Conserve to Enhance
The Tucson Conserve to Enhance Program links water conservation efforts with watershed restoration to ensure that water conservation will translate into benefits for the environment. Businesses and individuals can participate by tracking the amount of money saved through water conservation practices, and then donating the value of their savings to the Conserve to Enhance Program.
The Conserve to Enhance Program will be managed by a community advisory board, who will chose suitable riparian areas to receive dollars for restoration within the Tucson community. 95% of funds donated will go directly to the environment, to restore riparian vegetation, create instream flows needed for a healthy ecosystem, and increase groundwater levels.
The program is a collaboration of WMG, the Sonoran Institute, and the Water Resources Research Center. Other partners on the program are Tucson Audubon and Tucson Water along with funding from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Pilot Program
A pilot program is being launched in 2010 with an anticipated 50 participants from a diverse spectrum of Tucson’s population. Starting in September of 2010, there will be two tracks for participation in the pilot:
- New Water Conservation Practices: apply for a water harvesting subsidy to implement water conservation practices and track conservation gains
- Existing Water Conservation Practices: those who have already implemented conservation features can track current conservation gains against historical water use
We will be offering subsidies ranging from $500 to $2,000 for individuals and businesses to install water harvesting features. Those who participate will go through a water audit process and receive recommendations on the best ways to reduce their water consumption. Conservation features will be installed in the first 6 months of the program, and then participants will track their water use for one year following the installation. Participants will also agree to make a monthly donation to the Conserve to Enhance Program based on the amount of money saved on their water bill.
Get Involved
If you would like more information on this program or if you are interested in participating in the pilot, please contact Emily Brott with the Sonoran Institute at
or at 520-290-0828.
Background Information
The Tucson Conserve to Enhance Program is piloting the Water Resources Research Center's program concept, Conserve to Enhance. Their research discovered the difficulty of securing water for riparian restoration projects and reviewed some current efforts to link individual water users to environmental enhancement.