Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
A lawn at the University of Northern Colorado is becoming a water supply strategy.
In Greeley, more than three acres of thirsty turf on UNC’s North Lawn have been replaced with a landscape designed for Colorado.
The project includes native plants, pollinator habitat, water-efficient irrigation, and gathering spaces for students.
It also involved students in the design and development, turning a highly visible campus lawn into a living example of what water-wise landscapes can look like.
The impact is significant: about 150,000 square feet of turf removed, with projected savings of 2 million gallons of water a year and $28,000 in annual costs.
Now UNC is working on a campus-wide water resiliency plan.
A single lawn conversion will not solve Colorado’s water challenges.
But on a prominent street in Greeley, it can show what the next landscape should look like.
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
#waterloop #WaterConservation #ColoradoWater #GreeleyColorado #UniversityOfNorthernColorado #SustainableLandscaping #NativePlants #TurfReplacement #WaterWiseLandscaping #DroughtResilience #PollinatorHabitat #WesternWater #WaterEfficiency #ClimateResilience
A lawn at the University of Northern Colorado is becoming a water supply strategy.
In Greeley, more than three acres of thirsty turf on UNC’s North Lawn have been replaced with a landscape designed for Colorado.
The project includes native plants, pollinator habitat, water-efficient irrigation, and gathering spaces for students.
It also involved students in the design and development, turning a highly visible campus lawn into a living example of what water-wise landscapes can look like.
The impact is significant: about 150,000 square feet of turf removed, with projected savings of 2 million gallons of water a year and $28,000 in annual costs.
Now UNC is working on a campus-wide water resiliency plan.
A single lawn conversion will not solve Colorado’s water challenges.
But on a prominent street in Greeley, it can show what the next landscape should look like.
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
#waterloop #WaterConservation #ColoradoWater #GreeleyColorado #UniversityOfNorthernColorado #SustainableLandscaping #NativePlants #TurfReplacement #WaterWiseLandscaping #DroughtResilience #PollinatorHabitat #WesternWater #WaterEfficiency #ClimateResilience
