Everyone has come to terms with the fact that we really aren’t going to get a late winter flood of moisture, at least not at this point.  What has been a drier year than average already is predicted to be a severe drought year by the time harvesting has come and gone.

Water conservation is something that affects everyone, from the individual renter or homeowner whose utility bills (and lawns) will take to brunt of the hit, to gardeners who may see reduced water levels, all the way to farmers and ranchers for whom the issue is of most concern.

We spoke with Chad and Tara Call of Champion Pro Services about water conservation in general, as well as some specific ideas that people can use to maximize their own water resources as the summer heats up.

Based in Malad, Champion Pro Services was founded by Chad and Tara Call with a simple goal: bring dependable, professional property maintenance services to the small communities of Southeast Idaho.

Both Chad and Tara grew up west of Ogden, Utah when it was still “country.” “We moved to Malad 9 years ago and consider this home,” the couple said. Chad has worked in the trades his entire life, getting his start mowing lawns while still in high school. Over the years, he gained extensive hands-on experience in irrigation, landscaping, and property maintenance, including working as a sprinkler repair technician for multiple companies in Logan, Utah, and helping manage the startup and growth of a full-service property maintenance company in the Ogden area.

The Calls explain that the idea for Champion Pro Services started organically. Friends and neighbors began reaching out to Chad for help with sprinkler repairs and irrigation problems. As word spread, those customers started referring him to their friends and neighbors. One thing became clear: many people were struggling to find contractors who would answer the phone, show up on time, and provide professional service.

Recognizing that need, Chad and Tara decided to launch Champion Pro Services to fill the gap. Their vision was to bring the professionalism, communication, and reliability often found in larger metropolitan markets to the small towns and rural communities of Southeast Idaho.

Today, Champion Pro Services serves residential and commercial customers, HOAs, and property management companies throughout the region. Their service area stretches from the Utah border to Pocatello and from Stone to Soda Springs, providing expert sprinkler services, lawn care, landscaping, excavation, snow removal, and property maintenance solutions.

What are the services that you offer?
One of the biggest trends we're seeing is the installation of dual-source irrigation systems. These systems are connected to both culinary water and secondary irrigation water, giving homeowners greater flexibility and helping protect their lawns and landscapes when secondary water supplies become limited or unavailable.

We're also helping many customers reduce their water consumption by removing turf and replacing it with gravel, decorative rock, boulders, mulch and drought-tolerant landscaping. These projects can dramatically reduce water usage while creating attractive, low-maintenance outdoor spaces.

For homeowners who want to keep their existing landscapes, we offer sprinkler system inspections, repairs, and efficiency adjustments. Often, simple changes such as adjusting sprinkler heads, correcting coverage issues, repairing leaks, or updating watering schedules can significantly improve irrigation performance and reduce water waste.

We also make recommendations for water-saving upgrades such as rain sensors, drip irrigation systems, and other irrigation improvements that help homeowners get the most value out of every gallon of water.

How has the water situation been so far this year, and how do you foresee it looking by fall?

Water availability has been one of the biggest concerns we've heard from customers this year. In the Malad area, many residents within city limits rely on secondary irrigation water to maintain their lawns and landscapes. Current projections suggest some areas may only receive approximately 4–6 weeks of secondary water this season. 

Because of this uncertainty, we've seen a significant increase in homeowners asking about ways to reduce water usage while still maintaining an attractive property. Many customers are requesting smaller lawn areas, drought-tolerant landscaping, hardscape features, and conversions from single-source irrigation systems to dual-source systems.

Homeowners are having to drag hoses to keep watering while the secondary is off. We are happy to discuss system conversions, adding additional hose bibs, or hardscaping options to make life easier.

What are some ways that people can work on their own lawns and property to conserve water?

One of the biggest misconceptions we encounter is that water conservation always requires major renovations. In reality, some of the most effective water-saving measures are surprisingly simple.

Inspect and Adjust Your Sprinkler Heads

One of the most common issues we find is sprinkler heads that have shifted over time. Lawn mowers, children playing in the yard, pets, settling soil, and even minor leaks can gradually move sprinkler heads out of alignment.

