City and state initiatives
Many communities, cities and states have taken measures to start conserving water resources by incentivizing residents and businesses to pull out their lawn and plant natural landscapes. Cities such as Los Angeles and Las Vegas are some of the most drought ridden cities in the country and have some of the most strict laws regarding a green lawn. However, if you choose to replace your lawn with native species you will be eligible for a rebate. Since 2009, Los Angeles has paid residents over $1.4 million dollars to replace their lawn with a natural landscape (Lovett 2013). This rebate program has saved the city 47 million gallons of water each year. Las Vegas has been more proactive to remove water wasting grass and has paid the price of $200 million to do so. This 165 million square feet of former lawn space, has been replaced by artificial grass and natural vegetation that provides similar aesthetic enjoyment for residents and business owners. In the last decade, 9.2 billion gallons of water have been saved through turf removal, and water use in Southern Nevada has been cut by a third, even as the population has continued to grow (Lovett 2013) .
Arid Southwest Cities' Plea: Lose the Lawn Ian Lovett
Arid Southwest Cities' Plea: Lose the Lawn Ian Lovett
CAlifornia turf removal program
California Turf Removal Program http://socalwatersmart.com/qualifyingproducts/turfremoval
Have grass in the proposed project area and receive up to $3.50 per square foot of lawn removed.
Have grass in the proposed project area and receive up to $3.50 per square foot of lawn removed.
- Install a new landscape that meets the terms and conditions for their city. All projects must:
- Not include live turf or turf looking plants
- Include plants (not turf)
- Follow any additional requirements for their city. You can see these requirements by applying for project start approval (instructions below).
- Synthetic turf is eligible for rebates unless stated in your area’s terms and conditions. Click “Estimate your rebate” to see if you qualify.
- Customers are responsible for complying with all applicable local laws, ordinances, and other restrictions.
- Must not have received a turf removal rebate before. Only one turf removal rebate per property.
- Must take 5 color photos of the turf area that will be removed
- Submit photos and application to SoCal water smart agency
- Homeowner must accurately graph the total square area of property, displaying the total square feet of turf removal.
Las VEGAs population growth 1907-1995
http://geochange.er.usgs.gov/sw/changes/anthropogenic/population/las_vegas/
The expansion of Las Vegas, Nevada has exponentially grown throughout the last 100 years, due to the development of irrigation technologies, making the harsh desert environment habitable. With the damming of the Colorado River, through the construction of the Hoover Dam in 1931, land use in the desert was forever changed. With the seemingly 'endless' supply of water, residents could maintain a green lawn year round. Today this is no longer the case, as land and water resources are pushed to the brink, the city of Las Vegas has to change their land use practices. Established in 1999, Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA), has been actively trying to replace commercial and residential lawns into natural or artificial landscapes that conserve land and water resources. SWNA has converted more than 43,300 businesses and residential houses from a green lawn to an efficient desert landscape. This process is ongoing, but as urban sprawl encroaches outwards, having a green lawn is no longer an acceptable land and water use, resulting back to a natural landscape in urbanized settings.
Las vegas turf removal program
SWNA Rebate Requirments
Pre-Conversion Eligibility
1. File an application with SNWA
2. Lawn or permanent outdoor water features are eligible for replacement
3. Area converted must be larger than 400 square feet. Smaller projects are accepeted as long as they completley eliminate a lawn or permanent water feature
Converted Landscape Requirements
4. Total area converted must have at least 50% cover upon completion
5. Drip irrigation is the only allowable irrigation system
6. The converted area must be completely covered with mulch, permeable to air and water
Rebate Terms
7. Within six months of application approval, the conversion must be complete with a SNWA inspection
8. Rebates consist of $1.50 per square foot for the first 5,000 square feet, and $1 per square foot thereafter. No more than $300,000 of approved payments in the same fiscal year.
9. Conversion of yard will be sustained in perpetuity, regardless of deed ownership
1. File an application with SNWA
2. Lawn or permanent outdoor water features are eligible for replacement
3. Area converted must be larger than 400 square feet. Smaller projects are accepeted as long as they completley eliminate a lawn or permanent water feature
Converted Landscape Requirements
4. Total area converted must have at least 50% cover upon completion
5. Drip irrigation is the only allowable irrigation system
6. The converted area must be completely covered with mulch, permeable to air and water
Rebate Terms
7. Within six months of application approval, the conversion must be complete with a SNWA inspection
8. Rebates consist of $1.50 per square foot for the first 5,000 square feet, and $1 per square foot thereafter. No more than $300,000 of approved payments in the same fiscal year.
9. Conversion of yard will be sustained in perpetuity, regardless of deed ownership
http://www.snwa.com/rebates/wsl_conditions.html