Irrigation and native turf for water conservation and land management

Meghan Bernard, a Center for Green Schools 2023 leader in sustainability fellow, shares research on turf management for schools.

From athletic fields to schoolyards, school districts are challenged with maintaining varied and large turfgrass landscapes. Factors such as usage, temperature, precipitation, herbicides and fertilizers all play a role in turfgrass health, making maintenance an uphill battle. Adding to this challenge are factors such as population growth, water scarcity, hotter climates and increasing water costs, leading districts to consider both the financial and environmental impact of their current turfgrass choices.

In the U.S., most turfgrass consists of Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.), a non-native species introduced from Europe during the 1600s. This grass thrives in cooler northern climates but demands significant water-at least one inch per week during the growing season from either rainfall or irrigation-which is a growing concern for many schools.

Two school districts that have implemented irrigation technology and native turf placement, Adams 12 Five Star Schools (Adams 12) and School District 197 (ISD 197), demonstrate how districts can take control of turf and irrigation strategies to promote water efficiency and save costs.

Retrofitting irrigation technology

Adams 12 Five Star Schools

Adams 12 is based in semiarid Colorado, just outside of Denver, in an environment prone to droughts and wildfires. Adams 12 serves 37,000 students across 38,000 acres, of which 475 acres (260 football fields) are planted with water-intensive turfgrass.

In 2016, Adams 12 spent over $1.4 million dollars on water, with more than 80% of the cost tied to landscape irrigation, making it their second-largest utility expense after electricity. The facilities manager at Adams 12 noted that water rates had been rising by roughly 20% annually since 2014. To address this, he established a baseline for irrigation and set a goal to reduce water usage by 10%. To ensure the success of this effort, Adams 12 hired a water resource specialist, anticipating that the savings from reduced water usage would offset the cost of the position.

The water resource specialist started with the "low-hanging fruit"-refining mowing practices to support water conservation and replacing manually operated irrigation controllers with WaterSense smart controllers, which are certified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

These smart controllers allowed for remote scheduling and automatically adjusted water usage based on moisture and weather data. Remote management significantly reduced the time needed for physical interaction with the controllers, as irrigation settings could be monitored and adjusted through the system's software. By communicating with local weather stations, the controllers determined when watering was necessary. The equipment itself was relatively inexpensive, with these efficient features offering a return on investment in less than five years.

The initiative, detailed in a 2020 Green Schools National Network (GSNN) article, paid off: by 2019, Adams 12 exceeded its goal, cutting water usage by 17% (44,107 kGal) and saving $61,385. Over the four-year period, they avoided more than $615,000 in costs (see Figure 1).

Hiring a water resource specialist helped Adams 12 decrease water usage and costs.

School District 197

Minnesota's ISD 197, located in Mendota Heights, operates in a northern continental climate with cold winters, hot summers and varying seasonal precipitation. The district serves over 5,000 students and spans 200 acres, with about 50 acres-25%-being irrigated. Like Adams 12, ISD 197 faced a significant rise in water usage and costs over the past several years. Between 2019 and 2023, their annual irrigation usage surged by more than 70% (see Figure 2).

Water usage has increased significantly over the past five years at ISD 197's Two Rivers High School.

In spring 2024, the operations team at ISD 197 set a goal of reducing irrigation by 15% over one year. Through research on other district best practices, it was determined that old, manually operated irrigation controllers would be replaced with smart, EPA-certified WaterSense irrigation controllers. Additionally, the district instituted mowing practices for water conservation. ISD 197 estimates the new system will pay for itself within one year because of water savings.

Native turf conversions

Reducing the amount of non-native grass on school property is an effective way to save water (and money) over time and improve the local ecosystem. Both Adams 12 and ISD 197 converted several low-use areas of Kentucky bluegrass into native prairie landscapes.

School District 197

In 2021, ISD 197 launched a pilot project to convert 10 acres of nonirrigated turfgrass into native prairie. The conversion targeted highly visible areas that struggled to maintain traditional turf due to full sun exposure, lack of irrigation and landscape challenges. Partnering with local environmental organization Great River Greening, the district funded the project primarily through state grants, with an additional $5,000 contribution from the school district and a matching amount from the county.

Students played an important role in the process, learning about native habitats while helping with the prairie plantings.

In the first year, the existing turfgrass was chemically treated and the soil was disrupted or prepped. Seedlings and seeds were then planted, with hay and seed mats used to retain moisture. In the second year, the prairie began to take root, requiring spot treatments, removal of invasive species, watering and additional seeding. By the third year, the prairie was well-established, benefiting from a rainy season and minimal invasive growth.

Future maintenance will be required and managed through county contracts. Although the prairie conversion didn't directly save water, as the areas were nonirrigated to begin with, the drought-tolerant landscape serves as a proactive, water-efficient measure for the future. Plus, the established plants provide a habitat and ecosystem for insects, bees, birds and small mammals.

Establishing native turf and prairie areas in schoolyards is an achievable goal, though it's important to anticipate some initial pushback and challenges. Patience and creative problem-solving are key to success.

Beyond water conservation, native turf areas play a crucial role in supporting the environment. These habitats foster biodiversity, attracting a wide variety of plants, insects and animals that thrive in these spaces. They also transform the school environment, offering students a unique opportunity to observe, learn from and experience the natural world firsthand.

Planning for outdoor water conservation projects

Water conservation through smart irrigation technology and native turf conversions is attainable, measurable and cost effective. However, projects can be complex, and proper planning and project management are key to success.

Consider doing the following before getting started on your landscape water conservation project:

• Establish a baseline of irrigation usage and cost
• Use EPA's WaterSense website to learn about outdoor water conservation strategies and eligible equipment
• Engage all stakeholders who have a role in the project-both supporters and challengers (e.g., facilities and grounds, local conservation organizations and funders, local city/town/county staff, school leadership)
• Solicit quotes on smart irrigation equipment and installation or turf conversion costs and calculate payback
• Leverage local, state and federal native landscape grant funding
• Use maps to identify locations for turf conversion (e.g., prairie, xeriscaping)
• Consider current space use by students/community, access to water and other existing factors that might impact success
• Develop a realistic maintenance plan that is funded and supported long term
• Communicate with stakeholders and engage schools along the way by sharing progress, challenges and successes

Additional resources

These resources offer additional information on turf and efficient irrigation.

• Converting Kentucky Bluegrass to Native Grass in City Parks. Firsthand, detailed information and the process used by the city of Colorado Springs, Colorado, to convert park grass areas.
• The best management practices for water efficiency page from the Federal Energy Management Program. A guide to water efficiency practices and federal water requirements.
• Information on Kentucky bluegrass from Oregon State University. An article defining characteristics of the Kentucky bluegrass plant.
• The 2020 GSNN article "Conserving Water in the Arid West: A New Staff Role at Adams 12 Five Star Schools Helps District Reduce Water Use and Save Money." Adams 12 water conservation staff report on their water conservation efforts.
• Denver Water's Sustainable Landscape Conversion Design and Irrigation. An extensive guide to the process of converting bluegrass to native landscapes.
• EPA's turfgrass and water efficiency page. EPA provides recommendations for turfgrass and water conservation.

Learn more about turfgrass and water efficiency

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