Rain Bird MWELO 2015 User Manual

MWELO 2015 Compliance Guide to Irrigation-Related Requirements

for New Construction Projects ≥500 Square Feet and Rehabilitated Landscape Projects ≥2500 Square Feet

Easy-to-use guide and compliance tips for irrigation professionals.

MWELO 2015 Compliance Guide to

Irrigation-related Requirements

How to Use This Guide

QUICK INFO:

Quick information or summary about a section or provision.

COMPLIANCE TIP:

General recommendations for compliance.

PRODUCT TIP:

Recommended Rain Bird products that comply with specic MWELO requirements.

Return to interactive table of contents.

This is a general reference guide for compliance with the 2015 California Model Water Ecient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) for these two types of projects:

• New construction projects with an aggregate landscape area equal to or greater than 500 square feet requiring a building or landscape permit, plan check or design review or

• Rehabilitated landscape projects with an aggregate landscape area equal to or greater than 2,500 square feet requiring a building or landscape permit, plan check, or design review

Exceptions:

• This guide does not address cemeteries, which are also subject to MWELO

• Historical sites, restoration and reclamation projects that do not require permanent irrigation, or botanical gardens and arboretums are exempt from the ordinance

• This guide does not address existing landscapes that do not require permits

This guide is based on information published by the State of California and the California Department of Water Resources. It references only the landscape and irrigation-related provisions of the ordinance and does not represent the entire ordinance. Any information in this guide is for general reference only and is subject to change without notice. For the entire current version and status of the ordinance, please visit

www.water.ca.gov

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Table of Contents

Foreword

Part 1: Irrigation Requirements

492.7 Irrigation Design

492.10 Irrigation Scheduling

492.11 Landscape and Irrigation Maintenance Schedule

492.12 Irrigation Audit, Irrigation Survey, and Irrigation Water Use Analysis

492.13 Irrigation Eciency

492.5 Soil Management Report

492.6 Landscape Design

492.8 Grading Design Plan

Part 3: Recycled Water, Graywater and Stormwater Requirements

492.14 Recycled Water

492.15 Graywater Systems

492.16 Stormwater Management and Rainwater Retention

492.17 Public Education

492 Provisions for New Construction

492.18 Environmental Review

494 Eective Precipitation

492.1 Compliance with Documentation Package

492.2 Penalties

492.3 Elements of Documentation Package

Part 2: Soil Management, Landscape Design and Grading Design Requirements

Part 4: Public Education Requirements

Part 5: Agency Requirements

Part 6: Documentation

492.4 Water Ecient Landscape Worksheet

492.9 Certicate of Completion

MWELO Appendix A ETo Tables

MWELO Appendix B Water Ecient Landscape Worksheet

MWELO Appendix C Sample Certicate of Completion

Part 7: Background and References

MWELO Backgrounder

490 Purpose

490.1 Applicability

491 Denitions

495 Reporting

Click on a section name below to go directly to the page

How to Use This Guide

QUICK INFO:

Quick information or summary about a section or provision.

COMPLIANCE TIP:

General recommendations for compliance.

PRODUCT TIP:

Recommended Rain Bird products that comply with specic MWELO requirements.

Return to interactive table of contents.

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Foreword

Statement on California’s Drought Conditions

California is facing an unprecedented water crisis, with 98 percent of the state experiencing some level of drought and 44 percent experiencing extreme drought. Governor Brown’s recent mandate for Californians to cut their water use by 25 percent has brought a long-standing issue to the forefront of the state’s consciousness—perhaps even to the world’s. The conversation has nally turned from how we should use less water to how we must use less water.

The Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) says more than 50 percent of all residential water use in the state of California takes place outdoors. Furthermore, the ACWA estimates that California residents tend to over-water outdoor plants and lawns by as much as 60 percent. These statistics indicate a tremendous opportunity to use this valuable resource more eciently throughout California and the rest of the world.

Rain Bird’s Water Conservation Legacy

California’s current situation strikes a very personal chord for me and my family. Back in the early 1930s, my parents, Clem and Mary LaFetra, established Rain Bird in the family barn in Glendora, California. Our very rst product, the original impact sprinkler, was developed to more eciently irrigate nearby citrus orchards. Today, Rain Bird is a global leader in ecient irrigation, but we have deep roots in California and remain headquartered just a few miles away from where it all began.

