Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Longmont is turning turf removal into a data-driven public works decision.
The Colorado city has built a GIS map showing where nonfunctional turf exists across its parks and other maintained properties. But the tool does more than locate irrigated grass that provides little civic, community, or recreational value.
Hope Bartlett, Water Conservation Specialist for the City of Longmont, explains that the map combines detailed parks and landscape data with the city’s climate-risk assessment. That allows staff to see which potential projects are located in communities facing greater heat vulnerability and air-quality risks.
Another layer identifies the irrigation source for each property—showing whether its landscape uses treated or untreated water. Together, the layers help Longmont prioritize turf conversions according to water savings, climate exposure, and community benefit instead of simply choosing the easiest grass to remove.
Episode at youtu.be/f3vx3ktOIQI?si=xzHvV6k5EV4W99a_
This video is from Resilience In The Rockies, a series produced by waterloop in collaboration with WaterNow, supported by a grant from the Colorado Water Conservation Board, and sponsored by PCL Construction, Norris Design, Merrick, and the City of Greeley.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability. Visit waterloop.org
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#Colorado #WaterConservation #GIS #Irrigation #Mapping
Longmont is turning turf removal into a data-driven public works decision.
The Colorado city has built a GIS map showing where nonfunctional turf exists across its parks and other maintained properties. But the tool does more than locate irrigated grass that provides little civic, community, or recreational value.
Hope Bartlett, Water Conservation Specialist for the City of Longmont, explains that the map combines detailed parks and landscape data with the city’s climate-risk assessment. That allows staff to see which potential projects are located in communities facing greater heat vulnerability and air-quality risks.
Another layer identifies the irrigation source for each property—showing whether its landscape uses treated or untreated water. Together, the layers help Longmont prioritize turf conversions according to water savings, climate exposure, and community benefit instead of simply choosing the easiest grass to remove.
Episode at youtu.be/f3vx3ktOIQI?si=xzHvV6k5EV4W99a_
This video is from Resilience In The Rockies, a series produced by waterloop in collaboration with WaterNow, supported by a grant from the Colorado Water Conservation Board, and sponsored by PCL Construction, Norris Design, Merrick, and the City of Greeley.
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability. Visit waterloop.org
Subscribe to catch every video: youtube.com/@waterloop
Never miss an episode! Subscribe to waterloop:
🎧 Spotify:bit.ly/waterloopSpotify
🎧 Apple Podcasts:bit.ly/waterloopApple
🎧 YouTube Podcasts:bit.ly/waterloopYouTubePod
Follow waterloop for more stories on water sustainability:
🔹 Instagram:instagram.com/the_waterloop
🔹 LinkedIn:linkedin.com/company/thewaterloop
#Colorado #WaterConservation #GIS #Irrigation #Mapping
