One reason is the ability to get creative with xeriscaping. Conrad Swanson covers Colorados environment and politics for The Denver Posts political team. In an effort to ensure that our water resources are put to good use, Montrose County's turf replacement program compensates landowners interested in replacing turf with more water-wise landscaping. Since launching in 2018 the program has helped property owners replace more than 150,000 square feet of turf, saving an estimated 32 million gallons of water. Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. The WRASBC is offering a program to reduce or limit turf in residential areas. That program, designed by the Colorado Water Conservation Board, is expected to launch after July 1, 2023. Please enable javascript for the best experience! Please contact us if you are interested in receiving this 1-on-1 landscape maintenance assistance. Conor Cahill, a spokesman for Polis, did not say whether the governor intends to sign the legislation but said he will consider it when it lands on his desk. The new law will allocate $2 million to finance the "Turf Replacement Fund," which could include expanding statewide existing city programs that pay between $1 and $3 per square foot of grass that is removed. Single family homeowners, HOAs, or other groups who do not regularly work with water resources or conservation and who do not have the capacity to support community-scale turf replacement are not eligible to apply. You have permission to edit this article. There are also many local turf replacement programs offered at this time through local governments and municipalities. Want the real scoop? Our turf replacement rebate program offers up to $2,000 for qualified projects. (municipalities, counties, cities, public agencies, municipally owned water providers), (metropolitan districts, special districts, water districts, water and sanitation districts, conservancy districts), (organizations with 501(c)(3) status who work in water with related skills; capacity), (Ute Mountain Ute and Southern Ute Indian Tribes). Do Garden's In a Box and Turf Replacement projects meet the requirements of the municipal code? Designs should be submitted to. Bennett said, "There is no room in this city for 'keep off the grass'. Eligible entities can click here to use the Turf Replacement Intake Form. The project area can range between 250 square feet (minimum) to 5,000 square feet (maximum) of existing grass lawn. If funds remain, CWCB will consider additional funding cycles. The Colorado Water Conservation Board has launched funding to support existing and new community programs aimed at helping eligible entities replace nonessential turf in order to reduce outdoor watering, per legislation passed in 2022. No, rebates are not retroactive for projects completed outside the program season. Residential Efficiency Tip Replace & Retrofit Replace or retrofit old fixtures and save. It is expected to support no more than $25,000 per applicant per funding cycle. ft.). Local governments, certain districts, Native American tribes, and nonprofit organizations with their own turf replacement programs may apply to the board for money to help finance their turf replacement programs. There was a problem saving your notification. The cohort model will help facilitate more landscape projects from start to finish, ensuring people receive the education and knowledge needed to successfully install their water-wise landscape by the deadline. Staff will not follow-up with eligible entities who submit an application until the close of the intake period in April. Colorado Water Conservation Board | 1313 Sherman Street, Room 718 |Denver, CO 80203 |(303) 866-3441, Sign up for Public Notices and Meeting Notifications, The Colorado Water Conservation Board has launched funding to support existing and new community programs aimed at helping eligible entities replace nonessential turf in order to reduce outdoor watering, p. Second, it can be used indirectly During the 2022 legislative session, the General Assembly considered several measures related to natural resources and the environment including wildfire prevention and control; air quality; natural resources; environmental protection; and recycling. You may still install artificial turf per the city code, but you will not be eligible for the rebate. The Los Angeles County Waterworks Districts offer customers a rebate for removing water-inefficient grass with drought-tolerant landscaping. Turf buyout programs could start to solve some of the water shortages during long-term drought. One in Las Vegas started in 1999 and has since saved about 163 billion gallons of water. CWCB is rolling out a new Turf Replacement Program! A bipartisan bill calls for launching a statewide turf replacement program that would pay homeowners and business owners to . Since launching in 2018 the. I. Jodeh, Rep. C. Kipp, Rep. M. Lindsay, Rep. S. Lontine, Rep. J. McCluskie, Rep. K. McCormick, Rep. H. McKean, Rep. B. McLachlan, Rep. D. Michaelson Jenet, Rep. A. Pico, Rep. N. Ricks, Rep. E. Sirota, Rep. M. Snyder, Rep. M. Soper, Rep. K. Tipper, Rep. B. Titone, Rep. D. Valdez, Rep. A. Valdez, Rep. M. Weissman, Rep. P. Will, Rep. S. Woodrow, Rep. M. YoungSen. If you have a question about the program, we'd love to hear it. Salary \$19.60 - \$29.38 Hourly Location 80016, CO