DENVER (KDVR) The great American West drought is the driest it's been in 1,200 years, but a house bill that passed through a Colorado House committee on Monday aims to help remedy this crisis.. The first intake process runs from January 25 - March 31. Conrad Swanson covers Colorados environment and politics for The Denver Posts political team. HB22-1379: Wildfire Prevention Watershed Restoration Funding Bill A stormwater retention feature (i.e. The intake form provides staff with an initial assessment of program demand. The Town of Erie would love to help! This memorandum provides information about the interstate compacts, Supreme Court decrees, and international treaties that govern Colorados use of interstate streams. Yes. Resource Central's new lawn replacement program makes going xeric easy by combining lawn removal services, free Garden in a Box kits, and waterwise landscape advice and support. Eagle River Water & Sanitation has a pilot rebate program for turf replacement, which could be expanded with state money, if the bill passes. The project area can range between 250 square feet (minimum) to 5,000 square feet (maximum) of existing grass lawn. Not completing the submission will result in not receiving a rebate for your project. Remove lawn through us or do-it-yourself. Each part covers a different aspect of Colorado water law and policy. Yes. 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. So, what does this mean for water conservation? This heat can be used in a number of ways through geothermal energy systems. Aerial view of your property from an online mapping program. The Colorado Water Conservation Board mission is to conserve, develop, protect and manage Colorados water for present and future generations. Some content on this page may not display correctly. Allocated Funding . The CWCB worked with BBC Research and Consulting on an Exploratory Analysis of Potential Water Savings, Costs and Benefits of Turf Replacement in Colorado.How much funding is available?After paying for staff and database development, CWCB has about $1.5M to spend across the funding cycles - that's approximately $750,000 for each of the two identified funding cycles. Los Angeles front yard design by Yardzen. ** The status of Second Reading amendments may be subsequently affected by the adoption of an amendment to the Committee of the Whole Report. The climate-conscious, first-in-Colorado edicts proposed by the City of Aurora are clear: No new golf courses flooding grass with precious water. Colorado could pay you $2 a square foot to rip it out. Funding for development of new turf replacement programs. A turf replacement bill, which passed unanimously this week out of the Colorado House Agriculture, Livestock & Water Committee, would require the state water board to develop a statewide program to provide financial incentives for the voluntary replacement of irrigated turf with water-wise, drought-resistant landscaping. If you recently put your old icebox on ice, recycle it or your refrigerator for a chill $50. Colorado would expand grass turf buyouts statewide and double existing city rip-and-replace programs in a bill aimed at solving misuse of precious water during the state's long-term drought. ft. and maximum of $5,000. 8. Colorado will pay you to replace your grass , Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Get to know all 17 Denver mayor candidates , Colorado will pay you to replace your grass if Gov. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Rebates could double from about $1 a square foot. Michael Booth 4:08 AM MST on Feb 9, 2022 Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings and refresh the page. The program boosted funding for turf replacement by $350 million. Application review, follow-up and contracting if qualified. Thirsty lawns covered with Kentucky Bluegrass and other grasses not native to Colorado suck up about half of all the water used in Colorados cities. ), (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house. It's taken another eight years for lawmakers to try again, and in 2022, the General Assembly passed a bipartisan bill to set up a statewide residential turf replacement program, with $2 million in incentives to encourage replacement of nonessential irrigated turf on residential, commercial, institutional or industrial properties. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. This website requires javascript to run optimally on computers, mobile devices, and screen readers. Download Share Related Publications Sort by Staff Publications Artificial turf is not permitted. Outline using tracing paper or a computer program the area of turf that will be replaced. Amounts may be lower if demand is high. The specific incentive program must be developed before July 1, 2023. Here is an outline of the design submission: Please direct any questions to Dylan King, Water Conservation Technician by emailing dking@erieco.gov or by calling 303-926-2871. Colorado has just enacted a statewide turf replacement incentive program. (municipalities, counties, cities, public agencies, municipally owned water providers), (metropolitan districts, special districts, water districts, water and sanitation districts, conservancy districts), (organizations with 501(c)(3) status who work in water with related skills; capacity), (Ute Mountain Ute and Southern Ute Indian Tribes). 