Previously converted park strips do not qualify for this program at this time. Sign up for a free consultation to see how you can make your yard more water-efficient and Utah-friendly. If lawn has been killed or removed prior to a pre-conversion site visit, you are not eligible for this program. (Remember, killing or removing your lawn before this visit will make your park strip ineligible for a rebate). Turf buyback programs like " Flip Your Strip " program help incentivize people to replace thirsty grass with waterwise options. Legislative Research and General Counsel. A previous version of this story incorrectly listed Rep. Val Petersons last name as Iverson. ", Water conservation authority considers 'turf buyback' as St. George reviews wasteful ordinances. Even though its water is filtered and recycled, the city said it is shutting down its splash pad on Aug. 2 due to some water loss. The passage of this legislation makes it the first ever statewide program of its kind. Today Full time This is generational.. Statewide turf buyback program Outdoor water use makes up about 60% of our municipaland industrial water use. The HB 121 bill lists some preliminary eligibility requirements. 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. 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! The area within the public right of way between the curb and gutter and the sidewalk, otherwise known as the park strip, shall not be landscaped with lawn. 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. All Rights Reserved, Gov. A water conservation bill currently in the Legislature would also require the state to reduce outdoor water use. If a homebuyer purchases a property that took advantage of the turf removal program, then plants a lawn where it was removed, they will be required to pay back any funds the previous homeowner. I can tell you that other states are looking at Utah very jealously right now. The this is the Utah Legislatures passage of a dozen water-related bills and ensuing endorsement by Cox that transform them into law. This year, Im getting quite nervous as we have had multiple months without the water we need.. 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. Also attending are, from left, Utah Department of Natural Resources Executive Director Brian Steed, St. George Mayor Michele Randall, Lt. "Theres going to be people that are going to have some pain points on this," Mayor Randall said. Applicant must be in good standing with a participating water provider. 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. Also in the midst of planning are potential new water storage projects in Utah. Qualifications: You must live in a qualifying city (see the list below). 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. Roughly $100 million of that is already going toward implementing water meters on secondary water systems statewide. Weve taken the guesswork out of it for you with our ready-made plans. 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. Washington County Water Conservancy District. Tasked the division with making state agency conservation data . ST. GEORGE, Utah Mayor Michele Randall's backyard is turning brown and she's OK with it. 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. The law does require you to have "living grass." Despite pleas from her children about running through the sprinklers to ease the summer heat, Baker said her response is a firm no.. Copyright 2023 Deseret News Publishing Company. Read all of our stories atgreatsaltlakenews.org. Begin your application. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. SALT LAKE CITY The state legislature approved a $5 million rebate program for residents that remove their grass. Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed. Humans have put the future of hippos at risk, Wests megadrought delivers another blow: Saving Glen Canyon Dam. (Isaac Hale | Special to The Tribune) Waves break on the shoreline of Utah Lake near the American Fork Boat Harbor on Thursday, June 17, 2021. 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. Yes, but it is your responsibility to clear the project with your HOA. 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. Submit completion photos of your project online. SALT LAKE CITY The state legislature approved a $5 million rebate program for residents that remove their grass. Enter your email to be notified when new rebates and programs are offered in your area. Weve been lucky, but this is a direct response to peoples behavior, he said. Spencer Cox and Lt. You can sign up here for information on the turf buyback program. 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. 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! Everybody thinks about grass and gardens, but there are a lot of other uses too, he said. 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. 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. Trees will not be considered in density calculations. No matter what Cox proposes, there wont be any impact in the near term. The Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District created a site that tracks rebates that can be offered. Metering secondary water systems, working with farmers and ranchers, and starting a statewide turf buyback program are all steps Utah needs to take to be more waterwise. After the press event, Cox told the Deseret News that the drought has not taken controversial water development projects like the Lake Powell Pipeline and Bear River Development plan off the table. Turf buyback programs like Jordan Valley's . The Bear Lake Monster Winterfest is an annual weekend event jam-packed full of fun activities the whole family can enjoy. One idea being considered to get Washington County residents to change their outdoor watering habits is paying people to kill their lawns. House Speaker Brad Wilson, R-Kaysville, worked to establish the Great Salt Lake Watershed Enhancement Program, which creates a $40 million water trust to help the dwindling lake. It would be nice to see them replacing that with xeriscape," Mayor Randall said. 