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. GET REBATES: Water conservation resources for Utah residents. So many Utahns are doing their part to save water, which is fantastic, but theres much more we can do.. 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. But the bill also requires the state to take steps to conserve water. This gave us an opportunity to think outside the box, so that is what we did., Residents can learn more about rebates and water wise landscaping at UtahWaterSavers.com, Copyright 2023 Deseret News Publishing Company. Spencer Cox speaks about water conservation as Lt. Gov. Begin your application. 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. ST. GEORGE, Utah Wilson and Kari Jimenez are thrilled with how their yard looks. 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! Trees will not be considered in density calculations. 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 program, authorized by the Utah State Legislature earlier this year, is expected to launch in the spring. "What were looking at is when you only walk on it once a week (to mow it), you really shouldnt have that grass.". Mayor Randall said some of the policy changes may be painful for some residents, but they are necessary. In addition to urging Utahns to continue to conserve water, Gov. $16.00 hourly. 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. These types of programs have traditionally been offered at the local level. This bill is one I would consider generationally one of the most important pieces of legislation that you will see, he said. "No, we dont," he chuckled. The requirement that general plans of cities and counties integrate land use planning with water as a consideration. "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. It. The Utah legislature recently passed three important water billsfocused on water conversation in the midst of a historic megadrought, includingthe first statewide turf buyback program in the country. Download one of our easy park strip designs and start there. Park strips must be currently landscaped with living, well-maintained lawn. sltrib.com 1996-2023 The Salt Lake Tribune. About 70% of Utahs municipal water use is outside the home, mostly for thirsty turfgrass. Drip emitters and spray heads must be on separate zones. 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. 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. 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. Unpaid water bills will disqualify applicants from the Flip Your Strip program. Heres the one word you cant say in a room full of Republicans, 106 wild horses have died in Colorado. A water conservation bill currently in the Legislature would also require the state to reduce outdoor water use. 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. SALT LAKE CITY The state legislature approved a $5 million rebate program for residents that remove their grass. Let it go," the mayor said. The newly passed turf buy-back bill encourages people to replace their lawns with landscaping that uses less water. Communities within these districts service areas should work with their district to adopt qualifying landscape standards. Qualifications: You must live in a qualifying city (see the list below). Most secondary water is used for agriculture or irrigation. 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 passed a bill trying to change that. SALT LAKE CITY The Utah State Legislature is considering bills to encourage people get rid of "non-functional turf" and block cities and HOAs from requiring lawns. Additional program rules will also require adoption of the following ordinance for a city to remain eligible for incentives: With the exception of Washington County, the statewide landscape rebate program will be facilitated through utahwatersavers.com. No, you must have living lawn in your park strip at the time of the pre-conversion visit. The full statewide program will launch through utahwatersavers.com in spring 2023. No, This program is only for exisitng landscapes with grass park strips. 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. 1/10/2022. Nominate Someone for a FOX 13 Dream Team Surprise! The state passed a bill trying to change that. You still have a place where neighbors can congregate and stand and have that feel, but the entire front lawn isnt grass," Renstrom said. Doing so will save an estimated 5,000-8,000 gallons of water each yearand homeowners can get cash for doing it. We have not put a lot of time and effort into our yard. Rebate checks will be issued to the name on property's water bill. The four measures he hopes legislators take up during the next session include: Statewide installation of secondary water meters Expect more information in spring 2023. Eight streams are flowing at record low conditions, according to the Utah Division of Water Resources. First, the property must have living and maintained grass and intend to replace it with a drought-resistant type of landscaping. 06 Feb 2023 19:59:44 I want to flush my toilet, so Im willing to do my part. Flip Your Strip involves removing lawn from your park strip and replacing it with water-efficient plants and a drip irrigation system. Sponsored by Rep. Val Peterson, R-Orem, HB242 provides $250 million in grants to fast track the metering of secondary water. 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. 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. Turf buyback programs like " Flip Your Strip " incentivize people to replace thirsty grass with waterwise options. 1/12/2022. Everybody thinks about grass and gardens, but there are a lot of other uses too, he said. 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. "It still has to be somewhat alive. Rebate checks will be made payable to the property owner. 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. Some local water districts have already started offering money for "flip your strip" programs designed to get rid of wasted grass on parking strips. Copyright 2021 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. 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. Is there a connection? Localscapes Rewards. 54 is a bill that is being considered that would eliminate the sales tax on food purchased in the state. 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. Utah Gov. HB 121 appropriated $5 million for statewide turf buyback, making Utah the first that offers a statewide. Review the eligibility tab to ensure that your project qualifies for a rebate. Max Peck of West Jordan runs through the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District garden in West Jordan on Thursday, July 29, 2021. Raising Our Political IQ. Whats next for Utah in wake of leaked SCOTUS draft abortion decision? 