Metropolitan Water District to Add $40 Million to Turf Rebate Programs

December 15, 2014

By Craig Kessler

A combination of heightened public drought awareness, increased recognition of the long-term need to conserve and expanded rebate options – particularly turf removal – has generated such extraordinary demand from consumers and businesses for water-saving incentives that the primary source of turf removal rebates in Southern California has added $40 million to its rebate program coffers.

The decision to increase Metropolitan Water District’s conservation incentive budget from $60 million to $100 million marks the second time this year MWD has boosted its funding for water-saving rebates. Just last February MWD added $20 million to raise it to $60 million.

This is sweet news to the Southern California golf industry. Southern California golf courses and golf clubs of all types and varieties have been availing themselves of the basic $2 per square foot turf removal buyback program at a dizzying pace. Those courses served by large public utilities such as Los Angeles Water & Power and San Diego Public Utilities are able to qualify for an additional $1.75 per square foot, albeit not on the same unlimited basis as the MWD program.

Recognizing that the most reliable way to permanently reduce its water footprint is to reduce the amount of its irrigated turf, the Southern California golf industry has begun to design, build and implement massive turf reductions on a broad scale. Because these projects are expensive to design, construct and maintain – there are considerable post construction maintenance costs – the rebate program provides a healthy incentive to an industry that recognizes the need to reduce water consumption but continues to recover slowly from the “Great Recession.”

The media has reported extensively about the million dollar plus checks clubs like Woodland Hills CC, Glendora CC and Rancho Santa Fe GC have received in exchange for the permanent removal of massive amounts of turf. Because one golf course can provide permanent turf reductions and consequent water savings that it would otherwise take hundreds of front lawns to achieve, MWD has made golf courses a high priority for receipt of these massive rebates. A compelling example of applying public resources to achieve a universally desired public policy end.

MWD is a cooperative of 26 cities and water agencies serving nearly 19 million persons in 6 counties. It imports water from the Colorado River and Northern California to supplement local supplies, and it helps its member agencies develop increase water conservation, recycling, storage and other resource management programs. Information about the turf removal rebate program and the application process therefore can be found on the District’s web site: www.mwdh2o.com. According to the many SCGA member clubs that have participated in the program, MWD staff couldn’t be more accommodating in walking the club through each step of the process.



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