Sustainability

In January 2024, The City and Sustainable Wheat Ridge, kicked-off a project to update the City’s Sustainability Action Plan. The original 2018 Sustainability Action Plan was community-driven, a collective action taken on behalf of the Sustainable Wheat Ridge Committee.

The updated plan aims to:

1) Highlight the sustainability progress that Wheat Ridge has already made.

2) Understand the vision that Wheat Ridge residents have for the current and future vibrancy of Wheat Ridge.

3) Be formally adopted by City Council. The plan is scheduled to be completed by the end of summer 2024 and will be a 5-year roadmap for Wheat Ridge.

Project Goals

To identify actionable, impactful strategies for Wheat Ridge to improve the following areas:

• Energy Efficiency and Green Building
• Equity and Environmental Justice
• Water
• Transportation
• Solid Waste and Recycling
• Communications and Engagement
• Businesses and Jobs
• Arts and Cultures
• Renewable Energy

In addition, this project aims to empower residents, businesses, and city staff to take part in creating a more sustainable, vibrant Wheat Ridge through the creation of a 5-year sustainability roadmap.

How can you get involved?! Take this survey by June 9 to let us know what matters most to you! Subscribe to the project's page on What's Up Wheat Ridge to learn more and stay up to date.

As Spring arrives in the Rocky Mountains one noticeable shift into the season includes the faint hum of pollinators and insects as they emerge from their winter habitats and begin to find their way from plant to plant in our urban landscapes.

Pollinators make it possible for plants to reproduce and create fruits. Birds, bats, bees, butterflies, beetles, ants, moths, small mammals and more are responsible for approximately one out of every three bites of food we eat.

In January 2024, the CO Department of Natural Resources released the 308-page Colorado Native Pollinating Insects Health Study, a commissioned report conducted collaboratively by Colorado State University Extension, the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, and the University of Colorado Museum of Natural History in consultation with various subject matter experts throughout the state.

The comprehensive report assessed the health of Colorado’s native pollinators, evaluated the State’s pollinator policies, and recommended ways to preserve and protect pollinators. The study revealed an incredibly vibrant community of native pollinators that are increasingly at risk due to habitat loss, poor land-management practices, pesticides, non-native species competition, and climate change.

When we support pollinators, we foster thriving ecosystems with robust plant communities that contribute to healthy soils and clean water. In addition to promoting policies that benefit native pollinators, recommended actions include:

1. Landscape with plants native to Colorado—this saves water, fosters biodiversity, and improves air quality while providing native pollinator habitat.
2. Select native plants that will be in bloom successively from early spring through fall to support and match the needs of pollinators all season long. Think about which pollinators you’d like to attract and plant specifically for them—bees, butterflies, moths, etc all have different plant preferences.
3. Use and promote sustainable, regenerative land management practices. Eliminate chemical fertilizer and pesticide use, instead choose alternative methods for pest and weed control.
4. Provide water sources—think shallow birdbaths and bowls with small pebbles or rocks to provide landing spaces for native pollinators.
5. Create pollinator habitats—consider adding nesting sites or invertebrate homes to your garden landscape in each season. Leave the fall garden standing through the winter and leave the leaves to provide places for overwintering, too.
6. Wait to clear out the fall garden until after spring temps are consistently above 50 degrees. Perhaps this is the year to participate in “No Mow May” to let grass grow and provide early season forage for pollinators.

In simple terms, pollinators require water, a sunny space to rest, and year-round blooms to visit.

Happy Spring Planting!

Check out these resources!

• Colorado Native Plant Society: https://conps.org/
• Colorado State University Extension | Creating Pollinator Habitat: https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/insects/creating-pollinator-habitat-5-616/
• Denver Audubon | Native Plants for Birds: https://denveraudubon.org/native-plants-birds/
• Denver Urban Gardens | Creating a Paradise for Pollinators: https://dug.org/creating-a-paradise-for-pollinators/
• People and Pollinators Action Network: https://www.peopleandpollinators.org/
• Wheat Ridge Parks & Rec | Regenerate Wheat Ridge: https://www.rootedinfun.com/302/Regenerate-Wheat-Ridge
• Wildlife Trusts | How to build a bug mansion: https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/actions/how-build-bug-mansion
• Wild Ones Front Range: https://frontrange.wildones.org/
• Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation: https://xerces.org/

Whether you’re new to Wheat Ridge or have been a long-time resident, you know how dry the climate can get here. Sure, there might be snow on the ground today, but in a few months we can all expect that moisture to dry up and the ground to get dry again. How can we make this precious, limited (and expensive) resource go the distance this upcoming summer? Some ideas could be:

• Picking native plants that thrive in arid climates and attract pollinators
• Setting up efficient sprinklers so plants and yards get the right amount of water
• Replacing lawns with drought-tolerant options like xeriscaping and alternative turf

Not sure where to get started? Here are 4 programs offered through Resource Central to help inspire your landscaping plans this season:

Garden in a Box: This popular program makes it easy to transform your yard into a beautiful, drought-tolerant oasis helping you to use less water on your landscaping year after year. Each spring and summer, Resource Central offers a selection of professionally designed, low-water garden kits tailor-made for Colorado yards. These DIY kits include quart-sized perennial plants, plant-by-number maps, seasonal maintenance suggestions, and watering schedule recommendations. These boxes sell out fast — the sale starts March 4, get yours before they’re all gone! Wheat Ridge residents may be eligible for a $25 discount on qualifying purchases while supplies last – just select City of Wheat Ridge as your water provider at checkout.

Lawn Replacement: By replacing your grass with waterwise plants, you’ll use less water outdoors while supporting pollinators (and spending less time maintaining that yard). It’s an easy way to create a stunning environment that benefits both our communities and the environment. Wheat Ridge residents qualify for a discount of $500 on turf replacement services, learn more here. Discounts are limited and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Apply by April 1 to meet the priority deadline.

Slow the Flow: This program evaluates sprinklers to help Colorado residents use their water wisely. Gain knowledge about your system, get a customized watering schedule, and learn ways to improve efficiency and reduce water waste. Best of all — these evaluations are FREE to Wheat Ridge residents while supplies last! Registration for this program opens in April, but you can join the wait list today!