Trade In Turf For Rocks

In Orange County, California, The Municipal Water District of Orange County is accepting applications for a turf-removal program, in an effort to increase water conservation and decrease pollution from irrigation run-off. Applicants who have turf and want to replace it with California-friendly rocks, shrubs or trees, can receive a rebate for a portion of the cost.

Robin Marcario of Garden Grove replaced grass with rock, stone and drought-tolerant vegetation in her driveway, with the help of grant money offered through a Municipal Water District of Orange County program aimed at reducing outdoor water use.

Nearly 100 applications are pending approval from the 19 water agencies participating in the program, said Joe Berg, water use efficiency programs manager for the Municipal Water District of Orange County.
"Grass in Orange County requires over four feet of water to retain it," Berg said.

Berg anticipates the water savings for Orange County to be about 44 gallons per year per square foot.
More than 60 percent of water used in Orange County is for irrigation, Berg said, while 40 percent is indoor use.

Citizens who use the program can request a rebate of $1 per square foot of turf removed. Small areas can run a cost of up to $4 per spare foot to remove turf, while areas of five acres or more could run a cost of $1 per square foot.