On October 14, 1999 the Utah Board of Regents approved the creation of the Center for Water Efficient Landscaping (CWEL) subsequent to funding by the Utah state legislature. Since that time, CWEL has provided critical funding and a central mission to guide the growth of landscape water conservation research and Extension programs at Utah State University. The establishment of CWEL has shown that a compelling idea coupled with strategic planning can result in changes at the university and subsequently throughout the state. In the nine years since CWEL was established, a critical mass of related positions have been established in the Plants, Soils, and Climate Department. State-wide, landscape water conservation is no longer a fringe concept, but has been embraced as a critical component of any water conservation plan. While CWEL’s constituents are an important part of many programs at USU and enjoy collaboration with much of the Green and Blue industries across the state, there remains much to be done in providing the citizens of Utah with research based resources and information that will further the efficient use of water while retaining our quality of life.