The finished Emerald Heights HOA landscape makeover. Photo: Vallecitos Water DistrictEmerald Heights HOA Benefits From Rebates and Assistance
The Emerald Heights Homeowners Association in San Marcos joins the growing list of homeowners’ associations (HOAs) benefitting from available incentives and rebates, allowing them to convert their nonfunctional turf into a sustainable landscape.
Through a partnership between the County’s Watershed Protection Program, the San Diego County Water Authority, and the Metropolitan Water District, residences and businesses in unincorporated areas of San Diego County are eligible for enhanced water-use efficiency rebates for turf replacement.
The Emerald Heights HOA landscaping before the redesign and replacement of non-functional turf. Photo: Vallecitos Water District
The County provides a Landscape Optimization Service (LOS) offering technical assistance to owners of large-scale landscaping projects. The program helps applicants, such as HOAs and commercial properties, navigate requirements and maximize their rebate eligibility.
Approved commercial landscaping companies assist customers with their turf renovation projects and assist with rebate eligibility and processing.
See the Emerald Heights HOA transformation.
Many HOAs, including Emerald Heights, have existing landscaping designed 20 to 30 years ago that no longer serves their current needs and are ready for upgrades. But most HOAs are run by residents who live in the complex, who may not have the time or expertise to undertake the complexity of these large projects.
California’s Assembly Bill 1572 (AB 1572) prohibits the use of potable water for irrigating non-functional turf on commercial, industrial, and institutional properties, and common areas of homeowners’ associations (HOAs). Non-functional turf is defined as turf not being actively used for recreational activities, community events, or play areas for pets and children.
Turf can still be part of a landscape design where it supports activities like play areas for kids and pets or recreational use. Photo: Vallecitos Water District
Tony Gonzalez, Account Manager at O’Connell Landscaping, explains that many HOAs, including Emerald Heights, have large areas of non-functional turf.
The new landscape design replaced turf areas with low-water-use plants and a functional dry river bed feature. “It’s a nice aesthetic look,” said Gonzalez.
As non-functional turf was replaced with large shrubs, 500 sprinkler heads were replaced with drip irrigation to improve watering efficiency.
“When you do a turf conversion, and you install drought-tolerant plants, you’re going from watering grass five to seven days a week to maybe two to three days a week,” notes Gonzalez.
“Grass needs more frequent irrigation due to its shallow roots, while water-wise plants have deep roots that need infrequent but deep watering, which can make a difference in water management.”
Residents Reap Multiple Benefits
Riverbed features and new plants offer benefits to the Emerald Heights HOA. Photo: Vallecitos Water District
“Over the past decade, we have completed several turf conversion projects at Emerald Heights, removing most of our grass from medians and common areas and significantly reducing overall water use,” said Don Cannon, Emerald Heights HOA Landscape Chairman.
“The rebate programs have made a real difference. Without them, we likely would not have been able to take on this level of change. We appreciate the support and remain committed to doing our part to use water wisely.”
Sustainable landscapes provide multiple benefits, including enhancing habitat with plants that invite and feed pollinators, increasing stormwater retention, and decrease stormwater run-off.
