According to the Bureau of Reclamation, we’re in one of the worst drought cycles of the past 1,200 years. Despite voluntary water restrictions and educating the public on water shortages, users typically increase their water consumption rather than conserve.

Las Vegas took the lead in a “cash for grass” program, which has spread to other cities, where the local water utility subsidizes lawn-to-desert landscape conversions, saving participating homeowners an average 75 percent on water use. Could Grand Junction be next?

Jennifer and Fletcher Colwell didn’t need any financial incentive six years ago when they replaced the majority of their turf with a contoured desert landscape, complete with a dry streambed of river rocks.

“We had the sense that it was the right thing to do,” said Jennifer.

The Colwells took advantage of the BLM’s Wilding Permit, and collected prickly pear, yucca, rabbit and salt brush from designated BLM land.

Ed Miller said he spent so much time fertilizing, weeding, aerating, mowing, trimming and watering his lawn that he “knew every blade of grass by name.” He and his wife, Diane, wanted a lock-and-leave lifestyle, and replaced their lawn with water-wise shrubs and trees, and a variety of rocks.

“During the hot months, we went from using 30,000 gallons of water per month to 3,200 gallons per month,” said Ed.

Xeriscapes don’t have to be dull. Adding attractive drought-tolerant plants, such as sunburst honey locust tree, red bird of paradise shrub, Angelina sedum ground cover, zebra ornament grass and Lewisia perennials, you can enjoy a beautiful, sustainable landscape and create a habitat for birds, butterflies and bees.

In addition to providing color, texture and shade, fig trees or serviceberry bushes can also produce fresh, organic food.

Bill Richardson of Dragonfly Gardens, a xeriscape landscaper, considers his customers’ yards a blank canvas.

“Each landscape I create is unique and lush,” he said. “People who xeriscape recognize the need to use less chemicals, water and maintenance time.”

Thom Russell, owner of Painted Desert Landscaping, creates a landscape that embraces the area’s geography and climate and complements the home’s architecture.

Providing a lawn with one inch of water requires over 62 gallons of water for every 10-by-10-foot area—this happens every time you turn on the sprinklers! To deter disease and evaporation, water between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Your city at work: Grand Junction’s efforts to conserve water

• A centralized computer system monitors and adjusts irrigation systems from one location.

• Flow sensors are used to detect excessive irrigation flow.

• Rain detection equipment reduces water runoff.

• Drip irrigation is installed to reduce evaporation and water waste.

• Encourages xeric landscapes in medians/shoulder spaces.

• Actively seeks more native and drought-resistant plant varieties.

• The City is an active water conservation partner with the Drought Response Information Project (DRIP)