Water-saving turf removal project moves forward in Tucson

Water officials in Tucson have begun work on a federally funded project to remove turf and save water.

The project uses city funding and some $1.5 million from the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority of Arizona — that’s the state entity that divides up federal funding provided by the American Rescue Plan.

Tucson Water administrator James MacAdam says it aims to remove what’s called ornamental grass — planted in places like medians, where it doesn’t serve a purpose for humans or pets — and replace it with water-saving desert landscaping.

They’re starting with city properties like Fort Lowell Park, where they’re identified 120,000 square feet of turf for removal — more than double their initial estimate.

“This park alone is saving 12 acre feet of water per year,” MacAdams told a group of researchers and journalists during an Earth Day event on April 22. “We estimate there are 62 million square feet of irrigated turf in our service area. As much as 30% of that, or 18 million square feet is estimated to be ornamental or non-functional.”

Fort Lowell is one of four city parks included. The rest of the funding goes toward rebates to entice commercial and multi-family property owners to do the same.

The project runs through next year and could save some 2,000 acre feet of water, roughly 2% of the city’s total water usage per year.