landscaping. at the local level - currently, states don't offersuch a program. If we can cut back on that, weve already had substantial savings. Sign up for our TownLift Daily Newsletter and get today's top local news stories in your inbox. 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. 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. 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. 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. Statewide turf buyback program Outdoor water use makes up about 60% of our municipal and industrial water use. 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. 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. Establish a statewide turf buyback program: Outdoor water use makes up about 60% of municipal and industrial water use. ), The Best Tools for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Workplace Success. Also attending are, from left, Utah Department of Natural Resources Executive Director Brian Steed, St. George Mayor Michele Randall, Lt. This will be the first statewide turf buyback program in the United States, with an expected rollout in the fall. We have not put a lot of time and effort into our yard. #utleg #utpol . Lambs ears and Coreopsis are pictured in the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District garden in West Jordan on Thursday, July 29, 2021. You still have a place where neighbors can congregate and stand and have that feel, but the entire front lawn isnt grass," Renstrom said. Gov. What about people who have already xeriscaped their lawns and wont get money from the state. The state is facing critical long-term reliable water supply issues. No matter what Cox proposes, there wont be any impact in the near term. And can he win? Previously converted park strips do not qualify for this program at this time. We want our kids to play on it and our dogs," Hasenyager said. Information on the district-level programs and others can be found on the Utah Water Savers site. Cox's plan is to become a trailblazer nationwide for the reduction of water use on turf landscapes by implementing a statewide program. Personal Data: various types of Data as specified in the privacy policy of the service. This bill appropriated $250 million in. Click here to sign in and see program availability. "Instead of having a lot of grass, maybe only have 10% of your lawn be grass? The largest share goes toward agriculture, which accounts for more than 72% according to figures from the United States Geological Survey. Drip systems must include filter and pressure regulators visible for inspection: Drip emitters must be rated at 5 gallons per hour or less. Last month, Utah Gov. Utah's 2022 legislative session concluded with a record number of water-related bills and appropriations. ", Water conservation authority considers 'turf buyback' as St. George reviews wasteful ordinances. 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. Landscape Consultations. A water conservation bill currently in the Legislature would also require the state to reduce outdoor water use. Did the Utah Legislature do enough to save the Great Salt Lake? Lawn areas shall not be less than eight feet wide at its narrowest point. Groundcover plants can qualify as mulch if 100% plant density is achieved at maturity. New study says worst in 1,200 years. She and members of the city council have called for a review all of St. George's ordinances and policies with an eye toward water savings. If you are renting or leasing, you must have the owner of the property apply for the rebate and be present at the pre-conversion visit. ST. GEORGE, Utah Wilson and Kari Jimenez are thrilled with how their yard looks. The goalis to plant grass in areas where it's actively used The Weber County Sports Complex launched an initiative to do fewer cuts at its ice rink and in doing so, anticipates saving more than a million gallons over the year. I can tell you that other states are looking at Utah very jealously right now. The 2023 legislative session is also shaping up to be another year of water investment. Appropriated $5 million for a statewide turf buyback program. This program would be for front yards, back yards or any other "non-functional" grass. Were not aware of any state that offers such a program, and we want to be the first state to offer a turf buyback program, Cox said. The Washington County Water Conservancy District offers tips for how to convert to desert-friendly landscaping. Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District. In one month, Kari said, they had 14,000 less gallons of water used than the previous 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. This is a huge win for Utah. 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. State Facility Water Conservation (HB121), Washington County Water Conservancy District site. 54 is a bill that is being considered that would eliminate the sales tax on food purchased in the state. Should parents follow singer Pinks advice for kids and social media? A previous version of this story incorrectly listed Rep. Val Petersons last name as Iverson. Water-saving strategies are showing some success in unique ways. Try Skijoring in Bear Lake, Five Common Causes of Cervical Cancer and What You Can Do to Lower Your Risk, Get Ready for Fun at the 2023 Bear Lake Monster Winterfest, 5 Game Day Snacks for the Whole Family (with recipes! Consider that 99% of Utah is in severe drought and 28 of Utahs largest 45 reservoirs are below 55% of available capacity. Cox also said there are fewer wildfires burning in Utah in recent weeks, despite the increased danger from dry conditions. This gave us an opportunity to think outside the box, so that is what we did., Residents can learn more about rebates and water wise landscaping at UtahWaterSavers.com, Copyright 2023 Deseret News Publishing Company. S.B. Will Mitt Romney seek re-election in 2024? Mayor Randall said some of the policy changes may be painful for some residents, but they are necessary. Localscapes is an approach to landscaping designed specifically for Utah. Realistically, they wont bear fruit, or water, until 2023. 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. $19.00 - $20.00 hourly, 4 days ago Full time Choose from the dishes weve highlighted to plan your meal or start brainstorming your own meal plan a couple of weeks before to make sure you have time to shop and prepare. We have a couple of fires burning right now, but theyre 90% under control. 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. Dormant is still alive," Hasenyager said. Weve taken the guesswork out of it for you with our ready-made plans. You can register at UtahWaterSavers.com and plug in your address, finding local discounts on things like smart controllers for sprinkler systems, low-flow toilets and discounts on landscaping. We have seen significant water reductions in every water district across the state, Cox said, lauding the efforts of the public and water managers. SALT LAKE CITY Most of Utahs municipal water goes outdoors about 70 percent. Expect more information in spring 2023. By switching out grass that isn't used, Utahns can conserve significant amounts of water. Utahs 2022 legislative session concluded with a record number of water conservation bills and appropriations totaling nearly $500 million in spending. The . SALT LAKE CITY The Utah State Legislature is considering bills to encourage people get rid of "non-functional turf" and block cities and HOAs from requiring lawns. Utah is the fastest growing state in the nation, growing 18.4% over the past decade compared to the national average of 7.4%. But theres still a lot we need to do," she said. Cox discussed new policies his administration is hoping to push forward, like a buyback program for turf and secondary water metering. (Remember, killing or removing your lawn before this visit will make your park strip ineligible for a rebate). How do we make that fair? Sandall asked. These types of programs are typically offered at the local level. has said it has enough water to get through this year, but plans are being made for drastic measures in the years to come. 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. Program funding is available statewide. In Sandy, the community has saved more than 234 million gallons of water the equivalent of 359 Olympic-sized swimming pools. Really to have the state government setting the example on water-wise use in our landscaping, said Rep. Robert Spendlove. 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. Before removing any turf, the following actions need to take place: i. 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. "Because its more work!". Attend a park strip class. This will be the first statewide turf buyback program in the United States, with an expected rollout in the fall. As one of the fastest-growing states in the nation, how we grow and develop today will set our water use for decades to come. Residents in areas that have adopted qualifying landscape standards are eligible for state rebate funding. "They loved how the project has come out. 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. 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. 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. Begin your application. 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. : i other States are looking at Utah very jealously right now, but they are necessary a of... Record number of water-related bills and appropriations totaling nearly $ 500 million in spending on... 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