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All applications for the Turf Buy Back Program must be submitted to the District by 5:00pm on Friday, July 31, 2009. All projects that have submitted an application must complete the conversion and schedule a final inspection by the end of the 2009 growing season.
The South Tahoe Public Utility District (District) recognizes that lawn areas help to provide defensible space, play areas for children and pets, and serve an integral role in a comprehensive landscaping plan. However, lawns are also the most water intensive landscaping option a homeowner can choose. Non-functional lawns - ones that are rarely used - waste water and represent an ongoing cost in both time and resources for the home or business owner.
From an environmental perspective, lawns tend to be over fertilized and over watered. With porous Tahoe soils, this combination can push nutrients intended for the lawn into the watershed where they eventually make their way into Lake Tahoe. Once there, they provide nutrients for algal growth that can affect the legendary clarity of the Lake.
Nonfunctional lawns—ones that are rarely used—waste water and represent an ongoing cost in time and resources for the home or business owner. As a general rule of thumb—if you only walk on your lawn when you mow it—it’s non-functional.
The District has recently been awarded two state water conservation grants that allow for the voluntary buy-back of lawns, at $2.00 per square foot, for customers who wish to replace their lawns with attractive, but less water intensive landscaping options. By reducing the District’s summer water demands, capital costs for new wells and long-term operations and maintenance can be avoided. For customers affected by the Angora Fire, contact the District to learn more about re-landscaping and rebate opportunities.
The District welcomes your participation in this innovative program and is ready to help you take advantage of it. Please contact Shelly Barnes, Water Conservation Specialist at 543-6268 for program requirements and an application.
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