Water conservation advocates and public employees are set to remove the lawn at the Utah Governor’s Mansion on Friday. The turf removal will make space for water-wise and pollinator-friendly plants, a move that comes amid one of the most severe droughts the state has recorded, according to organizers.
This event is a key milestone for a broader statewide service initiative scheduled from September 10 to September 19. During this period, volunteers from organizations such as Slow the Flow, Grow the Flow, and Great Salt Lake Rising, along with state employees and city crews, will work to convert public turf into water-efficient features across the state. The goal is to significantly cut outdoor water use.
Utah first lady Abby Cox highlighted the importance of leading by example. In a statement, Cox explained that if residents are being asked to rethink their own yards, "we have to be willing to start at our house first." The project at the Governor’s Mansion specifically involves replacing the turf along South Temple and planting over 1,800 water-wise and pollinator-friendly plants, organizers said in a news release. This effort is designed to be the first phase of "a full-perimeter conversion of the mansion grounds," with updates to remaining park strips planned for next spring.
Converting traditional, water-thirsty lawns to more efficient landscaping methods can lead to substantial water savings. The organizations involved stated in the release that approximately 27 gallons of water could be saved annually for every square foot converted. This means that a single 1,000-square-foot park strip could conserve about 27,000 gallons of water each year.
The initiative addresses a critical aspect of Utah’s water challenge. While the agricultural sector is recognized as the largest consumer of water that impacts the Great Salt Lake, state data indicates that homes, businesses, and institutions account for 27% of the water depleted from the lake. Organizers emphasize that residents hold a significant part of the solution to the Great Salt Lake crisis through changes in water use.
Tage Flint, executive director of Utah Water Ways and Slow the Flow, stated that the projects are intended as a demonstration. Flint said in a statement that these efforts show what "a family, a city or a classroom can copy," and that the entire state is invited to participate.
In addition to the Governor’s Mansion project, similar landscaping conversion events are planned across the state. These include events in South Salt Lake on September 10, in Coalville on September 12, and in Hyde Park on September 19, all scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Organizers plan to measure and document their comprehensive efforts, with the aim of releasing a statewide report. This report will detail the total square footage of lawns removed and the estimated gallons of water saved as a result of the initiative.
