New developments will have to install water-efficient landscapes, indoor fixtures
The Utah Division of Water Resources Regional Water Conservation Goal for Carbon, Emery, San Juan, and Grand counties is 20% by 2030: a decrease from an average of 333 gallons per capita per day (GCPD) to 267. In the City of Moab’s Water Conservation Plan, the city proposed to meet and exceed that goal: it wants to average 250 GCPD by 2030. This would require a 50% decrease in water used in the city for outdoor landscape irrigation.
The city has pursued a water-efficient landscaping ordinance for more than a year: in March 2022, the city discussed what a landscaping ordinance could look like with the nonprofits WaterNow Alliance and Western Resource Advocates. The Utah State Code has also recently directed municipalities to implement water-wise landscaping requirements through a landscaping ordinance; “water-wise landscaping” meaning installing plants that are suited to desert microclimates, utilizing efficient irrigation design, and reducing grass or turf.
During the July 25 Moab City Council meeting, the council held a workshop with Sustainability Director Alexi Lamm and Planning & Zoning Director Cory Shurtleff to discuss the current ordinance.
The city’s proposed water-efficient landscaping ordinance update includes a water budget, approved plant list, irrigation design guidelines, turf limitations, and information on allowed ground cover—a minimum of 25% of the landscaped area must be living plant materials, and at least 90% of forbs, shrubs, and trees, and 100% of ground covers and ornamental grasses, will have to come from the city’s approved plant list.
“Landscaping” is defined in the proposed ordinance as any area that is not a hard surface like a driveway or sidewalk; portable furniture or containers are not considered part of landscaping. Lamm said a raised bed would be considered landscaping, but a potted plant would not be. “Personal agriculture cultivation,” or private gardens, will also be allowed under the ordinance.
“People are still allowed to grow food,” Lamm assured the council.
The ordinance will also qualify residents for Utah’s landscape rebate program: state residents can receive $1.50 per square foot of turf replaced with water-efficient landscaping if the city has a qualifying ordinance.
The ordinance will fall within the city’s zoning section of the municipal code. In addition to outdoor landscaping, the ordinance would also require that all new residential units install WaterSense-labeled fixtures (faucets, shower heads, and toilets) and Energy Star-qualified appliances.
Existing properties will only have to come into compliance with the new ordinance following any major changes to the property’s structures or landscaping. Existing residential properties will not have to comply with the WaterSense or Energy Star requirements when remodeling nor when adding a vegetable garden; however, larger changes like adding a carport or changing more than 50% of the landscape would require the property come into compliance with the ordinance.
The council limited the workshop to one hour; at the end of the hour, Lamm said she would create a Google Document with some of the council’s further questions and find a future date to hold another workshop.
