Sanchez Adobe Gets a "California Friendly" Makeover

Central Basin partners with a second city to construct a garden that highlights beautiful drought tolerant plants

COMMERCE, Calif., Nov. 18, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Central Basin Municipal Water District announced today that it has broken ground on a second demonstration garden of California native and drought tolerant plants. The development of the garden has begun at the famed Sanchez Adobe in the City of Montebello, where 5,000 square feet of grass is being torn out and replaced with plants that use significantly less water.

"Central Basin is proud to be partnering with the City of Montebello on this project," said Central Basin Board President Ed Vasquez, who represents Division I, which includes the City of Montebello. "This makeover will provide an opportunity for families to enjoy the beauty of California Friendly plants and provide significant water savings to the Sanchez Adobe.

The garden is being funded by a grant that Central Basin was awarded by the Department of Water Resources (DWR) to construct  five demonstration gardens.  The grant provides a base amount of $10,000 for each of the gardens. In addition to the garden at the Sanchez Adobe, construction is well underway at South Gate Park in the City of South Gate. The construction of similar gardens will begin soon in the nearby cities of Cerritos, Cudahy and Whittier. All of the gardens are expected to be completed by the end of the year.

In addition to the $10,000 grant from Central Basin, Montebello will also receive a $5,000 grant from the San Gabriel Valley Water Company, which serves the city. An additional $5,000 may also be received from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, which reimburses the removal of turf at $1 per square foot.

Central Basin is a public agency that wholesales imported water to cities, mutual water companies, investor-owned utilities and private companies in southeast Los Angeles County, serving a population of more than 2 million. In addition, Central Basin provides the region with recycled water for municipal, commercial and industrial uses. Formed in 1952, Central Basin is committed to ensuring a safe and reliable water supply for the region. For more information please visit www.centralbasin.org.

Contact: Joseph Legaspi
Phone: 323.201.5542

SOURCE Central Basin Municipal Water District