The TOWN of erie (TOWN), located in central colorado, will replace turf on the north side of the leon a. Wurl service center (LAWSC) with water-wise landscaping

The Town of Erie received a $155,261 Project Grant from the U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Reclamation through the WaterSMART (Sustain and Manage America's Resources for Tomorrow) program (CFDA 15.507) on July 15, 2025, with completion scheduled for December 31, 2026. The grant funds a water-wise landscaping project at the Leon A. Wurl Service Center that replaces turf on the north side of the facility with drought-resistant plant species, low-water-use grasses, and varied mulch types designed to reduce water consumption and demonstrate sustainable landscape management practices.

This initiative directly supports the Town of Erie's 2021 Water Efficiency Plan and addresses regional water management challenges arising from Colorado's susceptibility to drought and climate change impacts. By showcasing design practices aligned with municipal water conservation goals, the landscaping project serves as a model for irrigation efficiency improvements across the town's parks and facilities infrastructure. The award exemplifies WaterSMART's focus on cost-shared, competitive funding for water conservation and sustainability improvements in western states and territories.

The project will showcase design practices that align with the towns water conservation goals and address water management challenges that arise due to climate change and colorado S susceptibility to droughts. The landscaping will include drought-resistant plant species, low-water-used grasses, and a range of mulch types. The project is included in the towns 2021 water efficiency plan and supports the plans goal of creating irrigation efficiency and landscapes in the TOWN S parks and facilities.