Colorado cities accelerate turf wars with new construction bans, public median rip-outs
Broomfield has joined a swelling wave of Colorado communities sharply limiting thirsty turf grass in new development, with more communities about to follow, while other cities and parks departments are starting to rip out useless grass in medians and rights of way for replacement with water-wise landscapes.
State water officials, meanwhile, have closed out the first year of $1.5 million in local turf removal grants with nearly 40 applications for the money, and water resource experts hope to use the momentum from the anti-turf evolution to create a bigger state-funded buyback next year.
“The momentum toward water-wise landscape transformation is unprecedented in the last year or two,” said Lindsay Rogers, a water specialist with Western Resource Advocates.
The nonprofit worked with WaterNow Alliance to advise Broomfield, and Rogers said cities from Fort Collins to Grand Junction to Edgewater are working on or have recently passed new landscaping ordinances deemphasizing turf. WaterNow Alliance’s grant work with Broomfield, population 78,000, provides up to 250 hours of pro bono water-wise consultation, Rogers said.