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. Thats ambitious, but Cox may have his work cut out for him if he wants to implement it on a statewide level. She understands that homeowners who have invested a lot of time, money and sweat into having perfect landscaping may be dismayed. Review the eligibility tab to ensure that your project qualifies for a rebate. These requirements include waterwise landscape standards for new residential developments. Will horrific drought make lawns in the West a memory? So many Utahns are doing their part to save water, which is fantastic, but theres much more we can do.. 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. Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here. No, This program is only for exisitng landscapes with grass park strips. Last month, Ogden officials declared a moderate water shortage and providers of secondary water from Pineview warned of a potential early shutdown. 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. 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. In an effort to cut back on wasteful water use, Utah lawmakers approved the first statewide turf buyback program in the country, providing $5 million in incentives to residents who want to. Localscapes Rewards. Donate to the newsroom now. 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. No, we do not promote the removal of trees from landscapes; however, trees must be watered with the installed drip irrigation system following conversion. People can buy it for $8.50 a bag, which will cover 1,000 square feet. "Instead of having a lot of grass, maybe only have 10% of your lawn be grass? 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. Should parents follow singer Pinks advice for kids and social media? 118 Water Efficient Landscaping Incentives, sponsored by Sen. Sandall, expands on the popular "turf buyback" program. The state is facing critical long-term reliable water supply issues. 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. ", Kari said she would have liked to have gotten some money to "help with offsetting material and that type of stuff.". The . This article is published through the Great Salt Lake Collaborative, a solutions journalism initiative that partners news, education and media organizations to help inform people about the plight of the Great Salt Lakeand what can be done to make a difference before it is too late. Now, for the bad news. 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. 1/12/2022. 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. Governor Deidre Henderson ceremonially sign key water legislation at Jordanelle Reservoir in Wasatch County on Monday, April 18, 2022. No, you must have living lawn in your park strip at the time of the pre-conversion visit. Gov. 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. Further information can be found on the states website. The 2023 legislative session is also shaping up to be another year of water investment. The St. George couple did not get any rebates or incentives to do it, but spent the past two years slowly replacing their lawn because they wanted to conserve water. GET REBATES: Water conservation resources for Utah residents. Water Conservation Program staff will contact you to schedule a lawn verification site visit. The biggest hurdle will be selling lawmakers on the idea. Drip emitters and spray heads must be on separate zones. 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. Lawn areas shall not exceed 50% of the total landscaped area for front and side yards.*. This Application collects some Personal Data from its Users. 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. You still have a place where neighbors can congregate and stand and have that feel, but the entire front lawn isnt grass," Renstrom said. 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. Gov. We have a couple of fires burning right now, but theyre 90% under control. The four measures he hopes legislators take up during the next session include: Statewide installation of secondary water meters Utah's 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. During the legislative session, there was significant action to help the Great Salt Lake, which reached its historic low last year and continues to shrink. The idea is very preliminary, but it would offer money to help people get over the hurdle of new landscaping. 54 is a bill that is being considered that would eliminate the sales tax on food purchased in the state. 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. Communities can work with either a partner water district or the division to adopt landscape standards that qualify for the statewide program. ST. GEORGE, Utah Wilson and Kari Jimenez are thrilled with how their yard looks. 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. The driver leads the skiers through an obstacle course over jumps, hoops, and []. Aware of an additional resource that would would be helpful to include on this site?Please send an email to greatsaltlake@utah.gov. 350 North State, Suite 320 PO Box 145115 Salt Lake City, Utah 84114; Telephone: (801) 538-1408 https://senate.utah.gov; Contact a Senator Those against a new Utah state flag spoke of maintaining history, while supporters said it was time to give a fresh look to the state. It is unclear exactly how much water goes toward agricultural use as the Utah Divison of Water Resources says it mostly relies on estimates. She's among those who are following the advice of Washington County's water conservancy district to cut lawn watering to only three times a week for southern Utah in the state's drought emergency (it's recommended only twice a week in northern Utah). Central Utah Water Conservancy District announced the launch of two new water conservation incentive programs: its own Flip Your Strip & Localscapes Rewards. At minimum, the following water-efficient landscape standards for new residential construction will be required: *Lawn limitations do not apply to residential lots with less than 250 square feet of landscaped area. This year, though, Utah became the first in the nation to implement a statewide turf buyback program. Notified when new rebates and programs are offered in your park strip will save estimated... Require you to schedule a lawn verification site visit, you must live in qualifying! Yes, but theyre 90 % under control the popular & quot ; turf buyback & ;. Having perfect landscaping may be dismayed be notified when new rebates and programs are in!, Baker said her response is a bill that is already going toward implementing water on. 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