Decades before the term “water restrictions” became a part of common vernacular, we recognized the need to protect and eciently use our world’s most precious resource. Our guiding philosophy, The Intelligent Use of Water™, continues to inuence all aspects of our business. Rain Bird has spent the past eight decades developing the industry’s most comprehensive line of water-ecient irrigation solutions for everything from homes and schools to parks, sports elds, golf courses and farms. With ecient irrigation products and practices, it is absolutely possible for the average California resident to reduce outdoor water consumption by 25 percent or more without having to give up the plants, trees and gardens that add so much to our lives.

Championing the Need for Change

We know that water-ecient irrigation products represent just one step down a long path toward positive change. That’s why Rain Bird also focuses on helping people learn how to use water wisely and eciently. From our industryleading training group to our sales and engineering professionals, employees throughout our organization are committed to the Intelligent Use of Water™. Every day, Rain Bird teaches irrigation professionals how to design, install and operate more ecient systems and educate consumers worldwide about responsible outdoor water use.

Today, Rain Bird and our partners in the irrigation and water management industries are in a unique position to make a dierence during this time of water crisis. By working together, we can make it easier for all Californians to signicantly reduce their outdoor water use while still enjoying the many benets that green spaces have to oer. Rain Bird will continue to develop products and initiatives that will help Californians make responsible, informed choices about the ways we all use water. By taking advantage of intelligent watering products and practices today, we can usher in a new era of water eciency and sustainable water use, not just in California, but around the world.

Anthony LaFetra, President Rain Bird Corporation

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Part 1: Irrigation Requirements

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§ 492.7 Irrigation Design Plan

(a) This section applies to landscaped areas requiring permanent irrigation,

not areas that require temporary irrigation solely for the plant establishment period. For the ecient use of water, an irrigation system shall meet all the requirements listed in this section and the manufacturers’ recommendations. The irrigation system and its related components shall be planned and designed to allow for proper installation, management, and maintenance. An irrigation design plan meeting the following design criteria shall be submitted as part of the Landscape Documentation Package.

(1) System

(A) Landscape water meters, dened as either a dedicated water

service meter or private submeter, shall be installed for all non-residential irrigated landscapes of 1,000 sq. ft. but not more than 5,000 sq.ft. (the level at which Water Code 535 applies) and residential irrigated landscapes of 5,000 sq. ft. or greater. A landscape water meter may be either:

1. A customer service meter dedicated to landscape use provided by the local water purveyor; or

2. A privately owned meter or submeter.

(B) Automatic irrigation controllers utilizing either evapotranspiration

or soil moisture sensor data utilizing non-volatile memory shall be required for irrigation scheduling in all irrigation systems.

pressure of the specied irrigation devices, the installation of a pressure regulating device is required to ensure that the dynamic pressure at each emission device is within the manufacturer’s recommended pressure range for optimal performance.

PRODUCT TIP:

(A) LANDSCAPE WATER METERS

offers a complete family of central control,

commercial-grade controllers and flow sensors that,

when designed together, qualify as a water meter or submeter. Rain Bird’s ICWM Series Water Meters irrigation submeters are available through traditional irrigation distribution channels.

ICWM Series Advanced Technology Water Meters

PRODUCT TIP:

(B) AUTOMATIC IRRIGATION CONTROLLERS

Rain Bird oers a full line of smart controllers, all with non-volatile memory.

Rain Bird Controller Family

PRODUCT TIP:

(C.1) WATER PRESSURE

solutions to increase and decrease pressure to operate at optimal water pressure. Use a pump to increase pressure.

Rain Bird oers

Rain Bird

1. If the static pressure is above or below the required dynamic pressure of the irrigation system, pressure-

regulating devices such as inline pressure regulators,

booster pumps, or other devices shall be installed to meet the required dynamic pressure of the irrigation system.

2. Static water pressure, dynamic or operating pressure, and ow reading of the water supply shall be measured at the point of connection. These pressure and ow measurements shall be conducted at the design stage. If the measurements are not available at the design stage, the measurements shall be conducted at installation.

