Ocean Friendly Gardens Approach Adopted By State Organization

The California Urban Water Conservation Council (CUWCC) is a membership organization dedicated to maximizing urban water conservation throughout California by supporting and integrating innovative technologies and practices; encouraging effective public policies; advancing research, training, and public education; and building on collaborative approaches and partnerships. Surfrider is on the Board of Directors and has been an active member of the Landscape Committee. Surfrider helped shift the focus of the Committee from irrigation efficiency to adopting the watershed approach. CUWCC has now adopted the watershed approach (what they have called The New Norm), promoting it through two symposia that were co-sponsored by the four state agencies that affect landscapes: State Water Resources Control Board, Department of Water Resources, CalRecycle and Department of Pesticide Regulation. The Council is now fundraising to hire a consultant to create a market transformation plan. The Council has received comments from the four state agencies, stating that they see the Council as a “convener-in-chief” to strategize on collaboration. Having local and state agencies supporting the watershed approach would significantly ramp up the adoption of Ocean Friendly Gardens everywhere.