Kelly Kopp, Ph.D.

Field: Plants, Soils, and Climate
Areas of Focus: Irrigation Technology and Efficiency, Turfgrass Water Use Efficiency, Water Conservation

Expertise

• Landscape irrigation efficiency
• Turfgrass water use
• Turfgrass nutrients dynamics
• Smart irrigation technologies
• Water efficiencies programming

Bio

Dr. Kopp is a professor and extension specialist in the Plants, Soils & Climate department at Utah State University, where her research efforts are focused on landscape water conservation, irrigation efficiency and technologies, and the enhancement of urban ecosystem services. She conducts applied research on plant selection, with an emphasis on lower water use grasses, as well as the implementation of water-saving irrigation technologies to complement more basic research efforts developing water balances for ornamental landscapes. Her past work has emphasized the sustainability of ornamental landscapes, which may require fewer inputs, without compromising landscape functionality or aesthetics. However, beyond the concept of sustainability lies the potential for urban landscapes to be resource-positive contributors to urban and suburban ecosystems. Her current research takes a life-cycle analysis approach to identifying the landscape designs and management practices that will characterize resource-positive landscapes for the state and region. Dr. Kopp also conducts extensive outreach efforts through her role with USU Extension. She is the director of USU's Center for Water Efficient Landscaping and is board member and past president of the Utah Water Conservation Forum. From 2007-2016, she served on the board of directors of the Alliance for Water Efficiency, an international organization promoting all aspects of water efficiency, and has continued service to the Alliance as chair of the organization’s Water Efficiency Research Committee. She works directly with many federal, state, and municipal agencies toward achieving water use efficiency in the state of Utah, the Intermountain West, and beyond.