Western cities agree to remove decorative grass amid drought

By SAM METZ and KATHLEEN RONAYNE
Associated Press

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Thirty water agencies that supply cities across the western United States are pledging to rip up lots of decorative grass to conserve water in the over-tapped Colorado River. Water agenices in Southern California, Phoenix and Las Vegas were among those that signed an agreement Tuesday that outlines borad commitments to reduce water use. They say they’ll reduce ornamental grass by 30% and take steps to save water through efficiency and recycling. The agreement doesn’t say exactly how much water the agenices plan to save. But cities account for about one-fifth of Colorado River use, with the rest of the water going to agriculture.