Last month, Utah Gov. Sixty percent of our municipal water goes toward outdoor watering. Some lawmakers had concerns, but most were happy to move the bill forward and make changes later. 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. Governor Deidre Henderson ceremonially sign key water legislation at Jordanelle Reservoir in Wasatch County on Monday, April 18, 2022. 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. Park strips must be currently landscaped with living, well-maintained lawn. $16.00 hourly. Spencer Cox announced the expansion of a statewide turf buyback program as one of four efforts to conserve water amid the megadrought. In information provided at the press conference, officials pointed to water savings in Layton, where residents and businesses have used 94.9 million fewer gallons of water this year compared to last year. This drought has caused all of us to reevaluate how we conserve and motivated us to do more, Gov. 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. "What were looking at is when you only walk on it once a week (to mow it), you really shouldnt have that grass.". With 100% of the state experiencing drought conditions, Gov. 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! 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. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. During the 2022 legislative session, the Division of Water Resources received $5 million to implement a statewide grass replacement rebate program. Establish a statewide turf buyback program: Outdoor water use makes up about 60% of municipal and industrial water use. A study for the prioritization of water rights who gets what and how much during an extreme water shortage. The program encourages waterwise landscaping, including having lawns only where theyre actively used. No, you must have living lawn in your park strip at the time of the pre-conversion visit. Copyright 2022 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Nominate Someone for a FOX 13 Dream Team Surprise! "No, we dont," he chuckled. Spencer Cox said Utahns are getting the message to conserve water amid the crippling drought gripping almost all of the state which is about the only weapon in Utahs arsenal right now. The idea is very preliminary, but it would offer money to help people get over the hurdle of new landscaping. Yes, but it is your responsibility to clear the project with your HOA. 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. Rather than using grass as the default groundcover thats only walked on when its mowed, implementing a statewide rebate program will show that Utah is serious about conservation, Cox said. Applicants must be participating voluntarily. Roughly $100 million of that is already going toward implementing water meters on secondary water systems statewide. The newly passed turf buy-back bill encourages people to replace their lawns with landscaping that uses less water. If your community does not currently qualify for rebates, contact your elected municipal representative and encourage them to adopt qualifying landscape standards. We want our kids to play on it and our dogs," Hasenyager said. 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. Applicant must be in good standing with a participating water provider. Washington County Water Conservancy District. Theyve learned they can have that same look by using water-friendly landscaping," said Zachary Renstrom, the general manager of the water conservancy district. 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. "Grass is not the enemy. Secondly, the owner has to be paid up and in good standing with their water provider. $19.00 - $20.00 hourly, 4 days ago Full time Cox may have a tough time getting them to dip into ARPA funds for the program, as lawmakers have already said they want that money to be used for generational programs. New developments in the area have prohibited turf lawns or kept them small. Completed park strips must be irrigated with low-volume drip systems. Let it go," the mayor said. "Were lush. To register visit. Receive up to $1.25 per square foot for replacing the lawn in your park strip with a water-efficient design. People can buy it for $8.50 a bag, which will cover 1,000 square feet. To install SLC Turf Trade, you will have to kill your existing lawn. Very low water levels at Jordanelle Reservoir in Wasatch County are pictured after Gov. "It just cant be a dirt patch.". 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. About 70% of Utahs municipal water use is outside the home, mostly for thirsty turfgrass. It is unclear exactly how much water goes toward agricultural use as the Utah Divison of Water Resources says it mostly relies on estimates. The law does require you to have "living grass." Drip systems must include filter and pressure regulators visible for inspection: Drip emitters must be rated at 5 gallons per hour or less. Click here to sign in and see program availability. Bubblers, micro-spray emitters and soaker hoses are not allowed. 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. Sponsored by Rep. Val Peterson, R-Orem, HB242 provides $250 million in grants to fast track the metering of secondary water. Donate to the newsroom now. In Jordan Valley's program, participation in the Flip Your Strip program is up 160% this year. Groundcover plants can qualify as mulch if 100% plant density is achieved at maturity. Increase your curb appeal, reduce water use, and get money back when you participate in the Flip Your Strip rebate program. So many Utahns are doing their part to save water, which is fantastic, but theres much more we can do.. 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. Thats a good first start.. A previous version of this story incorrectly listed Rep. Val Petersons last name as Iverson. No matter what Cox proposes, there wont be any impact in the near term. 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. We have seen significant water reductions in every water district across the state, Cox said, lauding the efforts of the public and water managers. Completed projects must be covered with 3-4 inches of gravel, bark, or compost mulch. Cox said. The bill establishes that participation is voluntary and not a governmental code or policy requirement. The nation's first statewide turf buy back program in which homeowners will be compensated for the turf they rip out and replace with water-wise landscaping. 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. ", Kari said she would have liked to have gotten some money to "help with offsetting material and that type of stuff.". Sen. Scott Sandall, R-Tremonton, who works on water issues for the Legislature called the idea intriguing, but he is worried about whether it can be implemented fairly. Maybe its because our stories are so similar, I wasnt worried about ChatGPT until I tried ChatGPT. The largest share goes toward agriculture, which accounts for more than 72% according to figures from the United States Geological Survey. The program, authorized by the Utah State Legislature earlier this year, is expected to launch in the spring. Appropriated $5 million for a statewide turf buyback program. Secondary water is a water source thats not treated and non-potable. Wilson Jimenez said he doesn't miss mowing it. But the grass seed is designed to grow quickly in the . Following our visit, you will also receive a summary report including information . 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. An effort to require all new secondary water connections be metered was brought up legislatively a few years ago, but the bill was modified and not nearly as aggressive as its sponsor wanted it to be. By leaving the ice in this year and not letting it melt and then freeze again, the water savings will be substantial. 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. 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. The governor also said all secondary water systems should be metered. 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. 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. 350 North State, Suite 320 PO Box 145115 Salt Lake City, Utah 84114; Telephone: (801) 538-1408 https://senate.utah.gov; Contact a Senator 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 requirement that general plans of cities and counties integrate land use planning with water as a consideration. Max Peck of West Jordan runs through the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District garden in West Jordan on Thursday, July 29, 2021. Residents in areas that have adopted qualifying landscape standards are eligible for state rebate funding. All Rights Reserved, Gov. Projects should remove all lawn from the park strip and replace it with water-efficient landscaping. Expect more information in spring 2023. Against the backdrop of a half-full Jordanelle Reservoir, Cox and Lt. Gov. He noted the water savings achieved over time would be enough to fill Jordanelle Reservoir or approximately 80,000 acre-feet. You have 6 months after your application to complete your park strip project. Here are some of the best resources to make your workplace work better for Deaf and hard-of-hearing employees. Like Cox, Ferry emphasized the critical factor of collaboration. "When a lot of these landscape ordinances were passed, the goal was wanting to keep the community vibrant and look well-maintained. a. The . "Because its more work!". Unlike North Ogden, some municipal water providers do not have prohibitions regarding the use of indoor water on outdoor landscaping, but households and businesses just need to be prepared to pay much higher water bills. 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. 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. Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed. If you have already killed or removed lawn, your application will be denied. 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. Perennial plants must cover at least 50% of the converted park strip at maturity. Communities are welcome and encouraged to add additional standards, based on local need. #utleg #utpol . Whether if you are looking at the water conditions, we were facing last year. Will horrific drought make lawns in the West a memory? 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