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. Plants may not exceed 24 inches in height at maturity. 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. "When a lot of these. The law does require you to have "living grass." TownLift is a web and mobile-based Entertainment & News media outlet providing Park City and Summit County Utah with Breaking Local News & Community Updates. 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. Ferry, R-Brigham City and a farmer himself, cobbled together a complicated compromise bill that allows farmers and other holders of water rights to lease those rights to the Utah Division of Forestry Fire and State Lands, which has oversight of the lake bed. 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. LocalScapes target a revamped landscaping design for residents with reward money being distributed based on lot size and water savings. Theres not much more the state can do about the drought in the short term. Utah wants to be the first and is working to expand this program statewide. Heres what to expect. You can register at UtahWaterSavers.com and plug in your address, finding local discounts on things like smart controllers for sprinkler systems, low-flow toilets and discounts on landscaping. 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. Taller plants block views, impede safety, and can interfere with city maintenance. These requirements include waterwise landscape standards for new residential developments. Submit completion photos of your project online. Whats next for Utah in wake of leaked SCOTUS draft abortion decision? 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 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. 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 program encourages waterwise landscaping, including having lawns only where theyre actively used. Sign up for a free consultation to see how you can make your yard more water-efficient and Utah-friendly. A study for the prioritization of water rights who gets what and how much during an extreme water shortage. The programs are available to all eight counties within the districts coverage area and being funded at a half million dollars. 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. Sixty percent of our municipal water goes toward outdoor watering. Under Flip Your Strip, $1 per square foot is offered or $1.25 per square foot if a free park strip class is attended. "Because its more work!". Read all of our stories atgreatsaltlakenews.org. 6300 N Sagewood Dr, Ste H579 Park City, Utah 84098, Signs of Drought at the Great Salt Lake. Concrete areas do not qualify for a square foot rebate, but pavers, bricks, stone, and other permeable materials are permitted. A list of eligible cities, information for communities interested in adopting water-efficient landscape policy and information about rebate applications can be found below. Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District. Stay in the loop when you subscribe for free. The idea is very preliminary, but it would offer money to help people get over the hurdle of new landscaping. Utah governor wants to buy back your lawn, Utah lawmakers took good first step on environment worries, Baby, its dry outside: How the drought is affecting Utah. Download one of our easy park strip designs and start there. We have encouraged all of our departments within Weber County to investigate ways to conserve water, he said, adding the ice rink is one of the countys larger consumers. Very low water levels at Jordanelle Reservoir in Wasatch County are pictured after Gov. a. First-of-its-kind legislation passed in . Weve been lucky, but this is a direct response to peoples behavior, he said. 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. We have not put a lot of time and effort into our yard. ", Water conservation authority considers 'turf buyback' as St. George reviews wasteful ordinances. To install SLC Turf Trade, you will have to kill your existing lawn. The requirement that general plans of cities and counties integrate land use planning with water as a consideration. "Theres going to be people that are going to have some pain points on this," Mayor Randall said. ST. GEORGE, Utah Mayor Michele Randall's backyard is turning brown and she's OK with it. 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. Officials and advocates spoke in favor of the bill. Some lawmakers had concerns, but most were happy to move the bill forward and make changes later. They tore out turf and replaced it with native plants and rocks. During your consultation, you will receive watering suggestions, sprinkler system advice, and recommendations for your landscape. 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. Rebate amount varies by location. This will be the first statewide turf buyback program in the United States, with an expected rollout in the fall. Yes, but it is your responsibility to clear the project with your HOA. In those areas of Utah where meters have been installed to track use of secondary water, providers have found that consumption on a per-household basis has decreased by as much as 30%, and when compared against neighbors use, people become increasingly conscious about water savings. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. SALT LAKE CITY Most of Utah's municipal water goes outdoors about 70 percent. While the winter overflow system in Salt Lake County has been expanded this winter, the availability of beds has been a consistent issue. H.B. Nominate Someone for a FOX 13 Dream Team Surprise! SALT LAKE CITY The state legislature approved a $5 million rebate program for residents that remove their grass. 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. The Jimenezes have already recorded some water savings. With 100% of the state experiencing drought conditions, Gov. Utah governor outlines four ways to conserve water in drought, Localscapes can help your lawn be water-wise, Bill package to eliminate food tax to be considered, Medicaid recipients must now re-qualify for coverage, What to watch for as the Supreme Court hears oral arguments on Bidens student loan debt relief plan, Looking for a New Winter Activity? Aware of an additional resource that would would be helpful to include on this site?Please send an email to greatsaltlake@utah.gov. While most efforts are focused on managing the here and now, state officials are looking to Utahs water future and how to manage skyrocketing growth by preserving a precious natural resource. Flip Your Strip involves removing lawn from your park strip and replacing it with water-efficient plants and a drip irrigation system. Everybody thinks about grass and gardens, but there are a lot of other uses too, he said. SALT LAKE CITY The state legislature approved a $5 million rebate program for residents that remove their grass. "Instead of having a lot of grass, maybe only have 10% of your lawn be grass? Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed. 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. Last month, Ogden officials declared a moderate water shortage and providers of secondary water from Pineview warned of a potential early shutdown. Communities can work with either a partner water district or the division to adopt landscape standards that qualify for the statewide program. Also attending are, from left, Utah Department of Natural Resources Executive Director Brian Steed, St. George Mayor Michele Randall, Lt. Following our visit, you will also receive a summary report including information . Dozens of creative bills been introduced, including ones to increase turf buyback incentives and to appropriate money to require treated water systemslike for plumbing and drinking in rural areas to implement water metering.. House Majority Leader Mike Schultz (R) introduced a bill Feb. 16 that would appoint a Great Salt Lake commissioner to coordinate state efforts and create a . 