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ACLP Series Pump Stations

Use pressure-regulating sprays and pressure-regulating

rotors and drip lters to decrease pressure.

PRS-SAM Rotors and Sprays

Pressure-Regulating Filter (RBY)

§ 492.7 Irrigation Design Plan

(D) Sensors (rain, freeze, wind, etc.), either integral or auxiliary,

that suspend or alter irrigation operation during unfavorable weather conditions shall be required on all irrigation systems, as appropriate for local climatic conditions. Irrigation should be avoided during windy or freezing weather or during rain.

(E) Manual shut-o valves (such as a gate valve, ball valve, or

buttery valve) shall be required, as close as possible to the point of connection of the water supply, to minimize water loss in case of an emergency (such as a main line break) or routine repair.

(F) Backow prevention devices shall be required to protect

the water supply from contamination by the irrigation system. A project applicant shall refer to the applicable local agency code (i.e., public health) for additional backow prevention requirements.

(G) Flow sensors that detect high ow conditions created by system

damage or malfunction are required for all on non-residential landscapes and residential landscapes of 5000 sq. ft. or larger.

(H) Master shut-o valves are required on all projects except

landscapes that make use of technologies that allow for the individual control of sprinklers that are individually pressurized in a system equipped with low pressure shut down features.

(I) The irrigation system shall be designed to prevent runo, low

head drainage, overspray, or other similar conditions where irrigation water ows onto non-targeted areas, such as adjacent property, non-irrigated areas, hardscapes, roadways, or structures.

PRODUCT TIP:

(D) WEATHER SENSORS

wireless rain/freeze sensors. Anemometers are also

available with central control.

WR2 Wireless Rain Freeze Sensor

WS-PRO LT Weather Station | IQ Remote Water Management

PRODUCT TIP:

(G) FLOW SENSORS

family of ow sensors.

Rain Bird oers

Rain Bird oers a complete

(J) Relevant information from the soil management plan, such as soil

type and inltration rate, shall be utilized when designing irrigation systems.

(K) The design of the irrigation system shall conform to the

hydrozones of the landscape design plan.

(L) The irrigation system must be designed and installed to meet,

at a minimum, the irrigation eciency criteria as described in Section 492.4 regarding the Maximum Applied Water Allowance.

(M)

All irrigation emission devices must meet the requirements set in the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard, American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers’/ International Code Council’s (ASABE/ICC) 802-2014 Landscape Irrigation Sprinkler and Emitter Standard, All sprinkler heads installed in the landscape must document a distribution uniformity low quarter of 0.65 or higher using the protocol dened in ASABE/ICC 802-2014.

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Flow Sensor Family

PRODUCT TIP:

(M)

IRRIGATION EMISSION DEVICES

Bird® HE- VAN, U-Series, R-VAN and R-Series Nozzles all meet the requirements of ASABE/ICC 802-2014 and achieve DULQ of 70% or greater.

HE-VAN U-Series

R-VAN

Rain

§ 492.7 Irrigation Design Plan

(N) It is highly recommended that the project applicant

or local agency inquire with the local water purveyor about peak water operating demands (on the water supply system) or water restrictions that may impact the eectiveness of the irrigation system.

(O) In mulched planting areas, the use of low volume

irrigation is required to maximize water inltration into the root zone.

(P) Sprinkler heads and other emission devices shall have

matched precipitation rates, unless otherwise directed by the manufacturer’s recommendations.

(Q) Head to head coverage is recommended. However, sprinkler

spacing shall be designed to achieve the highest possible distribution uniformity using the manufacturer’s recommendations.

(R) Swing joints or other riser-protection components are

required on all risers subject to damage that are adjacent to hardscapes or in high trac areas of turfgrass.

(S) Check valves or anti-drain valves are required on all

sprinkler heads where low point drainage could occur.

(T) Areas less than ten (10) feet in width in any direction shall

be irrigated with subsurface irrigation or other means that produces no runo or overspray.

COMPLIANCE TIP:

(O) LOW-VOLUME IRRIGATION

mulched planting areas.

