As California’s historic water conservation laws have left many a dead lawn across the state, Glendora will continue to consider drought-tolerant landscaping on city lawns at the July 16 Community Services Commission meeting.
Community Services Staff will propose to replace landscaping at six parks and six facilities with drought-tolerant plants to help meet the goal of a citywide reduction in water usage of 36 percent between now and February 2016.
In all, Community Services Staff calculated that 137,000 square feet of turf would be removed, with an anticipated savings of 1.7 million gallons of water.
City Staff created a list of the parks and facilities proposed for turf removal:
Parks
Big Tree Park
Removal of approximately 2,000 square feet of turf throughout the park. Installation of mulch; drought tolerant plant material; and drip irrigation.
Anticipated annual water savings: 45,000 gallons.
Gladstone Park
Removal of approximately 50,000 square feet of turf throughout the park. Installation of mulch; drought tolerant plant material; drip irrigation; and a decomposed granite walking path around the perimeter of the park.
Anticipated annual water savings: 750,000 gallons.
Finkbiner Park
Removal of approximately 16,000 square feet of turf throughout the park. Installation of mulch; drought tolerant plant material; and drip irrigation
Anticipated annual water savings: 165,000 gallons.
Louie Pompei Memorial Sports Park
Removal of approximately 10,000 square feet of turf throughout the park. Installation of mulch; drought tolerant plant material; and drip irrigation.
Anticipated annual water savings: 80,000 gallons.
Ole Hammer Park
Removal of approximately 4,000 square feet of turf throughout the park. Installation of mulch; drought tolerant plant material; and drip irrigation.
Anticipated annual water savings: 40,000 gallons.
Willow Springs Park
Removal of approximately 3,800 square feet of turf throughout the park. Installation of mulch; drought tolerant plant material; and drip irrigation.
Anticipated annual water savings: 35,000 gallons.
Facilities
City Hall
Removal of approximately 12,000 square feet of turf around the facility. Installation of mulch; drought tolerant plant material; and drip irrigation.
Anticipated annual water savings: 130,000 gallons.
Crowther Teen and Family Center
Removal of approximately 20,000 square feet of turf around the facility. Installation of mulch; drought tolerant plant material; and drip irrigation.
Anticipated annual water savings: 200,000 gallons.
La Fetra Center
Removal of approximately 2,300 square feet of turf around the facility. Installation of mulch; drought tolerant plant material; and drip irrigation.
Anticipated annual water savings: 45,000 gallons.
Police Department
Removal of approximately 6,000 square feet of turf around the facility. Installation of mulch; drought tolerant plant material; and drip irrigation.
Anticipated annual water savings: 10,000 gallons.
Transportation Center
Removal of approximately 3,000 square feet of turf around the facility. Installation of mulch; drought tolerant plant material; and drip irrigation.
Anticipated annual water savings: 45,000 gallons.
Transit Plaza (Church Parking Lot)
Removal of approximately 7,500 square feet of turf around the facility. Installation of mulch; drought tolerant plant material; and drip irrigation.
Anticipated annual water savings: 200,000 gallons.
Staff chose city locations to be part of the turf removal effort that are not heavily used by the public and that are not critical for large events, programs, or classes.
An appropriation of more than $1.5 million was approved by the Glendora City Council in May for turf removal and the design and planting of drought-tolerant landscaping as part of the city’s Emergency Drought Response.
Governor Jerry Brown’s Executive Order aims for a statewide reduction in water consumption of 25 percent compared to the amount used in 2013. The California State Water Resources Control Board created a framework for the 411 water agencies across the state to help reach that goal.
Glendora was deemed by the Water Resources Control Board as being in the percentile of water agencies that have a high R-GPCD.
This plan will be discuss at the Community Services Commission meeting, scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Council Chambers, 116 E. Foothill Blvd.
