Water conservation e orts continue in Highlands Ranch

BY PAIGE MCFARLAND SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

Colorado residents are learning more each year about the importance, and value of water in their communities. Whether it’s the news headlines, information from their local water provider, or discussions with neighbors or coworkers around the water cooler, people are becoming more aware and interested in how they can do their part to help the water situation in our state.

As a water provider, we are working to rede ne what an attractive landscape is. A sea of lush, green front yards is no longer considered the only way to make a community beautiful. Replacing water-thirsty turf for ColoradoScape is growing in popularity each year.

ColoradoScape is a natural landscape, comprised of low to very-low water use plant material, which blends in with the native Colorado landscape. It utilizes a combination of hardscape and landscape materials, providing a variety of colors, textures, sizes, shapes and seasonal interest. e result can be a beautiful, colorful landscape that will make your yard the envy of your neighbors.

At Centennial Water, we have offered a variety of rebate and incentive programs for customers for many years now. Our turf replacement rebate has quickly become the most popular. e program began in 2018, and thanks to House Bill 1151, we applied for additional funds this year to put towards the existing program. is means we can help more customers, and provide larger rebates.

Last year in Highlands Ranch, 38 residential participants received the rebate, and more than 25,000 square feet of turf was converted. Participants of the turf replace -

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ment program see an average savings of 32% on their water use, which also saves them money on their water bill.

Centennial Water’s turf rebate program offers customers a rebate for replacing up to 1,000 square feet of any high-water-use plant material. The exact amount is dependent on the replacement material.

As you begin to plan your ColoradoScape, I have a few tips to share. First, embrace the natural form of plant material — nature is messy and that’s OK. Two, when selecting plants, make sure to pick shrubs and trees the right size for your landscape. And three, don’t forget about your irrigation system. Drip irrigation is the most e cient irrigation system when installed and used correctly. It is not e ected by wind, evaporation or runo due to the slow application of water.

Starting a landscape project, es- pecially one that is going to transform your yard from turf to ColoradoScape, can seem overwhelming. Centennial Water is here to help. I’d love to talk to you about plant suggestions, native grasses, the most e cient way to water, and more. Together let’s conserve water for our future!

Visit Centennial Water’s website to learn more about the turf rebate program, and other water conservation rebates we o er at centennialwater. org/rebates. You can contact me at pmcfarland@highlandsranch.org or 720-240-4918.

Paige McFarland is the Water Conservation Specialist for Centennial Water and Sanitation District, the water provider that serves Highlands Ranch and Solstice. She is a Colorado Certi ed Nursery Professional, Qualied Water E cient Landscaper, and has 10 years experience working in horticulture, eld and design.

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