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. Lambs ears and Coreopsis are pictured in the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District garden in West Jordan on Thursday, July 29, 2021. Request a pre-conversion site visit. Water Conservation Program staff will contact you to schedule a lawn verification site visit. The governor also said all secondary water systems should be metered. (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. Today Full time Are we overreacting about the future of Twitter? Clerk of the House. The bills, which will be . Sign up for a free consultation to see how you can make your yard more water-efficient and Utah-friendly. "They have actually expressed even wanting to get rid of their grass so I think its been a positive thing.". Appropriated $5 million for a statewide turf buyback program. All Rights Reserved, How can people save water in drought? The Jimenezes have already recorded some water savings. ST. GEORGE, Utah Mayor Michele Randall's backyard is turning brown and she's OK with it. SALT LAKE CITY The state legislature approved a $5 million rebate program for residents that remove their grass. Nominate Someone for a FOX 13 Dream Team Surprise! 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. Cities can opt in for their residents, who can be compensated $1 per square foot of lawn strip removal or $1.25 if they take a class. Also attending are, from left, Utah Department of Natural Resources Executive Director Brian Steed, St. George Mayor Michele Randall, Lt. at the local level - currently, states don't offersuch a program. Statewide turf buyback program Outdoor water use makes up about 60% of our municipal and industrial water use. As one of the fastest-growing states in the nation, how we grow and develop today will set our water use for decades to come. Spencer Cox and Lt. and establishing a statewide turf buyback program. Through state and district partnerships, eligible participants may receive up to $3 per square foot of lawn replaced with waterwise landscaping. And can he win? 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. The following cities have adopted qualifying water-efficient landscape ordinances for new residential developments. Last month, Ogden officials declared a moderate water shortage and providers of secondary water from Pineview warned of a potential early shutdown. Localscapes is an approach to landscaping designed specifically for Utah. "When a lot of these landscape ordinances were passed, the goal was wanting to keep the community vibrant and look well-maintained. 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 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. She and members of the city council have called for a review all of St. George's ordinances and policies with an eye toward water savings. Under Flip Your Strip, $1 per square foot is offered or $1.25 per square foot if a free park strip class is attended. However, the Utah Department of Natural Resources is taking sign ups now to notify people when they can start applying for rebates. Cox said his administration is committed to pushing for more aggressive conservation measures, but they are long-range considerations and would require the legislature to get on board. We need to expand this over the next few years. 118 Water Efficient Landscaping Incentives, sponsored by Sen. Sandall, expands on the popular "turf buyback" program. Coming up with the right plan can be the ultimate challenge. The Legislature appropriated $70 million to continue improving agricultural water use practices, create benefits for farmers. 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. But the grass seed is designed to grow quickly in the . Shasta daisies are pictured in the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District garden in West Jordan on Thursday, July 29, 2021. With upward of 70% of municipal and industrial water used for outdoor landscaping, Cox said it is past time for the state and cities to aggressively embrace water-saving strategies. Utah's 2022 legislative session concluded with a record number of water-related bills and appropriations. In cases where metering is already happening, the savings have been as much as 30%. Gov. 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. Guest opinion: Even in a world of stubborn never-Trumpers, Evan McMullin is still wrong for Utah, These principles and institutions should be a measuring stick for lawmakers and voters, 2023 Legislative Priorities with Derek Miller, Bidens signature on marriage act is vindication of the Utah compromise. Spencer Cox announced the expansion of a statewide turf buyback program as one of four efforts to conserve water amid the megadrought. Copyright 2022 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. How Orrin Hatch protected people of faith. The goalis to plant grass in areas where it's actively used 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. These requirements include waterwise landscape standards for new residential developments. You can sign up here for information on the turf buyback program. 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. 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. S.B. City Manager Jon Call said normally the use of any culinary water outside is strictly prohibited, but a shortened irrigation season is requiring flexibility to be built into the system. All Rights Reserved, Gov. This is generational.. The Jimenezes' neighbors have admired the landscaping project and expressed an interest in doing it themselves. Also in the midst of planning are potential new water storage projects in Utah. This assessment has been folded into the, Many residential connections use secondary water for outside irrigation. 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. 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. In Sandy, the community has saved more than 234 million gallons of water the equivalent of 359 Olympic-sized swimming pools. "We've done it ourselves to save the water. Participate in Skijoring the Bear on February 20th, 2023. 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. 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. In new commercial, industrial, institutional and multi-family development common area landscapes, lawn areas shall not exceed 20% of the total landscaped area, outside of active recreation areas. 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. 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