Albuquerque Xeriscape Conversion and Irrigation Scope

Wait for the Actual Notice to Proceed

The Water Authority’s current instructions tell applicants to apply and receive an official Notice to Proceed before starting turf removal. They also explain that started or completed projects are not eligible under that process. Put the notice in the project file and make it a scheduling condition if program participation is part of your plan.

Confirm that the property and existing landscape meet the current requirements. Funding and program conditions can change. A landscape estimate should not subtract an assumed incentive unless you understand the approval and payment conditions that apply to the specific project.

Draw the Plants Before Pricing the Surface

The utility’s process calls for a landscape plan using its approved desert-friendly plant resources. Ask the designer to identify the proposed plants and their mature form, not just the number of nursery containers. Consider shade, access and the relationship to retained trees.

Mark the areas that will remain unchanged. This helps the contractor distinguish the conversion from adjoining lawn or planting beds and reduces disagreements about the final footprint. Ask how establishment care will differ from the maintenance expected after the new plants are established.

Specify the Irrigation Conversion

Identify existing spray zones and the plants each zone serves. Ask which components will be removed, capped or converted, and how the new layout supports the proposed planting. The Water Authority’s published eligibility questions specifically address the existing spray system and turf; have those conditions checked before demolition.

Request valve locations, controller labels and a drawing of the new lines. If retained trees relied on the lawn irrigation, include their water needs in the assessment. Ask how leaks, pressure concerns or damaged existing components will be addressed rather than concealed under the new surface.

Coordinate Inspection and Long-Term Care

Use the current program instructions to identify any required completion documentation or inspection. Assign responsibility for corrections and communication with the Water Authority. Keep photographs of the original landscape, approval and finished work so the project record remains understandable.

Have the installer demonstrate each zone and explain how to adjust the schedule as conditions change. Review runoff routes near the house and walking areas. A desert-friendly landscape still needs an operating plan; specify who will handle initial plant care, irrigation adjustments and any agreed follow-up visit.

• Has the Water Authority issued the project’s Notice to Proceed?
• How does the plant plan account for retained trees and mature size?
• Which spray-system components change, and who handles final inspection corrections?

Sources And Local Resources

Official sources checked October 17, 2026. Confirm current requirements with the authority responsible for your property.

• Water Authority Xeriscape ResourcesUtility landscape-conversion resources and planning context.
• Water Authority Desert-Friendly Conversion ProcessApplication, Notice to Proceed, existing turf/spray conditions and landscape-plan steps; funding is not guaranteed.