Gov. "Were lush. The state is facing critical long-term reliable water supply issues. . Cities will be added as landscape ordinances are updated to meet state requirements. The Legislature appropriated $70 million to continue improving agricultural water use practices, create benefits for farmers. Let it go," the mayor said. 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. With Utah being the second driest state in the nation and in the grip of a protracted drought, Cox said all new development should be accompanied by waterwise landscaping and cites should shelve ordinances that require curbside turf or other mandates. Rebate checks will be made payable to the property owner. 118 Water Efficient Landscaping Incentives, sponsored by Sen. Sandall, expands on the popular "turf buyback" program. 1/10/2022. 1/18/2022. If your community does not currently qualify for rebates, contact your elected municipal representative and encourage them to adopt qualifying landscape standards. Appropriated $5 million for a statewide turf buyback program. For North Ogden resident Chelsea Baker, her family is taking the restrictions in stride. Governor warns water restrictions could come early with 90% of Utah in extreme drought, Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall issued a drought advisory. Landscape Consultations. No, this program requires plants and drip irrigation to be installed. Coming up with the right plan can be the ultimate challenge. Spencer Cox announced the expansion of a statewide turf buyback program as one of four efforts to conserve water amid the megadrought. Following our visit, you will also receive a summary report including information . 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. When connections arent metered, it is difficult to track and conserve secondary water. In terms of individual water use, one measure by a Utah County lawmaker will create a great opportunity for water saving measures. ST. GEORGE, Utah Wilson and Kari Jimenez are thrilled with how their yard looks. 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. A previous version of this story incorrectly listed Rep. Val Petersons last name as Iverson. The 2023 legislative session is also shaping up to be another year of water investment. Utah's 2022 legislative session concluded with a record number of water-related bills and appropriations. Also attending are, from left, Utah Department of Natural Resources Executive Director Brian Steed, St. George Mayor Michele Randall, Lt. 1/12/2022. 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. Max Peck of West Jordan runs through the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District garden in West Jordan on Thursday, July 29, 2021. Donate to the newsroom now. In response to the drought, Oakley put a moratorium on any new development and Herriman pressed pause on its landscaping requirements on new development until Sept. 15. Park strips must be currently landscaped with living, well-maintained lawn. As for now, there is no standardizaton of turf buyback in Utah, or anywhere else in the country. Spencer Cox said that last summer he took a bit of criticism after he asked residents both religious and nonreligious to pray or seek divine intervention for rainfall to counter the effects of the drought. The HB 121 bill lists some preliminary eligibility requirements. Weve taken the guesswork out of it for you with our ready-made plans. Utahs 2022 legislative session concluded with a record number of water conservation bills and appropriations totaling nearly $500 million in spending. 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. HB 121 also requires water conservation at state facilities. "The turf buyback will offer residents the opportunity to apply for a rebate to remove our thirsty grass with water wise landscaping," said Candice Hasenyager, the director of Utah's Division of Water Resources. Weber County Commissioner Gage Froerer said the move was in response to a countywide conservation plan. The program encourages waterwise landscaping, including having lawns only where theyre actively used. We have to work with the resources on the ground, he said, but noted the paradox of having drought drive home the need for more water storage with the reality of less water available for storage. First-of-its-kind legislation passed in . Humans have put the future of hippos at risk, Wests megadrought delivers another blow: Saving Glen Canyon Dam. So many Utahns are doing their part to save water, which is fantastic, but theres much more we can do.. 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. She understands that homeowners who have invested a lot of time, money and sweat into having perfect landscaping may be dismayed. Completed park strips must be irrigated with low-volume drip systems. The way my yard looks is nowhere as important as it is for farmers to provide food for the state, Baker said. To register visit. 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. This bill appropriated $250 million in. Through state and district partnerships, eligible participants may receive up to $3 per square foot of lawn replaced with waterwise landscaping. "Instead of having a lot of grass, maybe only have 10% of your lawn be grass? 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. The idea is very preliminary, but it would offer money to help people get over the hurdle of new landscaping. The city gets its culinary water from a separate series of wells and springs. SB 110 Requires a water use and preservation element to be part of a municipal or county general plan. Sixty percent of our municipal water goes toward outdoor watering. We have not put a lot of time and effort into our yard. Submit completion photos of your project online. Last year was pretty stressful, said Brian Steed with the Department of Natural Resources. 12 arrested during All-Star Weekend for soliciting minors, Park City woman's car crushed by fallen ice at Kimball Junction Smith's, Prospector Square struggles with snow removal, illegal dumping, Utah's first auto restraint chairlift opens at Deer Valley Resort, 2-hour delayed start for Park City School District due to weather, FullTime Social Practitioner, SUMMIT COUNTY CLUBHOUSE, Adventure Camp Site Director- Park City, UT, YMCA of Northern Utah, Retail Sales Associate, Crosby Collection, ON CALL WAREHOUSE AND DELIVERY STAFF , Wild Events, L.A. Theatre Works Lucy Loves Desi: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Sitcom, Pi Day Celebration at Mathnasium of Park City, Snowy winter speeds drought recovery but Utahs not in the clear, Median snowpack water equivalent surpasses 2022s highest peak, Above-average snowpack levels are starting to make an impact in Utahs severe drought areas, Western US cities to remove decorative grass amid drought, Over 50% of Utah still in extreme drought even with above-average early-season snowpacks, Utah DNR marks the end of the water year with a new drought update. sltrib.com 1996-2023 The Salt Lake Tribune. Were identifying acres and acres of turf that were going to be removing so we can conserve water. Wilson Jimenez said he doesn't miss mowing it. Rebate amount varies by location. Begin your application. A water conservation bill currently in the Legislature would also require the state to reduce outdoor water use. I want to have a nice drink of water. Republican-led states and conservatives challenging the program say it amounts to an unlawful attempt to erase an estimated $430 billion of federal student loan debt under the guise of the pandemic. 