Moulton Niguel Water District Almost Finished With $15K Plant Project at Offices

Since November has been in the process of planting California-friendly or drought-tolerant plants around its administrative offices at 27500 La Paz Road at cost of $15,025. 

Funding came out of the Replacement and Refurbishment fund, which is a capital improvement fund for existing facilities, said MNWD General Manager Bob Gumerman.

The project is 98 percent complete and the renovation costs include planting and irrigation, according to , who retires June 25.

"There are a few plants that were back ordered and the 'story board' is being constructed that will explain  to ratepayers about drought tolerant (i.e. California Friendly plants) and their effective utilization in their landscaping projects," he said.

The story board will be located on the side of the walkway into the building.

"We're very pleased, now that we finally got it this far," he said. "The story board will explain why residents should consider these plants, and how they can save water by doing so."

While planting these plants is an attempt to save on irrigation and caretaking costs, there is another reason.

"Most important is that it will demonstrate to our ratepayers what the possibilities are when using California-friendly plants," Gumerman told 

The MNWD uses recycled water for irrigation at its administrative office building.  This is one of more than 1,200 recycled water connections in the MNWD. Currently, more than 21 percent of the annual water usage in the MNWD is recycled water, which extends the domestic water supplies for the region, and results in a cost-savings for the recycled water users, he said.  

Recycled water is sold at 80 percent of the potable water rates.

Do you think MNWD should be spending money on these renovations? Take our poll below or leave a comment.

The following is a list of the plant materials that will be used:

PLANTS

Botanical Name

Common Name

Quantity

Achillea Millefolium "Island Pink"

Yarrow

 22

Agave Attenuata

No Common Name

  6

Anigozanthos Flavidus "Big Red"

Kangaroo Paws

 26

Arctostaphylos "Emerald Carpet"

Dwarf Manzanita

 44

Arctostaphylos "Pacific Mist"

Pacific Mist Manzanita

  8

Ceanothus Thyrsiflorus "Skylark"

Wild Lilac

  9

Lavatera Maritima

Tree Mallow

  6

Mahonia Repens

Creeping Mahonia

 63

Muhlenbergia Capillaris "Regal Mist"

Pink Muhly

 16

Myrtus C. "Compacta"

Dwarf Myrtle

 13

Nandina Domestica

Domestic Bamboo

  5

Nandia D. "Gulfstrem"

Gulfstream Nandina

 11

Nassella Tenuissima

Mexican Feather Grass

 27

Phormiums Texax "Jack Spratt"

Dwarf Flax

 16

Phormiums Texax "Bronze Baby"

Bronze Flax

 14

Trichostema Lanatum

Woolly Blue Curls

 15

Verbena Lilacina "De La Mina"

Cendros Island Verbena

 46

Zauschneria "Summer Snow"

California Fuchsia

105

POT PLANTING (2 POTS)

Botanical Name

Common Name

Quantity for Each Pot

Echeveria Agavides

Echeveria

1

Echeveria Gibbiflora

Soveign Blue

1

Graptopetalum Paraguayense

Ghost Plant

1

Graposedum "Bronze"

No Common Name

1

Graptoveria Hybrid

Fred Ives

1

Sedum Morganianum

Donkey Tail

1