Longmont is joining forces with the Saint Vrain and Left Hand Water Conservancy District to place a water-efficient xeric educational garden at Sandstone Ranch Nature area this fall.
The garden will be located directly to the south of the Sandstone Ranch Visitor and Education Center and is aimed to inform the public about using native plants in landscaping that are better adapted to Colorado’s climate, according to the city. The garden will also provide more suitable habitat for local wildlife, especially insects that pollinate local plants.
The city council this week approved the agreement with the conservancy district, or SVLHWCD.
The SVLHWCD will fund the design of the garden, which is estimated at $20,135, according to a city staff report. The city will act as project manager overseeing the design consultant. The garden's design will be completed this fall and construction is slated for 2023.
The project helps the city meet its goal to educate the public about water conservation, the staff report states.
The city in 2017 decided to emphasize best practices and education to encourage water conservation, rather than regulation. “The underlying belief, which continues today, is that if Longmont’s residents understand the economics, methods, and positive impacts of water efficiency, they will make informed decisions,” the city staff report states.
Educating the public about water conservation is also a primary goal of the SVLHWCD and the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District, the staff report states.
