Eagle River Coalition & Eagle County Conservation District, CO
Expanded Access to Turf Replacement and Irrigation Rebates on the Western Slope Our Approach Project OutcomesProject Goal
Eagle County’s rivers support a recreation-driven economy, but a growing population and increasingly variable water supply threaten long-term sustainability. Historically, many communities across the county lacked access to outdoor water conservation programs. ECCD and ERO launched Beyond Lawn to fill this gap—empowering landowners across the county to reduce water use and protect stream health.
Our Approach
WaterNow Alliance and Western Resource Advocates partnered with the Eagle County Conservation District (ECCD) and Eagle River Coalition (ERO) to develop and launch Beyond Lawn – a county-wide turfgrass replacement and irrigation system upgrade incentive program.” This program provides rebates to landowners and Homeowners Associations (HOAs) to replace their high-water use landscaping with water-wise alternatives and upgrade irrigation systems with efficient components, including smart controllers that adjust watering based on environmental conditions . Participants begin with a professional landscape and irrigation evaluation to identify water savings opportunities and receive customized retrofit recommendations. This program helps reduce water use, lower water bills, and support healthy streamflows across Eagle County.
Outcomes
In its first year, Beyond Lawn completed 55 landscape and irrigation evaluations, resulting in eight turf conversion rebates totaling $26,872 and replacing 13,727 square feet of high-water-use turf. Five irrigation rebates were awarded – including $4,225 for system upgrades and one smart controller – supporting more efficient water use across the county.
Photo by Rebekah Blocker on Unsplash.
