Cash For Grass Funding Has Dried Up

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Example of drought-resistant landscaping.

The popular Los Angeles County program “Cash for Grass” has run out of funding, joining the recent shutdown of other nearby districts’ programs.

“We in District 29 are looking for an alternative funding source,” said L.A. County Department of Public Works spokesperson Kerjon Lee.

The neighboring Las Virgenes Municipal Water District (LVMWD), which services the cities of Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Hidden Hills, Westlake Village and surrounding unincorporated areas, is ending its turf removal rebate program and will no longer be accepting new applications as of July 9, according to Tiffany Wright of LVMWD.

“Turf removal incentives are no longer being offered district-wide in Metropolitan’s service area because funding has been exhausted,” according to the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s website.

Currently, Metropolitan funding is fully reserved, and turf removal reservations will only be available to areas where local agencies are providing their own funding.

“No additional funds are currently available from Metropolitan,” General Manager of Metropolitan Water District of Southern California Jeffrey Kightlinger wrote in a statement released July 8.

If customers with current reservations decide not to complete their projects, some turf removal funds may become available.

“To ensure that these funds are available to customers interested in turf removal, the website will allow some customers to be placed on a waiting list,” explained Kightlinger.

The waiting list of $25 million worth of applications will be created on a first come, first served basis, and there is no guarantee that customers on the waitlist will receive funds.