Aug. 19, 2024

New Native Grass Website Offers Flexible Lower Water Solutions

Native grasses are gaining prominence as an important water efficiency solution in the west.  While such grasses have been in continual use in rural areas, over the last century, western urban development sought to recreate the civic conditions of the east coast, where rich soil and heavy rainfall are common. To achieve the aesthetic, municipalities frequently default to non-native Kentucky Bluegrass.   

While turfgrass provides many benefits including simple and affordable installation, ongoing stormwater mitigation, verdant color, drought tolerance and recreational support, it often requires supplemental irrigation and soil treatment. It also needs chemical applications and regular mechanical maintenance to meet appearance expectations. Now, sustained temperature extremes, sustainability mindsets and budget limitations are driving interest in native, water-efficient ground covers to achieve similar goals.  

Two people overlook a site that was converted from Kentucky Bluegrass to Native Grass. B

For large contiguous spaces, native grasses are an achievable investment. They offer drought tolerance, reduced resource needs, enhanced ecosystem services and can be designed to suit a variety of site characteristics. While some might picture regional vegetation seen in the mountains as the only native grass choice, there are many beautiful, easy to care for urban options.  

As a newer landscape choice, successful design, installation and maintenance of native grass is critical for success in urban environments. To make the process of planning and selection easier, a new interactive Colorado Native Grass Guide is now available. This guide was created by Front Range Water Providers and Colorado WaterWise, with funding from Colorado Water Conservation Board. The website includes pictures, case studies and filters to determine what options work best for any given location. The platform uses leading industry expertise to offer flexible, customizable guidance on seed type, height, rate, installation method, maintenance, savings potential, important managerial considerations and more.  

Native grasses are a natural, sustainable choice reflecting Northern Colorado’s vegetation conditions. Northern Water is investing in collaborative resources to enhance landscape, municipal and user knowledge of this critical solution. Keep an eye on our website for upcoming educational opportunities!