FLOOD07080

• County: Statewide
• Community: State of Colorado
• Basin: Statewide
• Title: Water Efficiency Task Force - DNR
• Date: 5/11/1987
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Educational/Technical/Reference Information

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B. Exterior Residential Use

Irrigation of residential landscape comprises 30%

of all urban water use and over half of residential use.

Although state regulations now exist requiring low water-use

plantings on government land, there are no blanket state

requirements for residential landscaping. There is, however, a

tremendous amount of information available from state agencies

concerning landscaping. Brochures are available from the

Department of Water Resources regarding lawn watering,

manufacturers of drip irrigation, seeds, soil amendments,

mulches, climate zones, and plants. Bulletin 209, available from

the Department, provides a listing of drought tolerant plants by

region including several water districts (see Exhibit 4).

Demonstration gardens are prevelant throughout the state.

Xeriscape conventions are held annually; television shows are

produced showing how to landscape for low water use and

promotional programs are held in cooperation with nurseries,

wherein two-for-one coupons for drought resistant plants are

given by the state to individuals to be redeemed at local

nurseries.

Local ordinances often require specific landscaping
and irrigation systems. Generally, these ordinances limit the
amount of turf area allowed, require efficient irrigation which
minimizes runoff and the planting of low water using plants, the
use of mulch and the preservation of existing trees and shrubs.
Santa Barbara requires that landscape projects be reviewed by
that county's Resource Management Department Landscape Planner

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