INLAND EMPIRE, CA – The Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA), in partnership with Calleguas Municipal Water District (Calleguas), Las Virgenes Municipal Water District (LVMWD), and Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District (Upper Water), is proud to announce the completion of 31 landscape transformations through the Turnkey Turf Transformation Program (T3/Program). Collectively, these projects replaced nearly 700,000 square feet of non-functional turf with water-efficient landscaping across San Bernardino, Los Angeles, and Ventura counties. The Program is anticipated to generate annual water savings of approximately 90 acre-feet while enhancing the beauty, sustainability, and long-term resilience of public landscapes throughout the region.
Funded through the California Department of Water Resources’ 2022 Urban Community Drought Relief Grant Program, IEUA served as lead administrator of T3, which ran from November 2023 through September 2026. The Program targeted non-functional turf, defined as ornamental grass with little or no recreational and practical use. Each participating site received a customized landscape design tailored to its unique aesthetic and functional needs, incorporating climate-appropriate plants and high-efficiency irrigation. The transformations were provided at no cost to participating agencies.
“The true value of this investment will be seen for years to come,” said IEUA Board President Steve Elie. “Across IEUA’s service area, nine project sites transformed approximately 230,000 square feet of non-functional turf into beautiful, water-efficient landscapes, an area equivalent to nearly four football fields or 90 tennis courts. These improvements are anticipated to significantly increase annual water savings while reducing long-term irrigation demand and maintenance requirements.”
Projects across Calleguas, LVMWD, and Upper Water’s service areas include Baldwin Park Unified School District campuses, Simi Valley City Hall, public spaces in Oxnard and Port Hueneme, and the Agoura Road medians in Westlake Village, among others.
Projects within IEUA’s service area include:
- Chino City Hall in Chino
- Fairfield Ranch Trail in Chino Hills
- Cherry Avenue medians and Beech Avenue parkways in Fontana
- Montclair Fire Station 151 in Montclair
- Ontario International Airport in Ontario
- Old Town Park and Bear Gulch Park in Rancho Cucamonga
- Sunset Ridge Apartments in Upland
Actual water savings will continue to be monitored and evaluated as the new landscapes mature and become fully established. In addition to the on-the-ground improvements, the Program will produce a project lookbook highlighting accomplishments at each site, along with a comprehensive study documenting lessons learned and best practices for successful turf transformation projects.
“We are grateful to the California Department of Water Resources, our regional water partners, and every participating agency and project site whose collaboration made this program possible,” continued Elie. “Together, we have created lasting improvements that will benefit communities throughout Southern California.”
To explore completed projects across all four partner service areas and view before-and-after photos, visit ieua.org/turnkeyturf/. To learn more about non-functional turf, visit calwep.org/NFT/.