City of Bend Water Wise Design Sustainable Guidelines & Landscape Renderings

In Bend, water conservation is increasingly shaping the future of the built landscape. As the city responds to growth, climate pressures, and the need for long-term supply resilience, outdoor irrigation has become an important part of the conversation. The City of Bend’s goal to reduce community-wide water use by 7.9 billion gallons by 2040 reflects a broader shift toward landscapes that are not only functional and beautiful, but also far more efficient.

The City of Bend WaterWise Design Guidelines project emerged from that shift. Developed for the City of Bend Water Conservation Department, SZABO’s work examined major landscape water users such as parks, schools, and rights-of-way to identify practical opportunities for savings. The result was a more strategic approach to irrigation, turf reduction, and planting design, one that responded to the realities of maintenance while promoting native and low-water landscapes better aligned with Central Oregon’s environment.

Particular attention was given to the public right-of-way, where traditional turf planter strips often require inefficient watering and create avoidable waste through overspray and runoff. By helping establish updated standards and design tools for these spaces, the project supported a new civic landscape language for Bend, one that replaces conventional lawn with water-wise planting and more efficient irrigation strategies.

At its core, the project demonstrates how conservation goals can be translated into visible, usable design. The effort frames water conservation as an opportunity to create streetscapes that are more durable, regionally appropriate, and responsive to the realities of the high desert.