Landscape Conversion Rebate Program to Encourage LID Monisha - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Landscape Conversion Rebate Program to Encourage LID Monisha Banerjee 1 , Mike Milczarek 1 , Thomas Runyon 2 1 GeoSystems Analysis, Inc., Tucson, Arizona (monisha@gsanalysis.com) 2 Environmental and Natural Resources Division, US Army Garrison, Fort Huachuca

Landscape Conversion

Benefits of Landscape Conversion • Reduction in consumptive water use reduces: – Groundwater overdraft – Need to develop alternative water supply systems – Stormwater runoff, soil erosion, and costs for stormwater management – Landscape maintenance – Use of lawn chemicals • Increase native plant diversity � Rebate program encourages landscape conversion

Background • Groundwater overdraft in Sierra Vista area • Conserve water to protect critical habitat on the San Pedro River • How much water use could be reduced and at what cost with landscape conversion? • Landscape irrigation estimated to be up to 40-60% of potable water use in single family homes in the Southwest

Feasibility Study Tasks – Landscape conversion rebate program review – Assessment of conditions in Sierra Vista area e.g. turf grass area, water codes/ rates – Recommendations for implementing a program

Rebate Program Review Landscape Conversion

Program Evaluation Criteria • Reviewed 36 landscape conversion rebate programs in Arizona, California, New Mexico, Nevada, and Texas for: – Participant qualifications – Program specifications – Costs and water savings

Program Implementation • Effective landscape conversion needs to provide educational materials and resources: • Pictures and template design plans for xeriscapes • Community demonstration gardens • Recommended plant lists • “How-to” classes • Illustrated manuals • Recommend, train, certify landscape professionals

New Landscape Requirements • Ensure water savings and aesthetically pleasing landscapes – Minimum % mature plant cover – Minimum depth of mulch – Plant lists – Irrigation system, water feature, impermeable landscape limitations

Incentive ($/ft 2 turf grass removed) Chandler 0.5 1.5 2.5 0 1 2 Glendale New Mexico American Water Flagstaff Gallup Peoria Range of Incentives Riverside Landscape Conversion Rebate Program Sponsor Santa Rosa Windsor Incentive Crescenta Valley Prescott Scottsdale Mojave Water Agency Marina Coast Mean Incentive: $0.71 North Marin Albuquerque Santa Clara Scotts Valley Mesa Otay Cotati Coachella Valley El Paso Santa Clara SNWA South Tahoe

Estimated Reduction in Water Use (gals/ yr/ ft 2 of turf grass removed) 60 Median Reduction in Water Use: 29 gals/ft 2 /yr Reduction in water use 50 40 30 20 10 0 M A A Z A V A Z Z Z Z A A C A C N A A N C C , , , , , , , , , , , r a n s a e e t t r y e t s a o s i p u i o a r l r a d e m g s o q a t c o O d n M M e e r s e C n e V a P e T u i h h r a W s P q C t n a r u o i L r b N a l M A Landscape Rebate Program Sponsor

Estimated Annual Water Savings (based on amount of turf grass removed) 60 1800 Estimated Annual Water Savings (AF) Estimated Annual Water Savings Median Annual Water Savings: 6 AF 1600 for Las Vegas (SNWA) (AF) 50 1400 40 1200 1000 30 800 20 600 400 10 200 0 0 M X Z A Z ) ) A A Z Z Z R C T A A N C C A C A A ( ( , , , , , , , , , , V V r e e y a n a o t t e s t p N N a s i u o i i l r a r n m d e a q t c o O o o , , n M M s e r s s e C e t a e a a P n T u h r h g g A a P q C t e e n r u n V V o i b r a N a l s s S A M a a L L Landscape Rebate Program Sponsor

Estimated Program Costs (per AF of water saved, estimated 10 year return period) $1,600 Cost ($/AF) Median cost: $636/AF over 10 years $1,400 Cost per Acre-Foot of Water Saved over 10 years ($/AF) $1,200 $1,000 $800 $600 $400 $200 $0 M X Z Z A ) A ) Z Z ) ) Z A C R C R A A N T C A C A A C ( ( ( ( , , , , , , , e , , A A V V , o r e a t t a n e r s t i p C C N N u o i o s i n r l a r d m e q s o a o c o , , , , n d e s s M M s r t e y y C e n a n P e a a a a T u A h i r g h g t t W a P O O q C e t e n n r u V V o a i b r N S a l s s A M a a L L Landscape Rebate Program Sponsor

