The Riverside County Water Task Force was formed to address water availability issues on a collaborative, regional basis. The Task Force was conceived of by the Riverside County Board of Supervisors in conjunction with their colleagues at Eastern Municipal Water District, Western Municipal Water District, and Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.
In March of 2004, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors took an action to support the formation of a Riverside County Task Force (Water Wise County Resolution). For the next two years, the group addressed various water conservation measures including reclaimed water. It developed one of the region’s first water-efficient landscape ordinances which was later adopted by the County and other local land use jurisdictions. The Ordinance addressed water efficient landscaping and irrigation components for new development. Both the Ordinance and the award-winning Riverside County California Friendly Landscape Program (see: http://www.rctlma.org/planning/content/devproc/landscpe/landscape.html ) have become models for the State.
After a brief hiatus, the Task Force was called back into action to grapple with critical water supply issues caused by severe drought and a federal ruling that effectively constricted pumping in the Bay Delta---Southern California’s conveyance route for water/snow-melt imported from Northern California. This “perfect storm” of events led water experts to conclude that California as a whole must make significant steps to reduce water consumption primarily in the arena of outdoor landscape.
Since outdoor landscape can dominate 60%-75% of our water use, the State of California mandated changes to outdoor water efficiency standards for both new and existing landscapes (AB 1881). In response, the Water Task Force is developing regionally appropriate improvements to its earlier Water-Efficient Landscape Ordinance. Additionally, the Task Force sponsors outreach activities and workshops targeted at supporting change in landscape and irrigation patterns.
The Riverside County Water Task Force is an active voice in finding a solution for the Bay Delta and monitoring key water supply legislation.
The Riverside County Water Task Force was formed to address water availability issues on a collaborative, regional basis. The Task Force was conceived of by the Riverside County Board of Supervisors in conjunction with their colleagues at Eastern Municipal Water District, Western Municipal Water District, and Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.
In March of 2004, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors took an action to support the formation of a Riverside County Task Force (Water Wise County Resolution). For the next two years, the group addressed various water conservation measures including reclaimed water. It developed one of the region’s first water-efficient landscape ordinances which was later adopted by the County and other local land use jurisdictions. The Ordinance addressed water efficient landscaping and irrigation components for new development. Both the Ordinance and the award-winning Riverside County California Friendly Landscape Program (see: http://www.rctlma.org/planning/content/devproc/landscpe/landscape.html ) have become models for the State.
After a brief hiatus, the Task Force was called back into action to grapple with critical water supply issues caused by severe drought and a federal ruling that effectively constricted pumping in the Bay Delta---Southern California’s conveyance route for water/snow-melt imported from Northern California. This “perfect storm” of events led water experts to conclude that California as a whole must make significant steps to reduce water consumption primarily in the arena of outdoor landscape.
Since outdoor landscape can dominate 60%-75% of our water use, the State of California mandated changes to outdoor water efficiency standards for both new and existing landscapes (AB 1881). In response, the Water Task Force is developing regionally appropriate improvements to its earlier Water-Efficient Landscape Ordinance. Additionally, the Task Force sponsors outreach activities and workshops targeted at supporting change in landscape and irrigation patterns.
The Riverside County Water Task Force is an active voice in finding a solution for the Bay Delta and monitoring key water supply legislation.