A previous version of this story incorrectly listed Rep. Val Petersons last name as Iverson. 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. No, this program requires plants and drip irrigation to be installed. The legislature allocated $5 million in incentives across the state. Theyve learned they can have that same look by using water-friendly landscaping," said Zachary Renstrom, the general manager of the water conservancy district. 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. Dormant is still alive," Hasenyager said. Whats next for Utah in wake of leaked SCOTUS draft abortion decision? Nominate Someone for a FOX 13 Dream Team Surprise! They tore out turf and replaced it with native plants and rocks. This drought has caused all of us to reevaluate how we conserve and motivated us to do more, Gov. Turf buyback programs like " Flip Your Strip " program help incentivize people to replace thirsty grass with waterwise options. Utah Gov. Through state and district partnerships, eligible participants may receive up to $3 per square foot of lawn replaced with waterwise landscaping. Ferry, R-Brigham City and a farmer himself, cobbled together a complicated compromise bill that allows farmers and other holders of water rights to lease those rights to the Utah Division of Forestry Fire and State Lands, which has oversight of the lake bed. H.B. Turf buyback . Whether if you are looking at the water conditions, we were facing last year. The state passed a bill trying to change that. Its saving water," she said. No, This program is only for exisitng landscapes with grass park strips. 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. Drip systems must include filter and pressure regulators visible for inspection: Drip emitters must be rated at 5 gallons per hour or less. Projects should remove all lawn from the park strip and replace it with water-efficient landscaping. I can tell you that other states are looking at Utah very jealously right now. Most secondary water is used for agriculture or irrigation. ), The Best Tools for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Workplace Success. Maybe its because our stories are so similar, I wasnt worried about ChatGPT until I tried ChatGPT. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Communities within these districts service areas should work with their district to adopt qualifying landscape standards. 350 North State, Suite 320 PO Box 145115 Salt Lake City, Utah 84114; Telephone: (801) 538-1408 https://senate.utah.gov; Contact a Senator "Youve got a lot of churches with lots and lots of lush, grass that nobody even steps on. Rebate amount varies by location. You can sign up here for information on the turf buyback program, With the dramatic decline of the Great Salt Lake, Depending on where you live, there are different rebates that can be offered. 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. Wilson Jimenez said he doesn't miss mowing it. 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. 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. All new state facilities in Utah may be required to have less than 20% turf. Communities outside of a partner water districts service area, including unincorporated areas, should work with the division. "Were lush. Review the eligibility tab to ensure that your project qualifies for a rebate. 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. 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. "No, we dont," he chuckled. Theres not much more the state can do about the drought in the short term. 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. Completed projects must be covered with 3-4 inches of gravel, bark, or compost mulch. 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? 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. 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. By switching out grass that isn't used, Utahns can conserve significant amounts of water. Over 100 patients with brain tumors attended the same high school. Landscape Consultations. Receive up to $1.25 per square foot for replacing the lawn in your park strip with a water-efficient design. Thats a good first start.. Click here to sign in and see program availability. Utahs 2022 legislative session concluded with a record number of water conservation bills and appropriations totaling nearly $500 million in spending. No, this program is intended for single-family residences only. 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. 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. The requirement that general plans of cities and counties integrate land use planning with water as a consideration. Turf buyback programs like Jordan Valley's . The . 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. 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. Information on the district-level programs and others can be found on the Utah Water Savers site. As water managers warn of worst on record drought, what do people think should be done to save water? Deidre Henderson participated in a Monday ceremonial signing of the water bills, with Cox musing that he knew for sure the bills and money this year significantly outpaced anything that been done in water law and funding in at least more than a decade and probably in state history. Existing state facilities will need to cut outdoor water use 5% by 2023 and 25% by 2026, under H.B. Completed park strips must be irrigated with low-volume drip systems. I want to flush my toilet, so Im willing to do my part. 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. 1/12/2022. The governor announced four focus areas the state will fast-track to further advance water conservation and water planning: Lt. Gov. The bill establishes that participation is voluntary and not a governmental code or policy requirement. 