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Inland Empire Waterkeeper Teams Up With Water Agencies to Educate Communities on Water Conservation

  • Inland Empire Waterkeeper leads homeowners in low-water-use practices for their gardens and homes
  • Conserving water at home helps families establish habits to make water conservation a way of life

WHAT: 

Inland Empire’s SmartScape Team is partnering with Inland Empire Utilities Agency, Western Municipal Water District, San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District and Eastern Municipal Water District to educate communities on ways to save water at home. Across the region, the SmartScape Team hosts workshops and assists in landscape design with the goal of reducing Southern California’s water needs.

WHY:

Water conservation is a problem with many solutions. Governor Gavin Newsom recently released a statement regarding his concern with water resources in California. A large percentage of residential water usage is used on landscaping. By educating Southern California residents to save water at home, Orange County Coastkeeper is leading innovative solutions for water overuse.

WHO:

This program is led by Marianne Hugo, who runs Coastkeeper’s water conservation garden in Orange County and directs SmartScape, a program helping homeowners transition away from water-intensive landscapes. Hugo is also a University of California certified Master Gardener.

In conjunction with Hugo and Inland Empire Waterkeeper, a chapter of Orange County Coastkeeper, this large collaborative project is made possible by support from Integrated Regional Water Management and the Santa Ana River Conservation and Conjunctive Use Program.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

  • May 31, 4:00-5:00 p.m., Moreno Valley Mall Library: SmartScape Team leads a bilingual workshop on growing herbs year-round using less water and no chemicals. Participants make a hands-on planting activity that they can take home.
  • June 10, 4:00-5:30 p.m., Moreno Valley Main Library: This workshop covers the basics of how to best irrigate your garden. Participants will design their own drip irrigation system.
  • July 8, 4:00-5:30 p.m., Moreno Valley Main Library: Discover how to attract beautiful butterflies and birds into your yard with low-water native plants. The workshop features a planting activity that participants can take home

QUOTE:

Marianne Hugo, UC Master Gardener and SmartScape Director: “Switching to low-water-use plants at home can be intimidating for many. That’s why I love getting a chance to speak to families in person and talk them through their options.”

Kim Astengo, workshop attendee: “After attending a workshop, I decided to incorporate drought-tolerant plants into my front yard. Marianne was so helpful in recommending plants appropriate for my yard. We’re so happy with how it came out and the neighbors love it, too.”

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20 YEARS OF ORANGE COUNTY COASTKEEPER: For twenty years, Southern California residents have relied on Orange County Coastkeeper to be their leading voice in protecting clean water. The organization works collaboratively with diverse groups in the public and private sectors to achieve healthy, accessible, and sustainable water resources for the region. Coastkeeper achieves this through innovative, effective programs in education, advocacy, restoration, research, enforcement, and conservation. Coastkeeper is a member of the International Waterkeeper Alliance, which has 236 different independent programs across 29 countries. For more information, visit www.coastkeeper.org or call 714-850-1965.

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