Partnering with other governmental agencies to promote water-efficient landscapes will be crucial in building a climate-resilient community. With that in mind, Denver Water’s Public Spaces project aims to support other governmental organizations in our service area by funding ColoradoScape replacement projects. Learn about impactful efforts in Denver’s Central Park and Arapahoe County’s administration complex.
- Denver Water will provide 50 cents per square foot for approved projects pending funding availability on a first-come, first-served basis. Example: a 5,000-square-foot project would be eligible for $2,500; a 40,000-square-foot project would be eligible for $20,000.
- Funding is limited. Awardees may only get a portion of funds requested depending on applicant pool and annual budget. The size and scope of the project will be factored into the final funding amount.
- Funds may be used for design, materials and labor, and can include irrigation audits and upgrades to increase irrigation efficiency on existing landscapes. Funding can also be used toward education and outreach efforts.
- Denver Water will distribute funding within 30 days of completing a site inspection and receiving final invoices and/or receipts.
- Applicants must provide documentation that includes itemized total project expenses, such as design, materials and labor, and all sources of funding for the project.
- Projects must be served by Denver Water or one of Denver Water's qualifying water providers.
- Projects must demonstrate increased irrigation efficiency and/or replace high-water use turfgrass with low-water-use landscaping. Plants must be water-wise and appropriate for the Denver-metro climate.
- Denver Water must approve waterwise landscaping design.
- Project design must include at least 50% plant coverage at maturity in each planting area.
- Applicant must provide project irrigation and maintenance plans.
- Applicant must provide written approval from the landowner, bill payer and managing entity, such as the property management company, landscape management company, etc.
- Project must comply with local municipal ordinances.
- Applicant must attend a consultation meeting with Denver Water staff before applying.
- Local governments
- Denver Water qualifying water providers
- School districts
- Parks, recreation, and open space departments
- Metro districts
- Applicants must fill out the initial intake form.
- Denver Water staff will review the initial intake form and contact the applicant to schedule a phone consultation.
- Once project details and the requested funding amount are identified, the applicant must submit a formal application online.
- Applications must be received by Nov. 1 for project funding requests for the upcoming calendar year.
- Denver Water will send a notification of funding award to applicants following successful submittal of application. Once received, the applicant may begin project installation.
- Funding will be distributed to the applicant after a Denver Water representative completes a final site inspection following project completion.
- Designs that include artificial turf, landscape fabrics/weed barriers or hardscapes. These do not benefit the environment.
- Grass seed mixes that contain predominantly high-water grasses.
- Grasses branded as “xeric,” “drought-tolerant” and “low-water” that contain predominantly high-water-use turfgrass in the seed mix.
- Water-wise landscaping on previously nonirrigated land.
- Areas that currently consist mostly of weeds or nonrrigated cool-season grass.
- Design plans that remove or do not include irrigation for established trees.
Native and water-wise grasses
There are plenty of water-wise, drought-resilient, sustainable and functional replacements for thirsty turfgrasses like Kentucky bluegrass.
The Colorado Guide to Native and Water Wise Grass provides in-depth characteristics on approved grass types for a sustainable ColoradoScape lawn, as well as an overview of the transformation planning process. The Colorado Native Grass website provides eight water-wise and sustainable grass choices with parameters to help you choose what’s right for your yard. Examples of parameters include water savings (high, medium, low), light needs, maintenance levels, elevation range and traffic tolerance.
Approved grass:
- Buffalograss
- Blue grama grass
- Buffalo/blue grama mix: PBSI Native Lawn Mix and Western Native Xeriscape Lawn Mix
- Native prairie mixes: PBSI Native Prairie Mix and Western Native Short Grass Prairie Mixes
- Cold hardy bermudagrasses (example: Tahoma 31)
Colorado suppliers
Perennials and shrubs
Native and adaptive perennials offer various textures and colors good for pollinators, drought resiliency and climate-adaptive vegetation. Plant Select offers free water-wise landscape designs ideal for Colorado properties.
You can save water immediately by evaluating your sprinkler system, repairing leaks, upgrading equipment and controllers, and adjusting your watering schedule.
Denver Water offers several incentive programs for increasing irrigation efficiency. Rebates are available for rotary and high-efficiency sprinkler nozzles and WaterSense-labeled smart irrigation controllers. We also offer free irrigation audits through our partnership with Resource Central via the Slow the Flow: Residential Sprinkler Evaluations. Partnering staff will conduct an on-site evaluation and provide a detailed report with suggestions to improve the efficiency of your sprinkler system.
Resource Central: This Boulder-based nonprofit is focused on conservation in Colorado. Resource Central offers several residential programs and resources for ColoradoScaping.
CSU Extension: Backed by research from Colorado State University, CSU Extension offers a variety of free ColoradoScaping and irrigation efficiency information and resources, such as the Master Gardener program.
Denver Botanic Gardens: There are several locations to view and learn about ColoradoScaping around the Denver-metro area. The Botanic Gardens also provides numerous resources and programming for water-wise landscaping.
EPA WaterSense Find a Professional: This directory of certified professionals within the landscape and irrigation industry can help you work on your project.