Landscaping Conservation Efforts

March 2, 2010

In response to rising water costs and a desire to conserve resources, the Landscaping Committee and GS Brothers have worked together to implement a number of cost and water saving efforts in recent months, including:

- Installing pressure regulators to reduce overall water pressure and water waste
- Redirecting/improving sprinkler systems adjacent to streets to minimize runoff and asphalt damage (note: this is a best efforts process; a small amount of streets and sidewalks will always get some level of overspray)
- Installing low-precipitation sprinkler heads in a test area to evaluate effectiveness (green belt near Evergreen). Unfortunately, these are expensive and can't be installed all at once
- Installing new low-precipitation sprinkler heads whenever landscape renovations are performed or heads require replacement
- Separating lawn and ground cover watering circuits/valves to enable differential watering levels as appropriate (many valves were combined by the builder)
- Beginning to employ drought tolerant "creeping red fescue" (as in test are along Marine east of Gateway) in lieu of standard sod where considered appropriate
- Continuous resetting of watering timers and levels in response to weather forecasts
- Minimizing all watering except during the summer months
- Complying with Manhattan Beach watering regulations
- Requesting a study by the West Basin Water District to evaluate the feasibility of installing recycled water circuits for landscaping use (the study is in progress)
- Plan to install remotely controlled watering valve on a test basis the next time one needs to be replaced.

Contrary to some concerns, there is no plan or intention to convert the Village's lush landscaping into a desert environment, or to remove our beautiful trees. We do, however, seek to manage our landscaping in a responsible and conservation-oriented manner. - D. White