Supervisors call for drought-tolerant landscaping at county facilities

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors approved an amendment to its Design Standards for County Facilities board policy which will require the use of drought-tolerant and fire-resistant landscaping for all new county projects with the exception of natural turf in active parks.

The supervisors’ 5-0 vote July 24 adopts the amendment to Board Policy G-15, directs county staff to review internal department policies and revise them if necessary to reflect the revisions to the board design standards policy, and directs the county’s Farm and Home Advisory to develop a model list of drought-tolerant and fire-resistant plants in collaboration with other agencies, educational institutions, and the landscape industry.

“We can and should do our part to conserve water and prevent the spread of fire,” said Supervisor Dianne Jacob.

The policy covers activities such as roadway medians, park facilities other than turf in active parks, and yards for library, public safety, social service, and other county buildings. Many county departments already have similar internal policies, although the supervisors’ amendment makes those policies official and applies them to all departments.

“By revising Policy G-15 we will clearly specify the types of plants the county uses to landscape,” Jacob said. “We are raising the bar for other departments and creating a culture of saving water.

Supervisor Greg Cox added that the policy will also save money on water bills and may also be replicated by other local governments. “The county can become certainly a role model,” he said.