Canyon Sands HOA cutting out turf, pours out adopt-a-tree program

The Canyon Sands HOA and landscape committee has transformed about three acres of turf into desert landscaping. They’ve spent $200,000 to create some drought relief so far, but won’t stop their water saving efforts there.

“It’s working. Since 2013 we’ve saved 60 percent on our water usage with the irrigation,” said HOA director Hal Castle.

The Homeowners Association will remove the remaining stretch of turf here on Gene Autry Trail and move forward with more ways to conserve.

“We’re only watering three days a week,” said landscape committee chairperson Cathy Wolff. “In looking at the grass now, nice and brown as it is, gives us more of an incentive to convert more of our area into desert-scape.”

“Every access to those pools is now going to be desert landscape and eventually we’re going to do other driveway landscapes.”

Residents also launched an Adopt-a-Tree program allowing them to utilize what would be wasted water for their plants.

“People use buckets in their showers so they collect water before the water turns warm and they use that water to water their tree in their part of the community,” said Kevin Wolff.

The Canyon Springs HOA plans to remove another acre of grass this year, hoping to get approval for the next round of turf buyback program money.