Extension Spotlight

The Turf Replacement Program was a bill into law in December of 2022. The second application cycle started as of July 1 through Aug. 31. There has been some mixed messaging about this Turf Replacement Program.

First, who is eligible to apply: local governments such as municipalities, counties, cities, public agencies, and municipally owned water providers. Districts such as metropolitan, special districts, water or water and sanitation districts and conservancy districts, like nonprofits such as organizations with 501(c)(3) status who have programs that support turf removal. Colorado’s federally recognized tribes such as Ute Mountain and Southern Ute Indian Tribes.

Second, how to apply: here is a link: https://cwcb.colorado.gov/turf. Then within one or two days, you should get a confirmation. Approval comes in an email. Once approved then start a Turf Replacement Program application on CWCB’s Login Page. Be sure to submit the application by Aug. 31.

If you are interested in a more comprehensive understanding of this program, go to the following link to read frequently asked questions: https://engagecwcb.org/turf-replacement-program.

If you are a homeowner and wondering if you can seek funding, here is the exact wording below about this:

Single-family homeowners, HOAs, or other groups who do not regularly work with water resources or conservation and who do not have the capacity to support community-scale turf replacement are not eligible to apply. They may be able to obtain funding by working with an eligible entity that has received funding (e.g. water utility).

As many homeowners have been asking if they are eligible, they need to explore whether their local water provider or municipal government to determine if funding is available to them.

If you are interested in speaking or emailing someone from the Colorado Water Conservation Board then use the link provided above for frequently asked questions. There are three people listed you can contact. They are Jenna Battson, Outdoor Water Conservation Coordinator, Russ Sands Section Chief, Water Supply Planning and Kat Weismiller, Deputy Section Chief.