Northern Water awards more than $300,000 in water-efficient grants
BERTHOUD — Northern Water recently awarded $300,000 to 19 water-conservation projects throughout Northern Colorado as a part of its Water-Efficient Landscape Grant Program.
Grants ranged from $2,500 to a maximum of $20,000 to fund projects such as upgrades to irrigation systems, transitions to water-wise plantings, conversions to native grasses, incorporations of soil amendments and more, according to a news release. All grants require matching funds.
The 19 projects cover more than 500,000 square feet.
In total, Northern Water has awarded about $1.2 million in grants in the past six years to 82 projects totaling 7 million square feet of landscape, the release stated.
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The 2024 recipients and the projects that Northern Water’s grant program will support:
Boulder County
- St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church of Longmont, removing 3,557 square feet of turf and building a community pollinator education garden.
- Second Flintlock HOA in Boulder, implementing an irrigation controller and flow system upgrade more than 205,000 square feet.
- Indian Peaks HOA in Lafayette, transforming 4,550 square feet of turf landscape to a combination of water-wise plants and turf alternative.
- City of Lafayette Fire Station in Lafayette, continuing with phase II of a turf to water-wise garden conversion of 13,860 square feet .
- Harvest Junction Village HOA in Longmont, converting 7,100 square feet of its North Park turf and trees to water-wise alternative plants.
Larimer County
- The Ridge at Mariana Butte HOA in Loveland, converting 5,940 square feet of turf to water-wise plants.
- Warren Shores HOA in Fort Collins, starting phase I of an 8,550 square-foot transformation of turf to water-wise plants.
- Waterleaf HOA in Fort Collins, transforming 24,790 square-feet of turf at the Lemay Avenue entrance to water-wise plants and native grasses.
- Trinity Lutheran Church in Loveland, converting the 8,000-square-foot south lawn landscape from turf to water-wise plants as phase I of a native grass transformation project.
- Townhomes at Seven Lakes HOA in Loveland, starting phase I of transforming 47,678 square feet of native grass to water-wise plants.
- The Crossing Church in Fort Collins, converting 13,000 square feet of rain garden and turf to water-wise plants and native grasses.
- Silver Oaks HOA in Fort Collins, converting 1,000 square feet of turf to water-wise plants.
- Larimer County Sheriff’s Administration in Fort Collins, removing 18,000 square feet of turf landscape and replacing it with water-wise plants.
- KidsPak nonprofit in Loveland, converting new development to a combination of water-wise plants and native grass across 42,852 square feet.
- Heritage Ridge Metropolitan District HOA in Berthoud, continuing with phase II of converting 117,666 square feet of turf to native grass.
- Hearthfire Association in Fort Collins, transforming 3,000 square feet of turf to water-wise alternative plants.
- Enclave at Registry Ridge HOA in Fort Collins transforming 1,521 square feet of their east common area entrance from turf to water-wise plants.
- Animal Friends Alliance in Fort Collins, converting 12,700 square feet of new development to native pollinator landscape.
Weld County
- Park Ridge at Hawkstone HOA in Eaton, replacing 2,837 square feet of turf with water-wise plants and implementing irrigation upgrades.
Next grant cycle underway
Northern Water has already begun the next cycle of water-efficient landscape grants. Here are some key dates:
- Consultations for Applicants: June-September 2024
- Applications Accepted: Oct. 1-Dec. 3, 2024
- Applicants Notified: Late January 2025
- Contracts Signed/Projects Start: Spring 2025
- Project Completion Deadline: Sept. 30, 2025
Potential applicants are required to take part in a consultation with Northern Water prior to submitting an application. Anyone wanting to schedule a consultation can do so by completing a consultation intake form. Additional details and updates about the grant program are available at northernwater.org/grants.