Job Type Full-time Department Open Space JobSee this and similar jobs on LinkedIn. Turf Replacement Program Concerning measures to incentivize water-wise landscapes, and, in connection therewith, creating a state program to finance the voluntary replacement of irrigated turf and making an appropriation. They also offer a Grass to Garden program where if you remove 200+sqft of turf you receive a free Garden in A Box and a drip irrigation kit. Take photos of the area. Familiarize yourself with Turf Replacement Program guidelines since your newly designed garden will need to be complaint with program requirements to obtain a rebate. The state treasurer is required to transfer $2 million from the general fund to the turf replacement fund, which fund is created to finance the turf replacement program. Mulch can include shredded bark, bark chips, or rock. The water authority has been able to set aside funding to pursue a turf rebate program. CWCB is rolling out a new Turf Replacement Program! All parts of your design must be submitted before you start your project. 7. This funding has expiration dates built into in legislation, but because the program has a seasonal component CWCB anticipates breaking the funding into two funding/rebate cycles. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Member subscribers also receive the weekly print edition of our award-winning newspaper, containing outstanding features and news stories, in their mailboxes every Saturday. The program will explain Metropolitan's Turf Replacement Program guidelines to better help residential or commercial customers. Be Proactive. that is degrading to another person. the ability of the project to provide lasting water savings).How does contracting work?Turf removal program applications are competitive and individual contracts will only be awarded to qualifying applicants. A new turf replacement program, set to roll out in Colorado in 2023, will pay to convert some of the grass in urban areas and residential yards into more water-efficient landscaping. The Colorado Water Conservation Board has launched funding to support existing and new community programs aimed at helping eligible entities replace nonessential turf in order to reduce outdoor watering, per legislation passed in 2022. The intake form provides staff with an initial assessment of program demand. City Floral Landscapings general manager Trela Phelps told the Problem Solvers the business is seeing an increase in demand for plants and trees that look impressive but are water efficient. The measure, House Bill 1151 cleared the state Senate this week. Calculated square footage of the project area. Please enable javascript for the best experience! Marshall fire victims protested green building codes as too expensive. The recently renamed Water Resources and Agriculture Review Committee (WRARC) was created to contribute to and monitor the conservation, use, development, and financing of Colorado's water resources for the general welfare of the state (Section 37-98-102, C.R.S.). The Town of Erie would love to help! The board will contract with one or more third parties to administer one or more turf replacement programs in areas where local turf replacement programs do not exist. The bill requires the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) in the Department of Natural Resources to create a turf replacement program that incentivizes the voluntary replacement of nonessential irrigated turf across the state. The second runs from July 1 - September 30. google-site-verification: googlee16c7726ecc34510.html, Building Code, Contractor Appeals & Standards Board, Citizens Advisory Committee on Housing & Community Development, Ad Hoc Citizens Charter Review Task Force, Social Media Posting and Commenting Policy, Aurora History Museum and Historic Sites Community Grants, International & Immigrant Affairs Calendar, Aurora Water Design Standards, Specifications and Fees, Retail Marijuana Delivery and Social Equity, HOA/Metro District Stormwater Pond Resources, Aurora History Museum and Historic Sites Calendar, Grass Replacement Incentive Program (GRIP). Staff will evaluate applications based on applicant eligibility, compliance with program requirements, and the merit of the program (i.e. Subscribe for $2.15/week. NOTE: Homeowners and individuals interested in participating should contact their local government or water provider. Please visit engagecwcb.org to learn more about turf replacement funding. Turf replacement programs across the American West have seen great success. The CWCB worked with BBC Research and Consulting on an. The turf replacement initiative comes on the heels of Colorado House Bill 1151 passing in June 2022. It has been called Dr. Seuss Day because of this. 5. Eligible turf replacement projects can receive up to $25,000 in rebates per residential propertythat's huge! It's part of House Bill 1151, known as the Turf Replacement Program.. Colorado lawmakers argue that non-native grasses, like Kentucky Blue Grass, aren't suitable for the state's dry climate and take up about half the water used in cities. If you are a large property customer commercial, multifamily, industrial or institutional contact Water Conservation staff at 303.739.7195 or [emailprotected] to discuss the project scope. Aerial view of your property from an online