Xeri-Bug™ Emitters

PRODUCT TIP:

(P) MATCHED PRECIPITATION RATES (MPR)

Rain Bird oers a full line of matched precipitation rate

spray nozzles and MPR nozzles for 5000 Series Rotors.

HE-VAN U-Series

R-VAN

PRODUCT TIP:

(R) SWING JOINTS

assemblies for sprays and turf swing joints for rotors.

5000 MPR

Rain Bird has swing

is required in

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TSJ/TSJ PRS Series Swing Joints

PRODUCT TIP:

(S) CHECK VALVES

for sprays, rotors and drip to prevent drainage at low points or when the sprinkler is o or damaged.

PRS-SAM Rotors & Sprays XFCV Dripline

PRODUCT TIP:

(T)

AREAS LESS THAN 10'

XFCV, and XFS-CV irrigation for areas less than 10'

XFS Subsurface Dripline

Rain Bird oers check valves

Use Rain Bird XFS,

XFS-CV Subsurface Dripline

§ 492.7 Irrigation Design Plan

(U) Overhead irrigation shall not be permitted within 24 inches of

any non-permeable surface. Allowable irrigation within the setback from non-permeable surfaces may include drip, drip line, or other low ow non-spray technology. The setback area may be planted or unplanted. The surfacing of the setback may be mulch, gravel, or other porous material. These restrictions may be modied if:

1. The landscape area is adjacent to permeable surfacing and no runo occurs; or

2. The adjacent non-permeable surfaces are designed and constructed to drain entirely to landscaping; or

3. The irrigation designer species an alternative design or technology, as part of the Landscape Documentation Package and clearly demonstrates strict adherence to irrigation system design criteria in Section 492.7 (a)(1)(I). Prevention of over-spray and runo must be conrmed during the irrigation audit.

(V) Slopes greater than 25% shall not be irrigated with an irrigation

system with a application rate exceeding 0.75 inches per hour. This restriction may be modied if the landscape designer species an alternative design or technology, as part of the Landscape Documentation Package, and clearly demonstrates no runo or erosion will occur. Prevention of runo and erosion must be conrmed during the irrigation audit.

PRODUCT TIP:

(U) 24" SETBACK

low volume irrigation solutions to irrigate within

the 24" setback.

Xeri-Bug™ Emitters

PRODUCT TIP:

(V)

SLOPES and 5000 Series Rotors with MPR nozzles have a precipitation rate of 0.6 in./hr.

R-VAN 5000 MPR

PRODUCT TIP:

systems.

Rain Bird has a full line of

Rain Bird’s low precipitation rate R-VAN

The Root Watering System (RWS) enables

(2) Hydrozone

(A) Each valve shall irrigate a hydrozone with similar site, slope, sun

exposure, soil conditions, and plant materials with similar water use.

(B) Sprinkler heads and other emission devices shall be selected

based on what is appropriate for the plant type within that hydrozone.

shrubs, groundcovers, and turf to facilitate the appropriate irrigation of trees. The mature size and extent of the root zone shall be considered when designing irrigation for the tree.

(D) Individual hydrozones that mix plants of moderate and low water

use, or moderate and high water use, may be allowed if:

1. Plant factor calculation is based on the proportions of the respective plant water uses and their plant factor; or

2. The plant factor of the higher water using plant is used for calculations.

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RWS Root Watering System

§ 492.7 Irrigation Design Plan

(E) Individual hydrozones that mix high and low water use

plants shall not be permitted.

(F) On the landscape design plan and irrigation design plan,

hydrozone areas shall be designated by number, letter, or other designation. On the irrigation design plan, designate the areas irrigated by each valve, and assign a number to each valve. Use this valve number in the Hydrozone Information Table (see Appendix B Section A). This table can also assist with the irrigation audit and programming the controller.

(b) The irrigation design plan, at a minimum, shall contain:

(1) Location and size of separate water meters for landscape;

(2) Location, type and size of all components of the irrigation

system, including controllers, main and lateral lines, valves, sprinkler heads, moisture sensing devices, rain switches, quick couplers, pressure regulators, and backow prevention devices;

(3) Static water pressure at the point of connection to the

public water supply;

(4) Flow rate (gallons per minute), application rate

(inches per hour), and design operating pressure (pressure per square inch) for each station;

QUICK INFO:

(b) IRRIGATION DESIGN PLAN

Note the requirements for the irrigation design plan.

