First Regular Session | 74th General Assembly. 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.). document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. For more info on these requirements, check out our program manual. Individual homeowners do not qualify as eligible entities for the state's turf replacement program. The Turf Replacement Program uses an intake process to evaluate eligible projects that can move forward with direct contracts. Wrap up savings when you upgrade the insulation and seal air leaks in your home. Along Colorados Front Range, outdoor water use accounts for nearly 55% of the residential water use, the majority used on lawns, Colorado State University estimates. Be Proactive. 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. Applications must include matching funds that provide a dollar-for-dollar match for the funds being requested. Health care sharing ministries in Colorado are now required to report their operations to the state under new regulations signed into law by Gov. The Metropolitan Water District's Turf Replacement Program pays $2 a square foot for up to 5,000 square feet of lawn converted to approved "water-wise" uses in residential front or back . A stormwater retention feature (i.e. 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 instream flow (ISF) program was created by legislation in 1973, which authorized the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) to appropriate or acquire water rights of natural streams and lakes to preserve the natural environment without diverting the water. residents must participate in the cohort model program to receive a rebate. The water authority has been able to set aside funding to pursue a turf rebate program. 6. Rebates are not retroactive. There was a problem saving your notification. 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. This new bipartisan law is a win-win: it will save Coloradans money on their water bills and reduce water use in the metro areas, all while promoting the innovative landscaping industry.. If Polis signs the bill the Colorado Water Conservation Board would have to develop a statewide replacement program by July 2023. 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. Those lawns take up about half the water used in Colorado's cities. Create a Department of Natural Resources portal account to manage your CWCB email notifications. Starting in 2020, the City will pay eligible water customers to replace their thirsty bluegrass turf with a more sustainable Colorado Xeriscape landscape. Eligible turf replacement projects can receive up to $25,000 in rebates per residential propertythat's huge! Phelps recommends stonecrop and others that provide color in addition to Canadian red chokeberry shade trees. Colorado is planning a program to further incentivize residents to replace their grass lawns with landscaping that needs less water to maintain. Rebates could double from about $1 a square foot. The Colorado Water Conservation Board mission is to conserve, develop, protect and manage Colorados water for present and future generations. The program will target 120 Turf Replacement Program is currently at this stage, this is an upcoming stage for Turf Replacement Program. Eagle River Water & Sanitation has a pilot rebate program for turf replacement, which could be expanded with state money, if the bill passes. ft of area transformed, with a 3-inch-deep ring of organic mulch around all plants. Aerial view of your property from an online mapping program. The measure, House Bill 1151 cleared the state Senate this week. If you hire a contractor, they can design your landscape, you can do it yourself or, if you are a single-family homeowner, you can participate in our free landscape design program. Staff will follow-up on each submitted application in April. If funds remain, CWCB will consider additional funding cycles.How does the program work?The Turf Replacement Program uses an intake process to evaluate eligible projects that can move forward with direct contracts. Transformative landscape change is also a component of the Colorado Water Plan. Install savings with smart controllers . Opinion: Colorado farms going fallow? Turf buyout programs could start to solve some of the water shortages during long-term drought. person will not be tolerated. Existing turf replacement programs typically offer a set dollar amount for every square foot of lawn that property owners replace with plants and landscapes better adapted to the states dry climate. A recent project led by the Colorado Stormwater Center has made training, planting guides and examples of water-wise landscaping available to homeowners. This is the first time the State of Colorado has dedicated funds expressly to turf replacement. JoinCWCB's public email list to receive theConfluence Newsletter (every other month), which includesthe latest Colorado water updates and significant updates from Board Meetings. Landscape Design Program Plant Select Plant List Calculator (in Excel) Inspired by House Bill 22-1151, the county budgeted for and created a Turf . Member subscribers also receive the weekly print edition of our award-winning newspaper, containing outstanding features and news stories, in their mailboxes every Saturday. This is the first time the State of Colorado has dedicated funds expressly to turf replacement. There are also many local turf replacement programs offered at this time through local governments and municipalities. Applications must include matching funds that provide a dollar-for-dollar match for the funds being requested. 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. Use the 'Report' link on Projects must be approved before installation to ensure they are installed correctly per city code. 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. Artificial grass does not qualify for a rebate. Click here for tips on making your application more competitive. Addressing the state's water challenges by improving water efficiency through diverse community connections, innovative solutions and valuable member resources, (from the website of the Colorado General Assembly). Is there a limit to how many Garden's In A Box you can buy with a discount? If your project covers at least 200sqft of maintained irrigated turf grass with low/no water wise plantings, you qualify! Each part covers a different aspect of Colorado water law and policy. The specific incentive program must be developed before July 1, 2023. In Colorado, Greeley's turf replacement program, called Life after Lawn, is younger but still successful, said Water Conservation Manager Dena Egenhoff. Resource Central offers a turf removal program to help with the heavy lifting portion of this process. 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. 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. Secure your subscription to Colorados premier political news journal, in continuous publication since 1898. So, what does this mean for water conservation? Water-wise landscapes are attractive, lower maintenance yards that save water, provide wildlife habitat, and withstand drought. Native and natural landscaping that uses less water helps build drought resilience in Colorado and throughout the southwestern U.S. As the state continues to see prolonged drought, increased aridity, and population growth, this program will help normalize low maintenance, less water-intensive landscapes and parks. They are not retroactive or intended for projects already completed outside the program. More information on this program, including guidelines and details on the application process, will become available in Spring 2023. Looking to save money on your water bill, reduce outdoor water use and beautify your yard with Colorado native plants and 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 specific incentive program must be developed before July 1, 2023. 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. First funding cycle intake period closes. 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. One reason is the ability to get creative with xeriscaping. SNWA has been running a turf replacement rebate program nearly 20 years and has saved almost 13 billion gallons a year. The rebate is up to $4,000 max paid out over two years. The turf replacement program isnt a fix-all for the Wests water shortage as the decades-long megadrought lingers, but experts say its a useful tool to weather the changing global climate. Is artificial turf allowed to be installed at my residence in the Town of Erie? Download Share Related Publications Sort by Staff Publications $2 per square foot, from 100 sq. 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. Please enable javascript for the best experience! 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. Subscription to Colorados premier political news journal, in continuous publication since.... 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