San Marcos Demonstration Project
The Healthy Green Spaces Coalition (HGSC) is a national collaboration of water utilities, universities, and industry partners dedicated to advancing sustainable landscape practices that promote environmental health, water efficiency, and community well-being. Through data-driven demonstrations and cross-sector partnerships, HGSC helps communities showcase the benefits of climate-adapted landscapes—balancing water conservation with the need for green, functional, and resilient outdoor spaces.
In partnership with the San Diego County Water Authority, Project Evergreen and the City of San Marcos, HGSC hopes to launch a Low-Water-Use Turf and Irrigation Maintenance Demonstration in San Marcos, California. The project aims to quantify performance, aesthetics, and water savings of improved turf varieties and irrigation technologies under real-world conditions.
Methodology & Plan
Turfgrass Plots
Two 10,000-square-foot plots will be selected – one for Treatment and one for a Control area.
The Control Plot will maintain existing turfgrass. The Treatment Plot will use low-water-use turfgrass (TWCA-qualified) with either seed or sod, TBD.
Irrigation System
The City of San Marcos is already using WeatherTrak controllers and Hunter Industries irrigation heads.
The Control Plot will have no changes to its irrigation system scheduling, distribution uniformity, etc. The Treatment Plot will be optimized for efficiency and distribution uniformity. If new or additional heads are needed, Hunter Industries will donate the equipment.
Site Signage
HGSC will deploy 24” x 36” educational signage on each plot featuring:
- Project overview and purpose,
- San Marcos and stakeholder logos, and
- QR code linking to videos, methodology, project documentation and updates.
Video and Marketing Documentation
The San Diego County Water Authority will partner with Vallecitos, the local retail water supplier, to produce in-house video documentation and related marketing materials. Funding and support for additional marketing materials is anticipated from SDCWA using Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MET) funding.
NALP / Project Evergreen Collaboration
The National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) will engage Project Evergreen for additional site enhancements to benefit the San Marco Parks and Recreation Department. Options include either 1) a sports field renovation or 2) ornamental landscape renovation surrounding the demonstration plots.
