As stormwater permits require quantitative evidence of progress and environmental NGOs watch carefully, municipalities feel pressured to quickly deliver projects that reduce the stormwater that carries bacteria into our creeks and bays. One of San Diego County’s watershed protection strategies involves incentivizing landowners to voluntarily reduce ruff by treating impervious surfaces, capturing rainwater for their own use, and shifting to sustainable landscapes that reduce irrigation overflows. They do this by paying incentives for “community showcase” projects on private land, turf conversion at homeowners associations, and rain-saving projects on homeowner lots. After two years of preparation and piloting projects, San Diego County’s Waterscape Rebate Program in August 2021 was officially launched. The presenters will share the first year’s results and lessons learned with the public works community. After this session, participants will be able to:
• Partner with water suppliers, leveraging their turf-removal program to get stormwater projects going quickly and respond to drought-inspired water conservation requirements.
• Provide technical assistance that keeps projects moving through the pipeline and creates satisfied participants that speak highly of the program to elected officials.
• Demonstrate how to get regulatory credit for the actions of their program by understanding the Parcel Benefit Calculator—a tool that quantifies the benefits of each project using the best available science and transparent methods.

Contributor/Source

Chad Praul

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