LANDSCAPE CONVERSIONS: TRADING TURF FOR TURF?
By Jack Karlin
Editor’s note: Tis is the TPI Leadership, Innovation, and Technology (LIT) Committee’s article addressing innovative solutions.
Targeting turfgrass conversion in residential landscapes for water savings is a standard play in the water managers playbook. Amid growing concerns about water supplies, Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities (SLCDPU) assumed a familiar stance. But this program is different and has a unique landscape conversion requirement. Rather than removing natural turfgrass, Salt Lake City (SLC) Turf Trade replaces existing turfgrass in landscapes with Turfgrass Water Conservation Alliance (TWCA) qualified drought tolerant turfgrasses. TWCA qualification is a third-party verification of drought tolerance. Its peer-review process for developing objective data maintains separation between an impartial research review committee (RRC) and parties with a commercial interest in cultivars trialed.
To produce the videos, SLCDPU renovated a water pumping facility (the Concord Lift Station) using their own program. Augmenting direct consumer messaging from the program are seasonal social media messages emphasizing seasonal management tips for healthy and durable living turfgrass.
TWCA qualified drought tolerant turfgrass looks great at the SLCDPU Concord Lift Station.
Purchasing directly through the city, consumers access five- pound bags of grass seed for their conversion projects. Turf Trade programs target early adopters for the first round of conversions. Government partnership grants access to water use records over time to monitor changes in water use.
According to Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District Senior Water Efficiency Planner, Celine Benoit, “One of the largest hurdles to landscape water conservation is behavior change.” Water efficient landscaping only works when used appropriately. Ensuring proper establishment and management practices is the job of the Center for Water Efficient Landscaping (CWEL) at Utah State University who, in partnership with Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities, produced a series of instructional videos guiding end-users through the process of establishing and maintaining their new water efficient landscape. “We are really thinking of Turf Trade as an educational tool as much as a landscape conversion program,” says CWEL Director, Dr. Kelly Kopp.
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A tight budget for conservation throttles Turf Trade to roughly one percent of the available turfgrass market annually. “Te city doesn’t want to be in the grass seed business,” offers Stephanie Duer, SLCDPU Water Conservation Manager, “Te goal is to get people thinking about their water use and to convert to a more sustainable landscape.” Limited market share positions Turf Trade as a pull-through tool for seed and sod partners carrying TWCA qualified products. Sod farms in Turf Trade regions report an increase in consumer requests for TWCA qualified turfgrass. “Te interest has really grown,” says Allison Smith of Chanshare Sod Farms. “Tis is how we are going to stay in business as a sod farm.” Similarly, Warren Bell of Biograss Sod Farms says inquiries have increased since the start of SLC Turf Trade.
Turf Trade changes the focus of landscape transformation programs from natural turfgrass removal to natural turfgrass replacement. Ensuring the success of the program takes communication, education, and committed partners. By raising awareness of responsible landscape practices and water efficient landscaping alternatives, Turf Trade is a pull-through model of effective public-private partnership. To learn more about the Turf Trade program, contact Jack Karlin at
jack.karlin@tgwca.org or visit
https://www.tgwca. org/
turftrade.html.
Jack Karlin is executive director of the Turfgrass Water Conservation Alliance (TWCA) and a member of the TPI Leadership, Innovation, and Technology Committee.
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