Water is scarce and precious in the West, which is why any and all efforts to conserve it stand to yield big benefits for people and the environment. The City of Steamboat Springs has recently taken the lead on water conservation efforts with its new smart irrigation project, demonstrating what is possible in the realm of saving water for our community.

Currently, up to 80% of water used outdoors, for things like private landscaping and public parks, is lost to evaporation. This means water is lost that could instead be returning to watersheds to promote healthy ecosystems, protect against wildfires and keep the Yampa River open all summer long. In addition, treating water to apply to lawns also consumes significant amounts of energy, so water conservation is also an important climate action.

That’s why it’s essential to conserve the precious water. By switching to a Smart Irrigation Central Control system, the City of Steamboat expects to reduced its outdoor water use by 20% in the first season of implementation. Reduction of water use for irrigation in city parks was a key strategy in the 2020 Water Conservation Plan.

The new system allows for automatic daily water adjustments based on real-time weather and soil conditions. In addition to flow sensors and mainline master valves, the system comes complete with soil and rain sensors, which measure the amount of water in the soil and adjust watering amounts based on the findings.

This means the city will better be able to water its landscaping at the most optimal time of day and only water when it’s really needed.

The first phase of the conversion project, which is currently underway, is focused on the top nine highest water use sites owned by the City: Howelsen Hill, Emerald Park, Whistler Park, West Lincoln Park, Memorial Park, Little Toots Park, Bud Werner Library, the Community Center and Fetcher Park. The new City Hall and Firehouse, along with the renovation at Ski Town Park, will include these updates as well.

The mapping and mobile capabilities of the system also allow staff to work more efficiently, as they can be notified of the existence and location of irrigation leaks immediately. This is projected to save staff time significantly, and cut down on vehicle trips, Parks and Recreation Manager Aaron Stafford said.

“As a leader in the Yampa Valley, it is important that the city is making efforts to conserve our natural resources,” Stafford said of the project. “We want to do what we can to ensure there is enough water to meet the future needs of the Valley.”

To save water in your own yard, consider updating your own irrigation system and planting drought-tolerant species. To learn more about water-wise landscaping, visit yvsc.org/gardens-and-landscapes/.

Abby Vander Graaff, Yampa Valley Sustainability Council communications manager, in partnership with the City of Steamboat Springs.