Written by Northern Water

In the fall of 2024, Northern Water wrapped up phase II of the Berthoud Campus Development project at its headquarters, which focused on conservation and sustainability. As part of this campus expansion, the Water Efficiency team has been working diligently to install new water-wise demonstrations in the Conservation Gardens.

These new demonstrations feature plants and trees native to Colorado and the Southwest region of the United States, creatively displayed to represent five unique landscape scenarios:

• Medians
• Shaded street strips
• Slopes
• Low maintenance
• Prairie ecosystems

Water Efficiency Specialist Lindsay Nerad said, “Ultimately, we wanted to make these new demonstrations attractive, so not just using one or two plants that might suit the purpose of each, but having a wide plant palette for each situation; plants that are going to retain a slope, that are going to be low maintenance and having a diverse system for our prairie ecosystem since we do have so much plant diversity around us here in Northern Colorado.”

The Water Efficiency Department is at the forefront of promoting water conservation in Northern Colorado through its various programs, services, and educational opportunities, including the following.

The Water-Efficiency Landscape Grant Program promotes water-efficient, climate-friendly Colorado landscapes that serve as regional demonstration and outreach efforts. Grants awarded provide financial support for commercial-scale landscape projects that reduce water use while expanding ecosystem services.

We know the importance of designing the perfect landscape while efficiently using water. We offer landscape consultations and irrigation assessments through our qualified staff and partnership agencies.

• Northern Water Provided Landscape Consultations—Designed for our commercial customers, landscape consultations address issues of concern, including water usage, management and design, irrigation system performance, landscape plans and expectations, and ideas. Water Efficiency Landscape Grant applicants are required to complete a consultation before submitting an application.
• Partner-Provided Assessments—Outdoor irrigation assessments provide a foundation for assessing outdoor water use. They are designed to help identify water waste and offer direction for optimal water use. Indoor assessments support commercial water users like office buildings, schools, hotels, restaurants, and more by identifying water and cost-saving opportunities in their operations.
• Indoor Assessments—The Commercial, Industrial, Institutional (CII) Assessment program offers free indoor water-use assessments for commercial properties.

Landscape templates are great for starting a landscape transition or new installation. Whether starting with a blank slate or wanting to reduce water use and add some color, using a template can ease the burden of design costs and time-consuming research.

Northern Water offers two types of templates:

• Waterwise Landscape Templates are fun, colorful designs supporting transitions to a sustainable, more beneficial waterwise landscape. The designs reduce water use while building a colorful and pollinator-friendly landscape.
• Sustainable Landscape Templates comprise six comprehensive landscape plans and supplemental information to assist the communities impacted by the Marshall Fire of 2021. The templates accommodate corner, middle, cul-de-sac, and large lots for maximum adaptability. They include complete landscape plans, irrigation plans, water-wise low-flammability plant lists, cost opinions, and more.

Classes and training aim to give attendees a deeper understanding of many topics, including the plant-soil-water relationship, plant-water requirements, landscape water budgeting, and irrigation management.

We provide education and outreach through various opportunities, including Conservation Garden tours, presentations, sponsoring programs and events, staffing booths, writing educational content, and partnering with others to advance water efficiency.

The fastest-growing program is the Collaborative Water Efficient Landscape Grants, which has awarded $1.2 million to 80 projects and 8.2 million square feet of landscapes since its inception in 2019. It has also saved 8.7 million gallons of water within Northern Water’s boundaries.

The Water Efficiency Department also offers Northern Colorado residents and property owner’s numerous other resources. To learn more about water conservation, get involved, or enjoy the beautiful Conservation Garden this summer, Northern Water is hosting its annual Conservation Gardens Fair from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 28, 2025, at our Berthoud headquarters.

Free and open to the public, this event features educational seminars, demonstrations of irrigation technologies, fun and engaging kid-friendly activities, informational booths, food trucks, giveaways, and more. Throughout the day, roam the gardens to view examples of plants, trees, and grasses, learn how to conserve water in your landscaping, and understand ways to increase water efficiency at home without sacrificing curb appeal.