Water-efficiency grant applications now open

The Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District will begin accepting applications Oct. 1 for its next round of Collaborative Water Efficient Landscape Grants. Applications will be accepted through Nov. 20.

Northern Water offers grants to partner with local entities throughout northeastern Colorado to bring more-sustainable landscapes to the region.

This is the third year of the grant program. Approximately $260,000 has been distributed since 2018, with funding going to 23 projects that consist of irrigation-system upgrades, incorporation of Colorado climate-friendly plants into landscapes and turf-to-native-grass conversions.

The program is open to local government entities, businesses and homeowners associations within Northern Water’s boundaries. Single-family homes do not qualify.

The maximum grant amount that will be awarded per project is $20,000, with a dollar-for-dollar match required from the applicant. The value of in-kind labor can potentially be factored into that match, but Northern Water will make that determination on a caseby-case basis. A limited number of grants will be awarded.

Applicants are required to take part in a consultation with Northern Water before submitting an application. Pre-application consultations can be scheduled by contacting Chad Kuhnel at 970-2922566 or at ckuhnel@northernwater. org.

Applicants will be notified by Jan. 20, 2021, whether their projects have been selected. Additional details and updates about the grant program are available at northernwater.org/grants.

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