The Act will conserve a LOT of water.
According to an article by The Denver Post, the bill was signed into law last Friday by Gov. Jared Polis and prohibits the installation of ornamental grass, invasive plants and artificial turf on most commercial, industrial and state government property. The ban includes medians, parking lots and along roads.
Residential properties are excluded from the law, except for land managed by homeowners’ associations.
Here is the Denver Post article excerpt:
"Bill sponsors’ goal was to reduce water use as Colorado’s supplies shrink due to climate change-fueled drought and warming. Nearly half of water used in cities and towns goes to water lawns, many of which are planted with nonnative grass", experts have said.
“Water-wise landscaping conserves our precious water resources and encourages communities to embrace Colorado’s natural landscapes,” sponsor Rep. Karen McCormick, a Longmont Democrat, said in a news release. “Our law sets us on a path forward to more effectively manage and preserve the water we all rely on.”
The new restrictions go into effect on Jan. 1, 2026, except for the ban on state government property, which starts a year earlier in 2025.
The law is part of an ongoing effort by lawmakers to reduce the amount of water used on ornamental lawns. The legislature in 2022 passed a law that gave money to local governments and nonprofits to replace nonnative ornamental grass with water-efficient landscaping. Local governments, too, have passed ordinances to limit thirsty nonnative turf."
Also exempt from the ban are parks, sports fields and playgrounds.
The Denver Post's full article with interesting related articles is here.
The hope is that all Coloradans will be inspired to plant native grasses and plants that use less water in an effort to be part of a water-saving solution that benefits everyone.