Water District Encouraging Local Golf Courses to Replace Grass with Turf Rebate Program

A program launched Friday by the Coachella Valley Water District will offer financial incentives to golf courses to replace grass with desert-friendly landscaping, according to the district.

Under the program funded by a state grant, eligible golf courses can receive a rebate of $15,000 per acre of grass removed, up to seven acres, said district spokeswoman Heather Engel.

Up to $1.3 million in turf rebates will be awarded on or before March 17, but will not be paid until after projects are completed, she said.

Applicants must submit plans in compliance with the district’s landscape ordinance and meet other requirements, such as working with the Golf and Water Task Force which has representatives from the district, recreation industry and other stakeholders committed to reducing water used by golf courses in the Coachella Valley, Engel said.

The deadline to apply is Feb. 27 at 5 p.m. Applications will be reviewed and ranked according to the total amount of water that will be saved as a result of grass removal.

“We are excited about the opportunity to offer golf courses a program that will help them remove grass in non-play areas and reduce their water use,” said General Manager Jim Barrett. “The rebates won’t cover the entire cost of turf removal, but hopefully they will be enough incentive to encourage projects with significant water saving.”

For more information, call (760) 398-2651 or (760) 391-9600, or email customerservice@cvwd.org

– City News Service.

(Image courtesy of the Coachella Valley Water District)