The City transitioned Kentucky bluegrass to a water-wise wheatgrass blend at the Longmont Service Center and along Hover Street between 12th and Mountain View avenues.

The purpose of this project was to determine if a water-wise turf grass could be successful along right-of-ways, medians, and low-traffic areas. If successful, this project is expected to save water, maintenance costs, and will help guide the City on future projects.

Sustainability Benefits

Primary benefits: Water and Air Quality

Project Costs

Total Project Cost: $24,377.27 for turf removal, reseeding, irrigation upgrades and signage

• Northern Water: $12,188.64
• City of Longmont: $12,188.64 plus 25 hours of staff time for coordination

Ongoing Costs: 50 percent reduction in ongoing maintenance costs.

Expected Benefits

• Water*: Estimated 30-50 percent of water reduction per year for both sites.
• Cost*: Estimated $4,000 per year from water savings in total from both sites (using 2020 inside City irrigation rate of $5.22 per 1,000 gallons) and $600 per year from reduced maintenance (Service Center only).
• Air Quality: This project will reduce the amount of mowing by 50 percent, decreasing the negative emissions produced by the mower.
• Education: This site will serve as an example for businesses, residents and HOAs of low-water turf options.
• Future Projects: This project will guide the City in how it plans to transition high-water to low-water sustainable landscapes to meet the goals of the Water Efficiency Master Plan.

*These are expected savings; actual savings will be added in early 2023.

Project Timeline

Key Take-aways

• Water the trees during the transition. We worked with Forestry to make sure trees would have enough water after we made the transition, but found that the transition period of no watering while we removed the old turf was hard on the trees present.
• If a site has a lot of weeds to begin with, it requires more work to establish a new site with water-wise turf that is weed-free.
• Do not till the site after spraying is complete. Aerate and seed right over the dead grass. Tilling will only allow further germination of weed seeds that are dormant in the soil.
• No complaints – during or after the transition!