An Innovative Approach to Water Conservation Coming to the Community
Updated on July 7, 2025
In partnership with the City of Boulder, Resource Central, an award-winning conservation nonprofit, will continue working on a non-chemical turf removal project north of Baseline Road (between Gilpin Drive and Inca Parkway).
This project started in 2024 and aims to test methods for removing large areas of thirsty turf grass without using chemicals or herbicides. After removing the existing Kentucky bluegrass, waterwise native grasses are being seeded.
We tested several non-chemical turf removal options at the site, including:
- Roto-tilling
- Removing sod with a skid steer and taking it offsite
- Removing sod with a skid steer and placing it in a shaker deck to shake free excess topsoil
- Applying steam to kill grass
Dates and Ongoing Activities
- August 1-2, 2024: Steam treatment started
- August 6-12, 2024: Sod removal started, including use of skid steer, shaker deck machine, roto-tiller and steam-weeder
- Between August 12-22, 2024: Second steam treatment applied and plot re-seeded the with native grasses
- August 2024 – October 2025: Weed management
- July/August 2025: Remove grass in areas where it returned using a skid steer and reseed.
Continuing throughout 2025, neighbors can expect to see work on-site Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Equipment moving forward will include a skid steer for several days at the end of July/early August, as well as regular standard maintenance equipment and crews.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Tracy Ayres, Water Program Manager, 303-999-3820 ext. 107.