QUICK INFO:

(4) FLOW RATE

same as precipitation rate.

Note that application rate is the

(5) Recycled water irrigation systems as specied in Section 492.14;

(6) The following statement: “I have complied with the criteria of

the ordinance and applied them accordingly for the ecient use of water in the irrigation design plan”; and

(7) The signature of a licensed landscape architect, certied

irrigation designer, licensed landscape contractor, or any other person authorized to design an irrigation system. (See Sections 5500.1, 5615, 5641, 5641.1, 5641.2, 5641.3,

5641.4, 5641.5, 5641.6, 6701, 7027.5 of the Business and Professions Code, Section 832.27 of Title 16 of the California Code of Regulations, and Section 6721 of the Food and Agricultural Code.)

Note: Authority cited: Section 65595, Government Code. Reference: Section 65596, Government Code.

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§ 492.10 Irrigation Scheduling

Certicate of Completion

§ 492.10 Irrigation Scheduling

(a) For the ecient use of water, all irrigation schedules shall be developed,

managed, and evaluated to utilize the minimum amount of water required to maintain plant health. Irrigation schedules shall meet the following criteria:

Irrigation scheduling shall be regulated by automatic irrigation controllers.

(1)

(2) Overhead irrigation shall be scheduled between 8:00 p.m. and 10:00

a.m. unless weather conditions prevent it. If allowable hours of irrigation dier from the local water purveyor, the stricter of the two shall apply. Operation of the irrigation system outside the normal watering window is allowed for auditing and system maintenance.

(3) For implementation of the irrigation schedule, particular attention

must be paid to irrigation run times, emission device, ow rate, and current reference evapotranspiration, so that applied water meets the Estimated Total Water Use. Total annual applied water shall be less than or equal to Maximum Applied Water Allowance (MAWA). Actual irrigation schedules shall be regulated by automatic irrigation controllers using current reference evapotranspiration data (e.g., CIMIS) or soil moisture sensor data.

(4) Parameters used to set the automatic controller shall be developed

and submitted for each of the following:

QUICK INFO:

(492.10) IRRIGATION SCHEDULING

Note that the irrigation schedule parameters must be included with the Certicate of Completion.

COMPLIANCE TIPS:

(2) HOURS ALLOWED

between 8 p.m. and 10 a.m. or to local water windows, if stricter.

(3) SCHEDULE CONSIDERATIONS

• Reclaimed or other water sources high in salts or sites with salt water intrusion may require leaching.

• Adjust valves for proper ow rates and closing speeds.

• Rene irrigation schedules using real-time data from weather stations and soil moisture sensors.

Schedule irrigation

(A) The plant establishment period;

(B) The established landscape; and

(5) Each irrigation schedule shall consider for each station all of the

following that apply:

(A) Irrigation interval (days between irrigation);

Irrigation run times (hours or minutes per irrigation event to avoid runo );

(B)

(C)

Number of cycle starts required for each irrigation event to avoid runo;

(D) Amount of applied water scheduled to be applied on a monthly basis;

(E) Application rate setting;

(F) Root depth setting;

(G) Plant type setting;

(H) Soil type;

(I) Slope factor setting;

(J) Shade factor setting; and

(K) Irrigation uniformity or eciency setting.

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§ 492.11 Landscape and Irrigation

Certicate of Completion

Maintenance Schedule

§ 492.11 Landscape and Irrigation Maintenance Schedule

(a) Landscapes shall be maintained to ensure water use eciency.

A regular maintenance schedule shall be submitted with the Certicate of Completion.

(b) A regular maintenance schedule shall include, but not be limited to,

routine inspection; auditing, adjustment and repair of the irrigation system and its components; aerating and dethatching turf areas; topdressing with compost, replenishing mulch; fertilizing; pruning; weeding in all landscape areas, and removing obstructions to emission devices. Operation of the irrigation system outside the normal watering window is allowed for auditing and system maintenance.

installed components or their equivalents or with components with greater eciency.

