Drought response plan prioritizes high-use parks, reduces water demand
Mesa County is adjusting how it manages landscaping at parks and public spaces in response to ongoing drought conditions. The approach reduces water use by up to 80 percent while focusing resources where they have the greatest community impact.
Mesa County Facilities and Parks manages 26 locations that rely on irrigation. Eleven of those locations use domestic water. In a typical year, those sites use about 9 million gallons of water.
This year, the County is implementing a drought mitigation strategy:
- Irrigation at some locations will be reduced or paused
- Turf in certain areas will be allowed to go dormant
- Water use will be prioritized for trees, shrubs, and high-use spaces like sports fields at Long Family Memorial Park
These adjustments are expected to save about 7.5 million gallons of water.
Mesa County is also focusing on irrigation efficiency, using tools like soil moisture sensors and system adjustments to deliver water only where and when it is needed.
At some locations, irrigation schedules will be reduced significantly, with watering occurring less frequently than in a typical season.
Residents may notice parks looking different. Grass may appear brown or dry in some areas. The change is intentional as Mesa County conserves water responsibly.
The focus is on protecting long-term assets like tree canopy and maintaining spaces that serve the most residents, while reducing reliance on treated drinking water for irrigation.
Some smaller or lower-use areas will not be irrigated to help conserve water, support regional agricultural needs and ensure public resources are used where they have the greatest impact.
This approach prioritizes the areas residents use most while evaluating how to manage lower-use spaces more sustainably over time.
If drought conditions continue, Mesa County may shift further, focusing long-term resources on spaces that can be sustained and serve the community most effectively.
