Bay-Friendly Landscaping and Gardening Coalition Sarah Sutton, ASLA, BFQP, Board Chair

Organization background The Bay-Friendly Landscaping and Gardening Coalition Mission Statement: The Coalition inspires and supports public agencies, landscape professionals and property owners to adopt healthier, more environmentally sound landscape design, construction and management practices.

Organization’s approach to landscape water conservation? Based on the 7 Principles of Bay-Friendly Landscaping: Landscape Locally Landscape for Less to the Landfill Nurture the Soil Conserve Water Conserve Energy Protect Water & Air Quality Create Wildlife Habitat

Organization’s approach to landscape water conservation? Over 10-years in development and application Primary focus on educating professionals and agencies in BFL design, installation and maintenance principles and practices BFQP Trainings – 3-day program, updated with best science and applied practices Rating system – 3 rd party BFL trained raters, Raters Council, RVM, scorecard and tools (4 th version in 2015) Program is expanding to all 7 Bay Area counties Holistic approach addresses WELO, stormwater, pesticides (IPM focus), etc. Developing self-rating options Ongoing lectures and symposia

Organization’s approach to landscape water conservation? Other Programs: Nursery partnerships Educational Materials/programs Plant labels Public classes Sheet mulch demonstrations Ongoing tools and materials development Plant pocket guide

Conservation communication to your membership and affected stakeholders? Outreach to agencies, professional networks, public: blasts Newsletters Social media Direct mail Professional networks Direct contact Press releases, ads and op-eds

Successes achieved to achieve landscape water conservation goals and objectives? Cities adopting the Bay-Friendly guidelines Growing list of Bay-Friendly Qualified Professionals Includes public and private sectors Oakland, San Jose and San Francisco have trained staff Trainings are selling out! Metrics from rated projects Prop 84 Grants, in addition to ongoing sponsorships, growing membership base Partnerships with multiple agencies, professionals and vendors – industry wide shift “Lose Your Lawn the BFL Way” goes corporate

Current and anticipated challenges to achieve conservation goals and objectives Prioritization and focus Not everyone needs to do it all Avoid duplication of efforts Collaborations/partnerships Develop/share metrics Help “sell” to the public Shifting public acceptance Education and demonstration

Conservation practices you recommend to the ITP Adopt a holistic approach – it’s all related; multi- objective, multi-benefit Link water conservation and water quality; air quality and GHG; public health – expands fundability Education/training of public/private professionals in design, installation and maintenance Address design, installation and maintenance (poor maintenance can undo everything!) Rethink WELO – lower threshold?

Conservation practices you recommend to the ITP Specific practices to adopt: Emphasize soil health from a soil food web perspective Support sheet mulching Establish IPM as required approach to maintenance (chemicals only as last resort and appropriately utilized) Recommend at least 50% native plants to rebuild healthy/beneficial insect populations And last but not least, funding – for training, public outreach, demonstration projects, etc.