Policies and Programs for Water-Wise Residential Landscaping in Utah Charlotte Clark,1 Kendall Becker, Ph.D.,1,2 Katie Wagner,3 and Scott Hotaling, Ph.D.1,2 Climate Resiliency Extension, Utah State University Department of Watershed Sciences, Utah State University 3 Horticulture Extension, Salt Lake County, Utah State University 1
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Water-wise landscaping is the practice of using plants in a landscape that are adapted to local conditions and only need small amounts of water. Converting yards to water-wise landscaping conserves water and is a climate adaptation action residents can take to benefit Utah as temperatures rise and drought becomes more common. Many policies and programs in Utah help residents use water conscientiously and make changes. Policies shape water-wise landscaping practices by providing incentives, setting standards, and regulating water use. Programs provide a framework to influence communities to incorporate sustainable practices. Urban areas in Utah, such as the Great Salt Lake area, are divided into water districts to supply water to communities. Some water districts fund programs and initiatives promoting water conservation, as does the state’s Division of Water Resources. This fact sheet provides information regarding current and future waterwise landscaping policies and programs in Utah.
Outdoor Water Use in Utah
Water-wise landscaping is crucial for sustainable living in arid regions like Utah. According to Utah’s Water Resources Plan, Utah uses about 4,751,000 acre-feet of diverted water each year (Utah Division of Water Resources [DWR], 2021). The agricultural sector uses about 75%, and the municipal and industrial sector uses the remaining 25% (Figure 1, left; DWR, 2021). Within the municipal and industrial sector, over 70% goes toward residential use, and 60% of that is applied to household landscapes (Figure 1, right; DWR, 2021). All told, outdoor residential water use accounts for about 11% of Utah’s total annual diverted water, or 500,993 acre-feet of water This water-wise Utah garden uses mulch, per year. Saving water in outdoor residential settings drought-tolerant plants, and drip irrigation. depends on watering existing vegetation appropriately and adopting water-wise landscaping practices so less water is needed (Endter-Wada et al., 2008; Institute of Land, Water, and Air, 2023). As Utah’s population continues to grow and summer temperatures continue to rise, water-wise landscaping will help Utahns conserve water and adapt to the changing climate (DWR, 2021; Global Change Research Program, 2023). 1