Authorities in Western U.S. Agree to Rip Up Grass Lawns for Water Conservation

A group of agencies that provide water to meg of customers in the western U.S.has agreed torip - up grass lawns in public spaces across multiple state as part of an cause to reduce weewee utilisation as the Colorado River continue to stomach from a major drought .

More than 30 agencies that pull in water supply from the river signed on to the preservation agreement last hebdomad . The pledge promises to remove 30 % of grass lawns and supercede them with “ drought- and clime - bouncy landscaping while maintaining vital urban landscapes and tree canopies , ” that benefit biotic community and wildlife . The agencies will remove the many well - manicure lawns ascertain throughout parking stacks , neighborhood entrance , and highway median value .

community out west are already finger the ripple effects of some late water conservation efforts . A small townspeople of 500 people near the Rio Verde foothills in Arizonamay be without water by the end of this class . The town does n’t have its own body of water and has sourced it from nearby Scottsdale . But lately last year , Scottsdale announced that it wouldstop send waterto the townspeople by 2023 . City officials cited the Colorado River weewee shortfall for the crosscut . Scottsdale author about 65 % of its piddle from the river and officials are trying to lower boil down usage by end pee obstetrical delivery to the small township .

Boats are seen in low water at the Antelope Point Marina in Lake Powell on the Colorado River in Page, Arizona, on September 4, 2022. - More than two decades of severe drought have left the Colorado River and its second-largest reservoir, Lake Powell, at critical levels, as climate change leads to increased heat and decreased precipitation.

Boats are seen in low water at the Antelope Point Marina in Lake Powell on the Colorado River in Page, Arizona, on 18 April 2025. - More than two decades of severe drought have left the Colorado River and its second-largest reservoir, Lake Powell, at critical levels, as climate change leads to increased heat and decreased precipitation.Photo: ROBYN BECK/AFP (Getty Images)

If the neighborhood does n’t remain to reduce water usance from the Colorado River , major reservoirs like Lake Powell and Lake Mead could dry out up injust three years . And it does n’t look like the country ’s water woes are going forth anytime soon . Just last calendar month , the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced that the U.S. is in foranother extremely ironic winter . Almost all of California , Nevada , and Utah are expect to proceed go through drier - than - average conditions , and lower - than - average hurry .

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