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Show Increased staff and budgets - State and federal agencies, including the Division of Water Resources and the Bureau of Reclamation are spending more money on water conservation efforts. Private industry ( green, homebuilders, real estate) - Exploring options, including an initiative underway to have water conserving landscapes in model homes and at the Parade of Homes throughout the state. Developers of South Mountain and Centennial projects in Draper, Salt Lake County, are implementing water conserving landscapes in their plans. Over 6,000 homes are planned to be built in these areas in the next five to 10 years. Water Conserving Landscape ( Xeriscape) Promotion by the Division of Water Resources Landscape/ wise water use seminars Sponsor water audit classes Landscape classes at county libraries Homeowner brochure ( currently being revised) Lawn watering guides Landscape pamphlets/ plant lists Video tapes Publications Water- Wise Landscaping, Utah State University. Landscaping for Water Conservation: Xeriscape, Aurora, Colorado Landscaping Ordinances A number of ordinances and model landscape codes have been developed in a number of states to promote more efficient irrigation for turf and landscapes. California and Florida passed laws requiring local governments to consider implementing ordinances to promote landscape water efficiency. The Colorado Water Utility Council developed a package of several water efficiency model ordinances, and several cities and counties in Colorado passed water efficient landscape requirements. A 1992 California law established a model ordinance for landscape water efficiency throughout the state. Unless communities created their own local ordinance before 1993, the state rules took effect automatically. Provisions of the law include landscape and irrigation efficiency plans for new public or developer- installed landscapes that are over 2,500 square feet. And it contains a requirement that recycled water be used for landscape irrigation unless an exemption is made. Runoff is prohibited and irrigation audits for landscape areas over one acre are required every five years. Since the beginning of 1994, actions by California communities include: • 175 took no action; model ordinance automatically went into effect. • 88 adopted a water budget approach similar to the model ordinance. • 169 adopted an ordinance based on a percentage limit for turf. • 49 adopted a less specific, policy- oriented ordinance. • 59 issued findings that no ordinance is necessary. The Florida landscape law established a model landscape ordinance that local governments must adopt or modify. The ordinance makes fewer requirements than the California ordinance and requires local governments to promote xeriscape landscapes through education and public projects. A number of cities prohibit wasteful use of water for landscaping and other outdoor activities. Phoenix has an ordinance that limits water use at large turf facilities ( 10 acres or larger) and for large water features ( i. e. fountains, water falls, etc.) Phoenix also requires separate metering for irrigation systems and water features. Landscaping Ordinances in Utah Salt Lake City recently approved a revised zoning ordinance which requires landscape plans 19 |