When this happens, water is often wasted by:

-Overspraying onto sidewalks and driveways

-Creating dry spots in the lawn

-Oversaturating certain areas

-Producing uneven coverage

-A simple sprinkler inspection can often improve efficiency significantly without increasing water usage.

Water Deeply, Not Frequently

Another common mistake is increasing watering frequency when lawns begin showing signs of stress.

Many homeowners respond to browning grass by watering more often for shorter periods. Unfortunately, this can create shallow root systems that make lawns even more vulnerable to heat and drought.

Instead, deeper and less frequent watering encourages roots to grow further into the soil, helping turf remain healthier and more resilient during hot weather.

Schedule Regular Irrigation Maintenance

The most cost-effective water-saving upgrade available is often routine irrigation maintenance.

Proper adjustments, repairs, and programming changes can often reduce water waste while improving lawn health.

What do you recommend people think about doing if they would like to keep an attractive yard space, but have limited water available?

The good news is that homeowners don't have to choose between a beautiful landscape and water conservation.

In fact, many of the most attractive landscape projects we're installing today use significantly less water than traditional turf-heavy yards.

Consider Reducing Lawn Areas

One of the biggest trends we're seeing is homeowners reducing turf in areas that provide little functional value.

Park strips are a perfect example.

We've helped many customers replace grass park strips with gravel, decorative rock, boulders, and drought-tolerant plantings. These projects can save substantial amounts of water while reducing maintenance requirements and improving curb appeal.

In many cases, existing sprinkler systems can be converted to drip irrigation to efficiently water plants and shrubs while using far less water than traditional turf irrigation.

Choose Drought-Tolerant Plants

Some of our favorite options for Southeast Idaho landscapes include: Russian Sage, Lavender, Ornamental grasses, Native plant varieties, and other drought-tolerant perennials. These plants provide color, texture, movement, and seasonal interest while requiring significantly less water than traditional lawn areas.

Think About How You Actually Use Your Yard

One of the most important questions we ask during consultations is:

"How do you use your outdoor space?"

The answer is different for every homeowner.

If a family spends most of their time in the backyard, preserving lawn space there may make the most sense. If curb appeal is the priority, maintaining lawn areas in the front yard may be more important.

For homeowners who enjoy entertaining, patios, fire features, decorative gravel areas, and walkways can create highly functional outdoor living spaces while reducing water demand.

For homeowners interested in gardening, allocating water toward food production may provide greater value than maintaining unused turf.

There is no one-size-fits-all solution. The best landscape plan is the one that matches how you actually live.

Do you have some general tips for watering during a low-water summer like this?

If water supplies are limited, focus on maximizing the efficiency of every gallon.

Some practical recommendations include:

-Inspect sprinkler heads regularly.

-Fix leaks immediately.

-Water deeply rather than frequently.

-Avoid overwatering stressed turf.

-Prioritize the areas of your landscape that provide the most value.

-Convert low-use lawn areas to drought-tolerant landscaping over time.

-Consider backup water options such as dual-source irrigation systems where feasible.

-Schedule a professional irrigation inspection to optimize system performance.

What projects do you have coming up in the area?

Right now, we are converting a side yard into a graveled parking area, installing certified TSW drought resistant sod for a new home in the valley, and graveling the backyard of a multifamily rental space.

Several businesses have contacted us to reduce their outdoor water usage, and we are actively providing free estimates to businesses and homeowners on all their outdoor projects. 

Anything else you'd like to let people know?
If there is one thing homeowners in Malad and Southeast Idaho should do this year, it's this:

Take a fresh look at how you use your outdoor spaces and consider how you can gradually reduce your lawn's footprint over time.

You don't have to make dramatic changes all at once. Small projects can make a significant difference. Whether it's converting a park strip, adding drought-tolerant landscaping, installing drip irrigation, or redesigning a larger outdoor living space, every improvement can help reduce water demand while maintaining the beauty and function of your property.

At Champion Pro Services, we help homeowners find solutions that fit their lifestyle, budget, and water availability—whether that's a small landscape upgrade or a complete property transformation.

To contact Champion, call (208)-766-3801.