A plant with spiraling, star-shaped white flowers started popping up in Karen Goodfellow’s yard this year.

She and her husband had recently ripped up the last 1,000 square feet of lawn at their St. George home. Despite being in their 70s, they did the labor themselves: They rented an excavator, installed drip irrigation, planted trees and bushes and created a swale – a ditch to capture rain water and slow its flow through the yard.

When the little white flowers bloomed, Goodfellow didn’t know if she should pull them or not. She called a local nursery and learned it was a native plant called salt heliotrope,so she let it stay. “I don’t care if it [takes over],” she said.

Goodfellow, board vice president and water programme manager at Conserve Southwest Utah, is one of many residents in the St. George area who have traded out their lawns for desert plants in recent years.

St. George and surrounding towns in Washington County have replaced nearly three million square feet of grass with water-efficient landscaping since 2023, according to the washington county Water Conservancy District.

That’s more residential lawn replacement per capita over the past two years than Las Vegas – a national leader in turf removal – said Doug Bennett, district conservation manager, in a press statement.

“In fairness, Las Vegas has already done a tremendous amount of work, but our stats demonstrate our community’s commitment to using the resource efficiently,” Bennett added.

Bennett knows Las Vegas’ lawn replacement program well: He oversaw it at the southern Nevada Water authority for two decades before tackling water conservation in southwest Utah.

The Washington County Water Conservancy District first launched its Water Efficient Landscape Program in December 2022. st. George area residents’ interest has been increasing each year, with lawn conversions more than doubling as 2023, according to the district.

the program offers rebates,including $2 per square foot up to 5,000 square feet and $1 per square foot for more than 5,000 square feet of lawn replaced. Based on responses to district surveys, Bennett said, residents are spending on average $5 to $6 per square foot converted. So the rebate is covering roughly 40% of the cost on average.

While residents will save money on their water bill after they rip up their lawn, some people resist the change as they don’t want to take on the upfront costs, said Goodfellow.

others don’t want to sign the required conservation easement, goodfellow added, which requires homeowners to keep the water-efficient

St. George, Utah, Focuses on Water conservation Amidst Drought Concerns

Published: 2025/08/09 16:33:08

St.George, Utah, is actively implementing a range of strategies to address ongoing drought conditions and improve water conservation efforts. These initiatives, driven by the Washington County Water Conservancy District, aim to reduce water consumption and ensure a sustainable water supply for the rapidly growing region.

addressing Water Scarcity in Southwest Utah

Southwest Utah, like much of the American West, faces important challenges related to water scarcity. The region’s arid climate and increasing population put a strain on available water resources. The Washington County Water Conservancy District is leading the charge in finding solutions.

Conservation Programs and Incentives

The district offers a variety of programs designed to encourage residents and businesses to conserve water. These include:

• Rebates for Water-Efficient Appliances: Residents can receive financial incentives for installing high-efficiency toilets, washing machines, and other water-saving devices. washington County Water Conservancy District Rebates
• Landscape Transformation Programs: The District promotes the replacement of customary lawns with drought-tolerant landscaping through rebates and educational resources. Xeriscaping Information
• Drip Irrigation Education: Weekly workshops are held on topics ranging from lawn alternatives to drip irrigation techniques, helping residents optimize their outdoor water use.
• Water-Wise Workshops: The district provides educational resources and workshops on efficient water usage practices.

Expanding Water Supply

Beyond conservation, the district is actively working to diversify and expand the water supply. This includes exploring options like water reuse and optimizing existing infrastructure.

Learning from Las Vegas’s Transformation

Zachary Bennett, Deputy manager of the Washington County Water Conservancy District, points to Las Vegas as a successful example of water conservation transformation. “Las Vegas was long considered to be one of the most squanderous water-using cities in the West, and it’s entirely transformed its reputation,” he said. Southern Nevada Water Authority has implemented aggressive conservation measures, including banning non-functional turf and offering substantial rebates for lawn removal. Bennett believes St. George has the potential to achieve a similar positive shift.

Key Takeaways

• St. George, Utah, is proactively addressing water scarcity through conservation programs and supply diversification.
• The Washington County Water Conservancy District is central to these efforts, offering rebates, workshops, and educational resources.
• The city is looking to Las Vegas’s successful water conservation transformation as a model for its own efforts.

The ongoing efforts in St. George demonstrate a commitment to responsible water management. As the region continues to grow, continued innovation and community participation will be crucial to ensuring a sustainable water future for southwest Utah.