(d) A project applicant is encouraged to implement established landscape

industry sustainable Best Practices for all landscape maintenance activities.

QUICK INFO:

(492.11) LANDSCAPE AND IRRIGATION MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE

maintenance schedule must be submitted as part of the .

A landscape and

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§ 492.12 Irrigation Audit, Irrigation Survey,

Certicate of Completion

and Irrigation Water Use Analysis

§ 492.12 Irrigation Audit, Irrigation Survey, and Irrigation Water Use Analysis

(a) All landscape irrigation audits shall be conducted by a local agency

landscape irrigation auditor or a third party certied landscape irrigation auditor. Landscape audits shall not be conducted by the person who designed the landscape or installed the landscape.

(b) In large projects or projects with multiple landscape installations

(i.e. production home developments) an auditing rate of 1 in 7 lots or approximately 15% will satisfy this requirement.

December 1, 2015, as described in Section 490.1:

(1) The project applicant shall submit an irrigation audit report with the

Certicate of Completion to the local agency that may include, but is not limited to: inspection, system tune-up, system test with distribution uniformity, reporting overspray or run o that causes overland ow, and preparation of an irrigation schedule, including conguring irrigation controllers with application rate, soil types, plant factors, slope, exposure and any other factors necessary for accurate programming;

(2) The local agency shall administer programs that may include, but not be

limited to, irrigation water use analysis, irrigation audits, and irrigation surveys for compliance with the Maximum Applied Water Allowance.

QUICK INFO:

(492.12) IRRIGATION AUDITS

• Submit an irrigation audit with the

Certicate of Completion.

• Landscape audits must be conducted by either a local agency or a third-party certied landscape irrigation auditor.

• Neither the designer nor the installer may conduct the audit.

QUICK INFO:

(b) PRODUCTION HOMES

multiple landscape installations require a 15% audit rate (1 in 7 lots).

Large projects with

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§ 492.13 Irrigation Eciency

(a) For the purpose of determining Estimated Total Water Use, average

irrigation eciency is assumed to be 0.75 for overhead spray devices and

0.81 for drip system devices.

QUICK INFO:

(492.13) IRRIGATION EFFICIENCY You no longer have to calculate irrigation eciency. Use:

• 0.75 for overhead spray devices

• 0.81 for drip system devices

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Part 2: Soil Management, Landscape Design and

Grading Design Requirements

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§ 492.5 Soil Management Report

(a) In order to reduce runo and encourage healthy plant growth, a soil

management report shall be completed by the project applicant, or his/ her designee, as follows:

(1) Submit soil samples to a laboratory for analysis and recommendations.

(A) Soil sampling shall be conducted in accordance with laboratory

protocol, including protocols regarding adequate sampling depth for the intended plants.

(B) The soil analysis shall include:

1. Soil texture;

2. Inltration rate determined by laboratory test or soil texture

inltration rate table;

3. pH;

4. Total soluble salts;

5. Sodium;

6. Percent organic matter; and

7. Recommendations

QUICK INFO:

(492.5) SOIL MANAGEMENT REPORT

Note the emphasis on proper soils and analysis.

developments) a soil sampling rate of 1 in 7 lots or approximately 15% will satisfy this requirement. Large landscape projects shall sample at a rate equivalent to 1 in 7 lots.

(2) The project applicant, or his/her designee, shall comply with one of

the following:

(A) If signicant mass grading is not planned, the soil analysis

report shall be submitted to the local agency as part of the Landscape Documentation Package; or

(B) If signicant mass grading is planned, the soil analysis report shall be

submitted to the local agency as part of the Certicate of Completion.

(3) The soil analysis report shall be made available, in a timely manner, to

the professionals preparing the landscape design plans and irrigation design plans to make any necessary adjustments to the design plans.

(4) The project applicant, or his/her designee, shall submit documentation

verifying implementation of soil analysis report recommendations to the local agency with Certicate of Completion.

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§ 492.6 Landscape Design Plan

(a) For the ecient use of water, a landscape shall be carefully designed

and planned for the intended function of the project. A landscape design plan meeting the following design criteria shall be submitted as part of the Landscape Documentation Package.