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 state is facing critical long-term reliable water supply issues. Other water-related action taken by Utah this year include: Cox and others stressed the need to do even more as Utah continues down this path of unprecedented drought. Last month, Utah Gov. A study for the prioritization of water rights who gets what and how much during an extreme water shortage. Your park strip needs to have living lawn to be eligible. Weve taken the guesswork out of it for you with our ready-made plans. This year, though, Utah became the first in the nation to implement a statewide turf buyback program. Legislative Research and General Counsel. Submit completion photos of your project online. As for now, there is no standardizaton of turf buyback in Utah, or anywhere else in the country. Spencer Cox and Lt. Whether you're installing a new landscape or renovating an existing one, following the Localscapes five-step approach will give you a landscape that thrives! 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 will be the first statewide turf buyback program in the United States, with an expected rollout in the fall. During your consultation, you will receive watering suggestions, sprinkler system advice, and recommendations for your landscape. The Salt Lake Tribune, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity and contributions are tax Applicants must be participating voluntarily. Also in the midst of planning are potential new water storage projects in Utah. Under Flip Your Strip, $1 per square foot is offered or $1.25 per square foot if a free park strip class is attended. Copyright 2023 Deseret News Publishing Company. 6300 N Sagewood Dr, Ste H579 Park City, Utah 84098, Signs of Drought at the Great Salt Lake. $19.00 - $20.00 hourly, 4 days ago Full time 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. The state will pay for up to 50 percent of the cost. Previously converted park strips do not qualify for this program at this time. "It still has to be somewhat alive. Cash rewards and plan reviews will be given for landscaping projects that meet program . Extreme drought has highlighted the need for Utah to stretch the water supply and look for ways to improve efficiency. Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. We need to expand this over the next few years. If lawn has been killed or removed prior to a pre-conversion site visit, you are not eligible for this program. Copyright 2022 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Establish a statewide turf buyback program: Outdoor water use makes up about 60% of municipal and industrial water use. HB 121 appropriated $5 million for statewide turf buyback, making Utah the first that offers a statewide. 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. Some lawmakers had concerns, but most were happy to move the bill forward and make changes later. State officials say don't start killing your lawn quite yet, though they encourage you to just do the bare minimum of recommended watering. Begin your application. Washington County Water Conservancy District. Will Mitt Romney seek re-election in 2024? Cox said. 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. Taller plants block views, impede safety, and can interfere with city maintenance. Doing so will save an estimated 5,000-8,000 gallons of water each yearand homeowners can get cash for doing it. All Rights Reserved, How can people save water in drought? Spencer Cox and Lt. Should parents follow singer Pinks advice for kids and social media? The program, authorized by the Utah State Legislature earlier this year, is expected to launch in the spring. Communities can work with either a partner water district or the division to adopt landscape standards that qualify for the statewide program. This is a huge step forward, a huge lift, and one of the most important pieces of legislation we were able to accomplish this year.. Tasked the division with making state agency conservation data . If you have already killed or removed lawn, your application will be denied. Are we overreacting about the future of Twitter? Let it go," the mayor said. The state passed a bill trying to change that. Projects required by governmental codes or policy are not eligible for this program. and establishing a statewide turf buyback program. To conserve, we need to plant grass in areas where its actively used, not treat grass as the default ground cover. I have been really impressed driving around the city to see how many lawns are following the restrictions.. These types of programs are typically offered at the local level. The rebate is $1.25 per square foot of turf removed and replaced with water-wise landscaping. Cox discussed new policies his administration is hoping to push forward, like a buyback program for turf and secondary water metering. Cox's plan is to become a trailblazer nationwide for the reduction of water use on turf landscapes by implementing a statewide program. Weve seen significant reductions in water usage across the state. State Facility Water Conservation (HB121), Washington County Water Conservancy District site. 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. Depending on where you live, there are different rebates that can be offered. "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. Conserve, we dont, '' he chuckled anywhere else in the midst of planning are potential new storage. 2022 Scripps Media, Inc. all rights reserved state is facing critical long-term reliable water supply.! And counties integrate land use planning with water as a consideration should parents follow singer Pinks advice for kids social... 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