Cost to Purchase/ Lease New Water in the Southwest Average Purchase or Lease Water Source Price for Water Rights ($/AF) ARIZONA CAP II non-irrigation water rights $1,300 - $3000 CALIFORNIA Alto and Centro sub-area $1,800-$3,650 NEW MEXICO Roswell Basin water rights $2,300-$2,400 NEW MEXICO Lower Rio Grande water rights $3,000-$5,000 TEXAS Edwards Aquifer water rights $5,000 NEVADA Truckee River surface water rights $5,500 - $45,000 NEVADA Wet water rights $8,800 NEW MEXICO Middle Rio Grande water rights $9,000-$35,000 NEW MEXICO Taos tributaries’ water rights $10,000-$12,000 NEVADA Groundwater rights $10,000-$30,000 NEW MEXICO Rio Hondo water rights $10,500-$14,000 ARIZONA Effluent rights in Prescott AMA $24,650 NEW MEXICO Santa Fe tributary water rights $35,000-$45,000

Sierra Vista Feasibility Study

Study Components • Turf grass analysis • Water rates • Landscape and Water Code • Water augmentation costs • Local resources • Estimated water savings and costs • Program Recommendations

Estimated Water Savings for Landscape Conversion Estimated Water Savings a Landscape Conversion (gals/ft 2 /yr) AFA/acre Cool season grass to non-irrigated landscape 30.75 4.1 Cool season grass to irrigated xeriscape 23.75 3.2 Warm season grass to non-irrigated landscape 19.5 2.6 Warm season grass to irrigated xeriscape 12.5 1.7 Cool season to warm season grass 11.25 1.5

Range of Recommended Rebates ($/ft 2 of turf grass removed) Water Augmentation Cost ($/AF over 10 years) Estimated Water Savings Based on Landscape Conversion $1,500 $2,000 $2,500 $3,000 Cool season grass to non-irrigated landscape $1.18 $1.57 $1.97 $2.36 Cool season grass to irrigated xeriscape $0.91 $1.21 $1.52 $1.82 Warm season grass to non-irrigated landscape $0.75 $1.00 $1.25 $1.50 Warm season grass to irrigated xeriscape $0.48 $0.64 $0.80 $0.96 Cool season grass to warm season grass $0.43 $0.58 $0.72 $0.86

Landscape Conversion Recommendations for Sierra Vista • Tiered incentive system – Encourage rainwater harvesting • No rebate maximum – Encourage large projects, which achieve high water savings – Pay out large projects over several years • Minimum project size requirement • Converted landscape requirements for max water savings • Individual negotiations for large turf grass areas (golf course, schools, parks)

Potential Water Savings and Costs Pueblo del Sol Residential and Golf Course Commercial Parks and Fort Area Type (PDS) Properties Schools Huachuca Estimated Existing Turf Grass 103 387 99 97 Area (acres) variable: 40: xeriscape; Potential Reduction in Turf xeriscape; 50 to 60: warm 150 to 200 Variable Grass Area (acres) 99: warm season season Estimated Potential Water 165 to 270 350-700+ 150+ 25 Savings (AFA) $1.7 – 4.5 Estimated Rebate Cost ($) $8-10.5 million $2.5 million N/A million Total Water Savings Potential: 500-1000+ AFA

Tucson Resources • Pima County Cooperative Extension – WaterSmart • Tucson Water • Rebates/ Tax credits: – Residential Gray Water Irrigation System – Irrigation System Upgrade Rebate for Commercial and Multifamily Properties – State Tax Credit for Rainwater, Gray Water Harvesting Systems (Residential and Commercial) Encourage more rainwater harvesting with removal of high water-use landscape

Summary • Structure rebates to encourage rainwater harvesting • New landscape requirements encourage LID practices • Resources: Use existing city and county resources to bring program on-line • Turf grass conversions save water at lower costs than importing new water supplies and support LID

Questions?