(1) Plant Material

(A) Any plant may be selected for the landscape, providing the

Estimated Total Water Use in the landscape area does not exceed the Maximum Applied Water Allowance. Methods to achieve water eciency shall include one or more of the following:

1. Protection and preservation of native species and natural vegetation;

2. Selection of water-conserving plant, tree and turf species,

especially local native plants;

3. Selection of plants based on local climate suitability, disease and pest resistance;

4. Selection of trees based on applicable local tree ordinances or tree shading guidelines, and size at maturity as appropriate for the planting area; and

5. Selection of plants from local and regional landscape program plant lists.

QUICK INFO:

492.6. LANDSCAPE DESIGN PLAN

Note the emphasis on plant selection and hydrozones.

6. Selection of plants from local Fuel Modication Plan Guidelines.

(B) Each hydrozone shall have plant materials with similar water use,

with the exception of hydrozones with plants of mixed water use, as specied in Section 492.7(a)(2)(D).

their adaptability to the climatic, geologic, and topographical conditions of the project site. Methods to achieve water eciency shall include one or more of the following:

1. Use the Sunset Western Climate Zone System which takes into account temperature, humidity, elevation, terrain, latitude, and varying degrees of continental and marine inuence on local climate;

2. Recognize the horticultural attributes of plants (i.e., mature plant size, invasive surface roots) to minimize damage to property or infrastructure [e.g., buildings, sidewalks, power lines]; allow for adequate soil volume for healthy root growth; and

3. Consider the solar orientation for plant placement to maximize summer shade and winter solar gain.

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§ 492.6 Landscape Design Plan

(D) Turf is not allowed on slopes greater than 25% where the toe

of the slope is adjacent to an impermeable hardscape and where 25% means 1 foot of vertical elevation change for every 4 feet of horizontal length (rise divided by run x 100 = slope percent).

(E) High water use plants, characterized by a plant factor of 0.7 to 1.0,

are prohibited in street medians.

(F) A landscape design plan for projects in re-prone areas shall

address re safety and prevention. A defensible space or zone around a building or structure is required per Public Resources Code Section 4291(a) and (b). Avoid reprone plant materials and highly ammable mulches. Refer to the local Fuel Modication Plan guidelines.

(G) The use of invasive plant species, such as those listed by the

California Invasive Plant Council, is strongly discouraged.

(H) The architectural guidelines of a common interest development,

which include community apartment projects, condominiums, planned developments, and stock cooperatives, shall not prohibit or include conditions that have the eect of prohibiting the use of low-water use plants as a group.

(2) Water Features

QUICK INFO:

(D) TURF

than 25% where the toe of the slope is adjacent to an impermeable hardscape.

Slope percent = rise divided by run x 100.

QUICK INFO:

(2) WATER FEATURES

systems are required and recycled water use is encouraged.

Turf is not allowed on slopes greater

Recirculating water

(A) Recirculating water systems shall be used for water features.

(B) Where available, recycled water shall be used as a source for

decorative water features.

use hydrozone area of the water budget calculation.

(D) Pool and spa covers are highly recommended.

(3) Soil Preparation, Mulch and Amendments

(A) Prior to the planting of any materials, compacted soils shall be

transformed to a friable condition. On engineered slopes, only amended planting holes need meet this requirement.

(B) Soil amendments shall be incorporated according to

recommendations of the soil report and what is appropriate for the plants selected (see Section 492.5).

four cubic yards per 1,000 square feet of permeable area shall be incorporated to a depth of six inches into the soil. Soils with greater than 6% organic matter in the top 6 inches of soil are exempt from adding compost and tilling.

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§ 492.6 Landscape Design Plan

Section 492.16

(D) A minimum three inch (3"

) layer of mulch shall be applied on all exposed soil surfaces of planting areas except in turf areas, creeping or rooting groundcovers, or direct seeding applications where mulch is contraindicated. To provide habitat for beneficial insects and other wildlife, up to 5% of the landscape area may be left without mulch. Designated insect habitat must be included in the landscape design plan as such.

(E) Stabilizing mulching products shall be used on slopes that meet

current engineering standards.