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. Outdoor watering of turf uses significant amounts of water. Create a Department of Natural Resources portal account to manage your CWCB email notifications. Jared Polis on Wednesday. Turf replacement programs across the American West have seen great success. (Photo by RoschetzkyIstockPhoto, istockphoto), Colorado to incentivize residents to replace grass lawns with water-saving landscaping, Polis vetoes bill requiring commercial, multifamily buildings to have electric car charging stations, Polis approves $1,000 in tax credits to help older Coloradans with housing costs, Polis OKs reporting requirements for Colorados health care sharing ministries, Aurora City Council considers Colorado's first-ever cool weather turf ban for new development. The three six-hour courses cover these landscaping fundamentals: Where Our Water Comes From Sustainable Landscaping & Soils Landscape Water Budgeting & Management SESSION: 2022 Regular Session SUBJECT: Water BILL SUMMARY GRIP Basic Rules: No, artificial turf doesn't count for the rebate. No, you can do your project yourself or hire a contractor. Don't knowingly lie about anyone CWCB is planning two funding cycles in 2023. Colorado Introduces a Bill to Incentivize Removal of Turf Grass to Save Water February 11, 2022 "The bill requires Colorado water conservation board to develop a statewide program to provide financial incentives for voluntary replacement of irrigated turf with water wise landscaping (turf replacement program)" Not everybody has to look like youre living in the desert anymore, Phelps said. Earlier this year, Colorado lawmakers passed a GOP-sponsored bill that allocated $2 million to establish a statewide turf replacement program for residential, commercial, institutional and industrial properties. CWCB is rolling out a new Turf Replacement Program! CWCB is rolling out a new Turf Replacement Program! 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. Please see the GRIP manual for rebate coverage details. Transformative landscape change is also a component of the Colorado Water Plan. The turf replacement initiative comes on the heels of Colorado House Bill 1151 passing in June 2022. 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. If you have an upcoming lawn project looking to install water efficient gardens or grass, you might qualify. 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. Every turf replacement project must include: 3 plants per 100 sq. This memorandum memorializes the process for requesting and preparing greenhouse gas emissions reports (GHG reports) pursuant to Section 2-2-322.3, C.R.S., starting at the 2023 legislative session. Contact us for any help on browser support. *Native Bonus Rebate: additional $0.25/square foot rebate up to 1,000 square feet or up to $1,000 total for planting a minimum of 80% plants native to Colorado. Not for the "stupid price" of $150 an acre foot. Click here to access the Turf Replacement Program Intake Form. An estimated 3.3 million people in Colorado are affected by drought, with 2022 being the driest year to date over the past 128 years. Submit your landscape upgrade plans and rebate applications to turfreplacement@erieco.gov. Colorado River Indian Tribes, 73-19L-1 Canal Lining Project Reclamation Funding: $209,182 Total Project Cost: $443,229 . 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. 2022 CO HB1151 (Summary) Turf Replacement Program. Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings and refresh the page. In some cases a combination of cash and/or in-kind may be allowed depending on the specific needs of the project, but projects with matching dollars will generally be more competitive.Are there other ways I can get funding for turf replacement?Yes. There are also many local turf replacement programs offered at this time through local governments and municipalities. Bennett said, "There is no room in this city for 'keep off the grass'. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The initial intake period runs from January 25, 2023 - March 31, 2023. Mulched beds cannot have more than 25% bare mulch when plants mature. You may still install artificial turf per the city code, but you will not be eligible for the rebate. Colorado Water Conservation Board | 1313 Sherman Street, Room 718 |Denver, CO 80203 |(303) 866-3441, Sign up for Public Notices and Meeting Notifications, 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, p. In some cases a combination of cash and/or in-kind may be allowed depending on the specific needs of the project, but projects with matching dollars will generally be more competitive. After considering staffing costs, CWCB estimates this equates to roughly $750,000 per funding cycle for FY 22-23 and . Insulation. More information on this program, including guidelines and details on the application process, will become available in Spring 2023. You have permission to edit this article. The money is appropriated to the department of natural resources for use by the board to implement the turf replacement program, with $11,400 of the money reappropriated to the office of the governor for use by the office of information technology to provide information technology services to the department of natural resources. The specific incentive program must be developed before July 1, 2023. HB 22-1151 allocates $2 million to fund this program. You mow, water, and then cover the lawn with plastic for 6+ weeks, which will kill most organisms and prevent photosynthesis, all for very little cost, and no need for intense chemicals. 2. water utility). Colorado Water Plan Grant Program and the Water Supply Reserve Fund Grant Program. Residents must participate in a cohort in order to get a rebate. Qualifying applications will ultimately need to complete a scope of work, submit tax information and other required documents before entering into contracting. Salary \$19.60 - \$29.38 Hourly Location 80016, CO Job Type Full-time Department Open Space JobSee this and similar jobs on LinkedIn. The Rebate Program assists customers with reducing their overall water consumption. Since launching in 2018 the. Seems like you are already registered, please provide the password. Posted 5:47:34 PM. This is the first time the State of Colorado has dedicated funds expressly to turf replacement. The specific incentive program must be developed before July 1, 2023. Take the Transformative Landscape Change (TLC) Challenge. No grass in medians or decorative spots near offices. If you have an existing in-ground irrigation system, please note how you will be updating it to fit the needs of new landscape. Projects over 1,000sqft do qualify for the rebate program, but rebates will only apply up to 1000sqft of design work. Mulch can include shredded bark, bark chips, or rock. 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