Nevada Proposes Rebates for Turf Reduction

Legislation intended to utilize funds from the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act (SNPLMA) has been introduced in order to expand the popular ?EUR??,,????'??cash for grass?EUR??,,????'?? program to public institutions. A $200 million conservation initiative to help public agencies remove turf and save water was announced Dec. 16, 2004 at the conference of the Colorado River Water Users Association. Currently, Southern Nevada Water Authority customers can participate in the "Water Smart Landscapes" rebate program that pays $1 per square foot of turf removed from an existing landscape and replaced with xeric landscaping. So far, the program has paid out more than $13 million dollars to participants, and there is a waiting list for individuals who want to participate.

The new legislation would direct $200 million in proceeds from SNPLMA into a Southern Nevada Water Authority program to provide a financial incentive for public institutions to remove unnecessary turf. Participants, such as school districts and area parks, would be encouraged to remove turf that is not critical to sports and recreation. Estimates indicate that as much as 247 million square feet of turf would be removed, permanently saving 42,000 acre feet of water per year. It will also save the schools and parks money that can be better used for educating children and creating safe spaces for them.