(F) The mulching portion of the seed/mulch slurry in hydro-seeded

applications shall meet the mulching requirement.

(G) Organic mulch materials made from recycled or post-consumer

shall take precedence over inorganic materials or virgin forest products unless the recycled post-consumer organic products are not locally available. Organic mulches are not required where prohibited by local Fuel Modification Plan Guidelines or other applicable local ordinances.

(b) The landscape design plan, at a minimum, shall:

(1) Delineate and label each hydrozone by number, letter, or other method;

(2) Identify each hydrozone as low, moderate, high water, or mixed water

use. Temporarily irrigated areas of the landscape shall be included in the low water use hydrozone for the water budget calculation;

QUICK INFO:

(D) SOIL PREPARATION, MULCH AND AMENDMENTS

on all exposed soil surfaces, except:

• Turf areas

• Creeping or rooting groundcovers

• Direct seeding applications where mulch is contraindicated.

• In designated insect habitats, up to 5% of landscaped area.

" of mulch is required

At least 3

COMPLIANCE TIP:

(D) 3" Mulch Layer

Mulch can obscure secondary utility boxes containing ush valves for drip irrigation systems. Install a drip irrigation system indicator to more easily locate the ush point.

QUICK INFO:

(b) LANDSCAPE DESIGN PLAN

requirements of the landscape design plan.

QUICK INFO:

(10) LANDSCAPE DESIGN PLAN

to Section 492.16 for examples of stormwater best management practices

Note the

Refer

(3) Identify recreational areas;

(4) Identify areas permanently and solely dedicated to edible plants;

(5) Identify areas irrigated with recycled water;

(6) Identify type of mulch and application depth;

(7) Identify soil amendments, type, and quantity;

(8) Identify type and surface area of water features;

(9) Identify hardscapes (pervious and non-pervious);

(10)

Identify location, installation details, and 24-hour retention or inltration capacity of any applicable stormwater best management practices that encourage on-site retention and inltration of stormwater. Project applicants shall refer to the local agency or regional Water Quality Control Board for information on any applicable stormwater technical requirements. Stormwater best management practices are encouraged in the landscape design plan and examples are provided in Section 492.16.

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§ 492.6 Landscape Design Plan

(11)

Identify any applicable rain harvesting or catchment technologies as discussed in Section 492.16 and their 24-hour retention or inltration capacity;

(12)

Identify any applicable graywater discharge piping, system components and area(s) of distribution;

(13)

Contain the following statement: “I have complied with the criteria of the ordinance and applied them for the ecient use of water in the landscape design plan”; and

(14)

Bear the signature of a licensed landscape architect, licensed landscape contractor, or any other person authorized to design a landscape. (See Sections 5500.1, 5615, 5641, 5641.1, 5641.2, 5641.3,

5641.4, 5641.5, 5641.6, 6701, 7027.5 of the Business and Professions Code, Section 832.27 of Title 16 of the California Code of Regulations, and Section 6721 of the Food and Agriculture Code.)

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§ 492.8 Grading Design Plan

(a) For the ecient use of water, grading of a project site shall be designed

to minimize soil erosion, runo and water waste. A grading plan shall be submitted as part of the Landscape Documentation Package. A comprehensive grading plan prepared by a civil engineer for other local agency permits satises this requirement.

(1) The project applicant shall submit a landscape grading plan that

indicates nished congurations and elevations of the landscape area including:

(A) Height of graded slopes;

(B) Drainage patterns;

(D) Finish grade; and

(E) Stormwater retention improvements, if applicable.

(2) To prevent excessive erosion and runo, it is highly recommended

that the project applicants:

(A) Grade so that all irrigation and normal rainfall remains within

property lines and does not drain on to non-permeable hardscapes;

QUICK INFO:

(492.8) GRADING DESIGN PLAN

Design to minimize soil erosion, runo and water waste.

(B) Avoid disruption of natural drainage pattern and undisturbed soil; and

(3) The grading design plan shall contain the following statement:

“I have complied with the criteria of the ordinance and applied them accordingly for the ecient us of water in the grading design plan” and shall bear the signature of a licensed professional as authorized by law.

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