Las Vegas home and business owners can now receive $3 for every square foot of lawn they replace with less water-intensive landscaping.
The Southern Nevada Water Authority is bumping up its bounty on lawns by 50 percent. "The authority will now pay residents and business owners $3 for every square foot of thirsty grass they rip out and replace with desert landscaping," Henry Brean reports for the Las Vegas Review Journal.
The agency fears that the program has already picked up the least-loved lawns. The number of square feet converted to desert landscaping was well off its 2004 peak. Now with a higher price they hope to persuade more lawn owners to join the program.
"The Water Smart Landscapes Program is one of several conservation measures adopted by the authority in the early 2000s in response to drought on the Colorado River, which supplies about 90 percent of the community’s water," Brean reports. Other programs targeted fountains, misters and golf courses. Many of these temporary programs have since become permanent.
FULL STORY: Southern Nevada water agency ups incentive to get rid of lawns
California Agency Awards $38 Million for Turf Replacement
The grant funds grass replacement rebates for commercial and residential properties and water-saving devices for fire stations.
The Rise of Artificial Turf
Once scratchy and unrealistic, artificial grass has come a long way. Now, it’s quickly becoming a popular lawn replacement as droughts and climate change make traditional lawns harder to maintain.
New Las Vegas Golf Courses Barred From Using Colorado River Water
A new rule from the Las Vegas Valley Water District prohibits new golf courses in the city from using Colorado River water for irrigation.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
San Francisco's School District Spent $105M To Build Affordable Housing for Teachers — And That's Just the Beginning
SFUSD joins a growing list of school districts using their land holdings to address housing affordability challenges faced by their own employees.
The Tiny, Adorable $7,000 Car Turning Japan Onto EVs
The single seat Mibot charges from a regular plug as quickly as an iPad, and is about half the price of an average EV.
Trump Approves Futuristic Automated Texas-Mexico Cargo Corridor
The project could remove tens of thousands of commercial trucks from roadways.
Austin's First Single Stair Apartment Building is Officially Underway
Eliminating the requirement for two staircases in multi-story residential buildings lets developers use smaller lots and more flexible designs to create denser housing.
Atlanta Bus System Redesign Will Nearly Triple Access
MARTA's Next Gen Bus Network will retool over 100 bus routes, expand frequent service.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)