About eight acres of lawns, trees, shrubs and planting beds will be replaced with drought-tolerant plants and decorative pavers at the Palm Springs International Airport, according to a plan approved by the city in June. The renovation will reduce water use at the airport by more than 17 million gallons every year, cutting the airport's $100,000 annual water cost.

The Palm Springs International Airport plans to replace about 80 percent of its turfgrass with water-efficient, desert-tolerant plantings and pedestrian improvements, according to a plan approved by the Palm Springs Architectural Advisory Committee in June.

The airport spends about $100,000 on water annually to keep its 10 acres of lawns, shrubs, trees and planting beds hydrated, said airport executive director Tom Nolan. Transitioning eight of those acres to a low-water, drought-tolerant landscape is expected to reduce water consumption by at least 50 percent.

The most visible lawns, around the large fountain at the main terminal, will remain. The plan also mandates way-finding improvements for drivers and pedestrians. A subcommittee will review the design's lighting and hardscape elements as the design phase begins.

Estimates by the Palm Springs Office of Sustainability conclude transitioning a typical lawn landscape to desert landscape can save 50 to 60 gallons of water per square foot per year. At the airport this estimate means conserving some 17.4 million gallons of water a year "?u equivalent to the water contained in about 35 Olympic-sized swimming pools.