1. California Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance Findings
California Water Commission
Sacramento, CA
March 20, 2019
Peter Brostrom
Water Use and Efficiency Branch

2. Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance
Enacted in 1993 to establish:
Water budgets for new landscapes
Requirements for irrigation equipment and landscape installation
Required of 500 plus land use agencies (cities and counties) statewide

3. This streetscape is low water, low maintenance, also color, shade, interesting, separates pedestrians from traffic. This would be considered a non-residential landscape- no turf, but landscape benefits

4. Previous Ordinance Revisions:
2010
10% reduction in water budget
2015
25% reduction in residential budget
36% reduction in commercial budget

5. 3 Year Update/Revision Cycle
AB 2515 (2016) directs DWR to:
Update the MWELO every three years OR
Make a finding that an update to the MWELO is not a useful or effective means to improve…
the efficiency of landscape water use, or
the administration of the ordinance
3 years in development
-reflected the Brown administration desire to continue the water conservation momentum achieved during the drought
- SB x7-7 set out to establish the focus for this decade, this legislation goal is to set the focus for the next decade.

6. Stakeholder Input Formed a Landscape Advisory Group
Received valuable input, primarily editorial, focused on improving clarity

7. Inconsistent Ordinance Implementation
Anecdotal information on inconsistent implementation
2015 revisions required annual reporting
Less than 40% have reported

8. DWR Findings Chosen not to revise for the following reasons:
Current standards are efficient, water budgets have been significantly reduced since 2010
Revisions to the State ordinance requires local agencies to revise their ordinances
Need to address implementation issues

9. Next Steps Document stakeholder recommendations
Develop landscape ordinance guidebook to assist city planners in implementation
Conduct studies to quantify implementation and identify barriers

10. Contact Information
Peter Brostrom
(916)