California is preparing for a new wave of investment in stormwater infrastructure, water quality and climate-resilient landscapes.
Through the Proposition 4 Storm Water Grant Program, the state has authorized $110 million in general obligation bond funding for multi-benefit urban stormwater management projects. Eligible applicants include public and local agencies, special districts, nonprofit organizations, public utilities, tribes and other qualifying entities.
For communities throughout San Diego County, this funding represents more than an opportunity to manage runoff. It can help agencies rethink stormwater as a resource while creating greener, healthier and more resilient public spaces.
For Landscape Development, Inc. (LDI), these types of projects closely align with the work our teams perform throughout Southern California: landscape construction, irrigation, planting, site improvements and the implementation of complex landscape systems.
Turning Stormwater Into a Community Resource
Traditional stormwater infrastructure has often focused on moving runoff away from developed areas as quickly as possible. Today’s green infrastructure strategies can take a different approach.
Stormwater and dry-weather runoff can be captured, treated, infiltrated or reused through systems incorporated directly into the landscape.
The State Water Board’s Storm Water Grant Program specifically emphasizes projects that improve water quality while providing multiple benefits. Its broader vision includes groundwater recharge, beneficial reuse, watershed health, habitat, open space and community beautification.
That can translate into projects incorporating:
- Bioswales and vegetated swales
- Bioretention areas and rain gardens
- Stormwater capture and infiltration systems
- Green streets and landscaped parkways
- Permeable and low-impact development areas
- Native and climate-appropriate planting
- Irrigation and water-management improvements
- Habitat and watershed restoration
- Groundwater recharge strategies
- Parks, campuses and public spaces designed to provide both environmental and community benefits
For agencies pursuing funding, the opportunity is to create infrastructure that performs several functions at once rather than treating landscaping, stormwater management and public space as separate systems.
Why Green Infrastructure Matters in San Diego
San Diego County’s climate makes thoughtful stormwater management particularly important. Long periods of dry weather can be interrupted by storms that generate significant runoff across streets, parking areas and developed properties.
Green infrastructure can help slow and manage that runoff while integrating water-quality improvements into the surrounding landscape.
San Diego already has examples of this approach. State records include projects involving low-impact development in the Mission Bay watershed, while current regional projects include storm drain replacement combined with new green infrastructure improvements.
Proposition 4 could help expand this type of investment throughout the region.
From Bioswale Design to Landscape Construction
Successful stormwater landscapes require more than installing plants around a drainage area.
The landscape must work as part of the stormwater system.
Grading, soil conditions, plant selection, irrigation, drainage, constructability and long-term maintenance all influence how the finished project performs. Poor coordination between these elements can undermine both the appearance and functionality of the system.
That makes early collaboration between engineers, landscape architects, public agencies and experienced landscape contractors especially valuable.
Landscape Development, Inc. brings decades of Southern California landscape construction experience to projects where landscape systems must perform as well as they look.
Our capabilities can support elements such as site preparation, fine grading, drainage coordination, soil preparation, irrigation, planting, landscape establishment and construction of complex landscape improvements.
Designing for Long-Term Performance
Construction is only one part of a successful green infrastructure project.
Plant material must be selected for the site’s environmental conditions and expected hydrology. Irrigation systems must support establishment without undermining water-conservation objectives. Soil must promote healthy plant development while meeting the functional requirements of the stormwater system.
Perhaps most importantly, the landscape needs to remain maintainable after construction.
These considerations are especially important for bioswales and bioretention systems, where landscape architecture and stormwater engineering intersect.
Working with experienced landscape professionals during planning and design can help agencies identify potential constructability and maintenance concerns before they become costly field issues.
Proposition 4 Encourages Multi-Benefit Projects
One of the most important aspects of the Proposition 4 program is its focus on multi-benefit stormwater management.
A well-planned project may do much more than capture runoff. Depending on the site and design, improvements may contribute to water quality, groundwater recharge, habitat, urban greening, heat reduction, recreational spaces and neighborhood beautification.
That philosophy closely mirrors the State Water Board’s goal of treating stormwater as a resource rather than simply a waste stream.
For cities, school districts, campuses, parks, public agencies and other organizations in San Diego County, this creates an opportunity to think more broadly about upcoming capital improvement projects.
A drainage improvement may also become a landscape improvement.
A streetscape project may incorporate bioretention.
A park renovation may provide stormwater capture and habitat.
A campus improvement may combine water management, shade, planting and usable outdoor space.
The strongest projects can solve multiple challenges with one coordinated investment.
Planning Ahead for Proposition 4 Stormwater Projects
Organizations considering Proposition 4-funded projects should begin evaluating potential sites and project concepts before funding opportunities move further into implementation.
Stormwater and dry-weather runoff capture projects seeking bond funding may also be subject to California’s Storm Water Resource Plan requirements. Under SB 985, qualifying projects generally must be included in an appropriate Storm Water Resource Plan as a condition of receiving funding from voter-approved bonds after January 2014.
Early planning can help project teams evaluate feasibility, define potential benefits, establish budgets and coordinate landscape, civil and stormwater requirements.
It can also provide an opportunity to consider constructability before final plans reach the bidding stage.
Landscape Construction Expertise for San Diego County
Landscape Development, Inc. serves the San Diego County market from our Oceanside location, supporting landscape construction projects throughout the region.
As California continues investing in water conservation, stormwater management and resilient infrastructure, LDI is positioned to work alongside developers, general contractors, municipalities, public agencies and design teams to turn ambitious plans into buildable landscapes.
From bioswales and bioretention areas to irrigation, planting and large-scale landscape improvements, our goal is to deliver landscapes that perform for the long term while supporting the needs of the communities they serve.
Because when green infrastructure is thoughtfully designed and properly constructed, stormwater management can become more than infrastructure. It can become an asset to the entire community.
Planning a stormwater, green infrastructure or public landscape project in San Diego County? Connect with Landscape Development, Inc. to discuss landscape construction, constructability and implementation strategies for your upcoming project.
For current information about Proposition 4, eligibility and program guidelines, visit the California State Water Resources Control Board Proposition 4 Storm Water Grant Program.
