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14 | THE COLONY NEWS | OCTOBER 2022 | Discussion of Front Yard Turf Renovation: I thought it might be interesting to peek into what the LAC is currently discussing regarding the removal of front yard turf, since at this writing the turf is showing severe stress, especially yards facing south or having no mature trees to shade them. Water District rebates: Earlier this year, the Colony Landscape Department undertook the task of investigating what the two water districts that serve us were offering/requiring in terms of front yard renovation rebates. At our August LAC meeting, Anthony Reynoso presented his department's cursory findings. We felt strongly that this was an issue the HOA Board needed to be aware of and decide whether we should proceed at this time with an in-depth investigation. Therefore, these cursory findings were presented to the Board at their August meeting, and the Board decided the LAC and the Landscape Department should continue to investigate the rebate matter. So here is a broad outline of what we are seeing: 1. Rainwater capture feature required: The current turf Replacement Program for front yards requires the inclusion of a rainwater capture or filtration system integrated into the landscape project in each "Area." This is to help keep water where it falls, rather than having it run down the storm drains. Examples of these would be swales (dips where water would be directed during rains — we have used these in the later greenbelt turf reno projects as they were required then). Or dry riverbeds, berms, rock gardens, rain barrels. Schematic planting plans and typical irrigation method with construction details, based on the plans, would be prepared by the Landscape Superintendent with input from the LAC. CONCERN: An "Area" in The Colony would be one irrigation controller. One controller covers 5+ homes on that block. So which home would be willing to have that required "capture feature" in their front yard? 2. Estimated cost to convert for the rebates using plants and wood mulch: The ballpark estimate of square footage involved here was created by using the three water meters on Via Amapola. With the total square feet divided by the number of homes divided by cost estimates, Staff was able to come up with an average cost per household of $1,508. Multiply that times number of homes and the total estimated cost was $2,391,894 (or so… please remember these are ballpark cost estimates at today's prices). 3. Estimated potential rebates: The potential rebates would be $2/sq foot, or $1,000,993. So, using a ballpark figure, the net cost would be somewhere like $1,390,900. CONCERNS: We would have to take the reno money out of Reserves to do the job first, hope the water district's rebate pool hasn't gone dry (it has in the past), and that our work qualifies for them (we have qualified for rebates in the past). Not all Colony front yards would be converted at the same time, so this could be spread out over several years, similar to our greenbelt turf renovation project. In addition, the past rebate money was taxed as income to The Colony, thereby reducing the savings amount. 4. Design: Would we need the help of a professional Landscape Designer? We know we will need a new front yard plant palette, since the drought tolerant plants we use in greenbelts and wildbelts grow too big for front yards. Would we have a selection of front yard design schemes? Who would choose what scheme goes where? The homeowner? The Landscape Department? How do we maintain a "Colony Look"? Is this the time to offer artificial turf in some areas? What happens when waterlines break under the fabric? How do you prevent gophers from coming up through the fabric and creating mounds? Research would be needed to find what type would allow water to permeate and wouldn't get too hot for the trees it surrounds. What would the cost be? What if what we chose today wasn't available in future years for repairs/replacements? 5. How much less water would be used by converting? Is the amount of water reduction significant? We already know that we can't know the future cost or govern it. The only thing we control is amount used. 6. Maintenance: Would we have cost savings by not having lawns mowed? We have already discovered that no turf doesn't mean no maintenance. Irrigation still needs to happen. Bushes and plants need periodic pruning, deadheading, weeding around. There has been very little reduction of maintenance costs by having the turf removed in the greenbelts. To be continued… LANDSCAPE ADVISORY By Jan Foster, 951-698-0170

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