Greeley Case Study

Greeley, Colorado: Large-Scale Nonresidential Turf Replacements

Facing climate change, drought, and rapid population growth, Greeley’s water supply and reliability is a top concern, as with other Front Range communities in Colorado. Greeley’s 2023 Integrated Water Resource Plan identified 55 risks to its water supply system, including: climate change, hydrology, Colorado River Basin issues, demand, infrastructure and operations, and water rights. Annual water demand in Greeley is projected to be between 35,400 AF and 70,000 AF by 2070, requiring a significant increase in water supply to meet future demands.

This case study details how Western Resources Advocates and WaterNow worked with Greeley and the University of Northern Colorado (UNC) to help develop and fund a large-scale turf conversion pilot project to save water and educate the community on the benefits of non-essential turf conversion and waterwise landscaping. The project team, which includes Honey Creek Resources, also developed an economic analysis tool to evaluate the costs and benefits of turf conversion in medians and street rights-of-way in the community.