From the Department of Water Resources:
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Department of Water Resources, pursuant to the authority vested in it by Government Code (GC) §65596.5, proposes amendments to the Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance. The proposed amendments are updates to the ordinance that simplify and clarify the requirements of the ordinance to facilitate local implementation and improve compliance. A written comment period commences on November 17, 2023, and closes on January 16, 2024. All inquiries should be directed to the contacts listed below.
MWELO provides a standard for the design, installation, management, and maintenance of landscapes to use water efficiently without water waste. The MWELO was developed by DWR in coordination with irrigation and landscape experts as a model for local agencies to enforce minimum standards in landscape design, construction, and management. The proposed MWELO amendments intend to simplify the MWELO by resolving ambiguities, providing clarity, and improving MWELO’s organization. The amendments will facilitate more consistent implementation of MWELO by making the ordinance easier to understand and follow. The amendments do not change existing requirements.
The Department of Water Resources (DWR), Water Use Efficiency Branch, will conduct a public hearing regarding the draft amendments to the Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) as part of the rulemaking process. The public hearing will include a presentation describing the proposed amendments to the regulation, followed by time for comments. At the public hearing, any person may present comments orally or in writing relevant to the proposed action described in this notice.
Public Hearing and Comment Period
DATE: Tuesday, January 9, 2024
TIME: 9:00 a.m.
LOCATION: California Natural Resources Headquarters Building (TBD)
Second Floor Conference Room 2-221
715 P Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
The hearing will be recorded and will be webcast for Remote Participation : MWELO Hearing January 9th, 2024
The Public comment period ends on Tuesday, January 16, 2024.
How to submit a public comment:
Send your comments to DWR, including your name, contact information, who you are representing, and reference the rulemaking topic prominently (e.g., in the subject line if submitting an email) (“MWELO update”). Additionally, the Department requests, but does not require, that persons who submit written comments reference the draft MWELO amendments (Section numbers) in their comments to facilitate review.
Comments can be submitted by:
- MWELO Public Comment Form
- Email: WELO@water.ca.gov
- Regular Mail: Department of Water Resources; Attn: MWELO Update; Water Use Efficiency Branch; P.O. Box 942836-0001; Sacramento, CA 94236-0001
Written comments must be received by 5:00PM Tuesday, January 16, 2024.
The Department requests, but does not require, that written and email statements on this item be filed at least 10 days prior to the public hearing so that the Department has time to consider each comment. The Department encourages members of the public to bring to the attention of staff, in advance of the hearing, any suggestions for modification of the proposed regulatory action.
Documents:
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
Notice Link 11/17/2023
Initial Statement of Reasons (ISOR)
ISOR Link 11/17/2023
Proposed Text of Regulation (MWELO Text)
Changes to the text within MWELO use the following nomenclature:
Existing Text
New Text
Deleted Text
See underlined and strikeout text starting with Section 490. The document shows some existing regulatory language that is being moved (strikeout) without changes to a new location (underlined) for reorganization and simplification. These moves are explained in the ISOR. New text is underlined and deleted text is in strikeout as required by the Office of Administrative Law.
MWELO Text Link 11/17/2023
Contacts:
Shem Stygar
Senior Water Resources Engineer
Water Use Efficiency Branch
Shem.Stygar@water.ca.gov
Julie Saare-Edmonds
Senior Environmental Scientist
Water Use Efficiency Branch
Julie.Saare-Edmonds@water.ca.gov