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. People can buy it for $8.50 a bag, which will cover 1,000 square feet. If we can cut back on that, weve already had substantial savings. I want to have a shower. Roughly $100 million of that. Once your application has been approved, you have up to one year to complete your landscaping project. Whether if you are looking at the water conditions, we were facing last year. Gov. The measure, HB410, tasks the Utah Department of Natural Resources with undergoing a selection process for a conservation organization that will be in charge of the trust and award money for restoration in the Great Salt Lake watershed and the acquisition of water rights to benefit the lake. The this is the Utah Legislatures passage of a dozen water-related bills and ensuing endorsement by Cox that transform them into law. Lawn areas shall not be less than eight feet wide at its narrowest point. This is a huge step forward, a huge lift, and one of the most important pieces of legislation we were able to accomplish this year.. 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. Statewide turf buyback program Outdoor water use makes up about 60% of our municipaland industrial water use. Water Conservation Program staff will contact you to schedule a lawn verification site visit. Review the eligibility tab to ensure that your project qualifies for a rebate. 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. 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. During the 2022 legislative session, the Division of Water Resources received $5 million to implement a statewide grass replacement rebate program. The HB 121 bill lists some preliminary eligibility requirements. at the local level - currently, states don't offersuch a program. Drip emitters and spray heads must be on separate zones. . All Rights Reserved, How can people save water in drought? The Bear Lake Monster Winterfest is an annual weekend event jam-packed full of fun activities the whole family can enjoy. Bubblers, micro-spray emitters and soaker hoses are not allowed. The legislature allocated $5 million in incentives across the state. We have seen significant water reductions in every water district across the state, Cox said, lauding the efforts of the public and water managers. One idea being considered to get Washington County residents to change their outdoor watering habits is paying people to kill their lawns. Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here. In Jordan Valleys program, participation in the Flip Your Strip program is up 160% this year. Lawn areas shall not exceed 50% of the total landscaped area for front and side yards.*. As Pineview supplies start to falter, North Ogden passed an ordinance relaxing some rules around use of culinary, or treated water, on shrubs, trees, flowers or for livestock. SB 110 Requires a water use and preservation element to be part of a municipal or county general plan. Despite pleas from her children about running through the sprinklers to ease the summer heat, Baker said her response is a firm no.. Utah is the fastest growing state in the nation, growing 18.4% over the past decade compared to the national average of 7.4%. All rights reserved. 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. To all those people who asked what are YOU going to do, this is the answer, Cox said. "Its wonderful to have a nice green lawn, but we're in an area where it's not necessarily native, and it just uses more water that we dont have," she said. Rebate checks will be made payable to the property owner. If your community does not currently qualify for rebates, contact your elected municipal representative and encourage them to adopt qualifying landscape standards. (Remember, killing or removing your lawn before this visit will make your park strip ineligible for a rebate). This assessment has been folded into the, Many residential connections use secondary water for outside irrigation. 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. Skijoring is when someone on skis is pulled by a horse, dog, animal, or motor vehicle. Thats a good first start.. Statewide turf buyback program Outdoor water use makes up about 60% of our municipal and industrial water use. $19.00 - $20.00 hourly, 4 days ago Full time "As a city? Last year by mid-March, Cox had declared a state of emergency for Utah, and he said it is likely that some declaration will happen again as he huddles with water providers and agency leaders. 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. How do we make that fair? Sandall asked. The program, authorized by the Utah State Legislature earlier this year, is expected to launch in the spring. 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. Maybe its because our stories are so similar, I wasnt worried about ChatGPT until I tried ChatGPT. . This bill is one I would consider generationally one of the most important pieces of legislation that you will see, he said. HB 121 appropriated $5 million for statewide turf buyback, making Utah the first that offers a statewide. Most secondary water is used for agriculture or irrigation. The following cities have adopted qualifying water-efficient landscape ordinances for new residential developments. House/ received bill from Legislative Research. $16.00 hourly. Projects should remove all lawn from the park strip and replace it with water-efficient landscaping. Dormant is still alive," Hasenyager said. I can tell you that other states are looking at Utah very jealously right now. Lambs ears and Coreopsis are pictured in the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District garden in West Jordan on Thursday, July 29, 2021. Shasta daisies are pictured in the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District garden in West Jordan on Thursday, July 29, 2021. Raising Our Political IQ. Receive up to $1.25 per square foot for replacing the lawn in your park strip with a water-efficient design. 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. However, the Utah Department of Natural Resources is taking sign ups now to. First, the property must have living and maintained grass and intend to replace it with a drought-resistant type of landscaping. About 70% of Utahs municipal water use is outside the home, mostly for thirsty turfgrass. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. This year, Im getting quite nervous as we have had multiple months without the water we need.. Spencer Cox speaks about water conservation as Lt. Gov. "We haven't gotten any rebates," Wilson said. 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. 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. 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. No, this program requires plants and drip irrigation to be installed. Turf buyback programs like Jordan Valley's . Cash rewards and plan reviews will be given for landscaping projects that meet program . A previous version of this story incorrectly listed Rep. Val Petersons last name as Iverson. The federal government stopped states from removing people from Medicaid during the pandemic, but that's changing now. To register visit. 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