mapping program. ft. According to the Colorado General Assembly, "the act requires the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) to develop a statewide program to provide financial incentives for the voluntary replacement of irrigated turf with water-wise . Starting in 2020, the City will pay eligible water customers to replace their thirsty bluegrass turf with a more sustainable Colorado Xeriscape landscape. Each part covers a different aspect of Colorado water law and policy. Funding is not expected to exceed $25,000 per funding cycle for any one eligible entity.Eligible entities can apply for funds to either expand their existing community turf replacement or request support for starting a new initiative. A bipartisan proposal to save water by paying property owners to dig up and replace their ornamental and non-native grass lawns is now on to Gov. Phelps recommends stonecrop and others that provide color in addition to Canadian red chokeberry shade trees. Colorado has just enacted a statewide turf replacement incentive program. Colorado River Indian Tribes, 73-19L-1 Canal Lining Project Reclamation Funding: $209,182 Total Project Cost: $443,229 . Create a Department of Natural Resources portal account to manage your CWCB email notifications. HB 22-1151 allocates $2 million to fund this program. If implemented, the program in Colorado would be completely voluntary. Please Note: Single family homeowners, HOAs, or other groups who do not regularly work with water resources or conservation and who do not have the capacity to support community-scale turf replacement are not eligible to apply. (Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary. DENVER (KDVR) Getting rid of irrigated turf could pay off now that Gov. This heat can be used in a number of ways through geothermal energy systems. Artificial grass does not qualify for a rebate. HB22-1379: Wildfire Prevention Watershed Restoration Funding Bill When buying cowboy boots, there are a few aspects to consider, such as how far up they go on your legs and their design. In 1942, Colorado entered into an interstate compact (compact) with Nebraska and Kansas regarding the allocation of water from the Republican river basin (basin). Business Turf to Native Rebate Request 1 This program provides Colorado Springs Utilities business water customers with a $0.50 per square foot incentive to help pay for qualifying native grass conversions. This memorandum describes the programs authorized by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act that may provide formula or competitive grants to Colorado. Town of Erie Water-Wise Landscaping Manual. Refer to the House or Senate Journal for additional information. Don't knowingly lie about anyone Colorado would expand grass turf buyouts statewide and double existing city rip-and-replace programs in a bill aimed at solving misuse of precious water during the state's long-term drought. Colorado Water Plan Grant Program and the Water Supply Reserve Fund Grant Program. In Colorado, Greeley's turf replacement program, called Life after Lawn, is younger but still successful, said Water Conservation Manager Dena Egenhoff. If you have an upcoming lawn project looking to install water efficient gardens or grass, you might qualify. Click here for tips on making your application more competitive. Signed into law on Wednesday, House Bill 1151 requires the Colorado Water Conservation Board to develop a statewide financial incentive program to inspire voluntary turf replacement for homeowners, local governments and nonprofits. The second runs from July 1 - September 30. Rep. M. Catlin, Rep. D. RobertsSen. Only projects that are completed in the 2023 calendar year are eligible. Staff will follow-up on each submitted application in April. Amounts may be lower if demand is high. Rebates will be available for eligible projects as funding allows. First Regular Session | 74th General Assembly. The City of Greeley is here to help. The Roberts said the bill is especially targeting non-native grasses used for private and commercial lawns, school fields and other ornamental outdoor spaces, such as road medians. Turf Replacement Program. First, it can be used to directly heat buildings, where hot water near the earths surface is piped into buildings. Since the late 1990s, the Nevada agency has converted about 4,600 acres of turf, saving 467,000 acre-feet of water. In 4 years, Lori Lightfoot went from breakout political star to divisive mayor of a Chicago beset by pandemic and crime, Florida lawmakers to consider expansion of so-called dont say gay law, Drone crashes at Disneyland after hovering over visitors heads See video, Rapper Travis Scott wanted for assaulting Manhattan club sound engineer, destroying $12K in equipment, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. A bill would expand grass buyouts statewide and double local payments. Following-up on the Southern Nevada Water Authority's and others' turf replacement programs, proposed Colorado House Bill 1151 would create a $2 million to $4 million . The Grass Replacement Incentive Program rebates are intended for customers who currently have grass front and side yards visible to the public and wish the replace them with water-wise landscaping. Funding will be limited based on volume. 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