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. Alice Foote of West Jordan touches lavender as she tours the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District garden in West Jordan on Thursday, July 29, 2021. Will horrific drought make lawns in the West a memory? I can tell you that other states are looking at Utah very jealously right now. 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. "These programs are typically offered at the local level, we're not aware of any state that offers such a program. It would be nice to see them replacing that with xeriscape," Mayor Randall said. House/ received bill from Legislative Research. 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. Yes, but it is your responsibility to clear the project with your HOA. 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. Also in the midst of planning are potential new water storage projects in Utah. S.B. The law does require you to have "living grass." In Jordan Valleys program, participation in the Flip Your Strip program is up 160% this year. 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. Projects should remove all lawn from the park strip and replace it with water-efficient landscaping. This year, Utah's legislature passed bills that mandated water metering for landscaping, created a statewide turf buyback program, and set limits on turf at new state-owned buildings. Turf buyback . Photo: Kevin Cody. a. The state passed a bill trying to change that. Qualifications: You must live in a qualifying city (see the list below). Last month, Ogden officials declared a moderate water shortage and providers of secondary water from Pineview warned of a potential early shutdown. Mayor Randall said some of the policy changes may be painful for some residents, but they are necessary. A list of eligible cities, information for communities interested in adopting water-efficient landscape policy and information about rebate applications can be found below. The city's famed golf courses have made changes with an eye toward water savings. 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. Nominate Someone for a FOX 13 Dream Team Surprise! Under Flip Your Strip, $1 per square foot is offered or $1.25 per square foot if a free park strip class is attended. If you have already killed or removed lawn, your application will be denied. LocalScapes target a revamped landscaping design for residents with reward money being distributed based on lot size and water savings. We have a couple of fires burning right now, but theyre 90% under control. Some local water districts have already started offering money for "flip your strip" programs designed to get rid of wasted grass on parking strips. 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. 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. Increase your curb appeal, reduce water use, and get money back when you participate in the Flip Your Strip rebate program. Heres what to expect. 6300 N Sagewood Dr, Ste H579 Park City, Utah 84098, Signs of Drought at the Great Salt Lake. Then theres how to pay for it. "When a lot of these landscape ordinances were passed, the goal was wanting to keep the community vibrant and look well-maintained. If we can cut back on that, weve already had substantial savings. If lawn has been killed or removed prior to a pre-conversion site visit, you are not eligible for this program. at the local level - currently, states don't offersuch a program. But the grass seed is designed to grow quickly in the . It is also being offered at Weber Basin Water Conservancy District because Layton City adopted via an ordinance the institution of the program. In addition to urging Utahns to continue to conserve water, Gov. 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. 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. Metering all secondary water systems, continuing work with farmers and ranchers to reduce water consumption and starting a statewide turf buyback program are all steps Utah needs to take to be more waterwise, Gov. Even if lawmakers find the cash to fund these programs, the earliest they will go into effect is next spring or early summer. Dormant is still alive," Hasenyager said. You will be asked to provide photos of your project site and an estimated conversion area in square feet. Participate in Skijoring the Bear on February 20th, 2023. The HB 121 bill lists some preliminary eligibility requirements. Communities outside of a partner water districts service area, including unincorporated areas, should work with the division. Cox discussed new policies his administration is hoping to push forward, like a buyback program for turf and secondary water metering. Click here to sign in and see program availability. This year the event will be held from January 27-29 at the Utah Bear Lake State Park Marina and Sunrise Resort and Event Center in Garden City, Utah. ", Water conservation authority considers 'turf buyback' as St. George reviews wasteful ordinances. We really want to use grass in places where it makes sense. 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. The newly passed turf buy-back bill encourages people to replace their lawns with landscaping that uses less water. 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 Best Tools for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Workplace Success. 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. What about people who have already xeriscaped their lawns and wont get money from the state. . Nominate Someone for a FOX 13 Dream Team Surprise! Localscapes is an approach to landscaping designed specifically for Utah. I want to flush my toilet, so Im willing to do my part. 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. 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. Jordan Valleys program, participation in the Legislature would also require the state, said! 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