Our MWELO Soil Management Report provides a comprehensive physical and chemical analysis of the soil where your landscape will thrive. For new landscapes, the report offers pre- and post-plant recommendations with common fertilizer amendments, specified in pounds or cubic yards per 1000 square feet.
The reports we provide are designed to be user-friendly, making them accessible and understandable. Clients have the flexibility to choose between organic and conventional amendments. Our concise and easy-to-read amendment recommendations are available in electronic formats, simplifying the transfer of information to your design plans and specifications. This approach further contributes to the creation of a tailored plant selection, ensuring that the landscape is a perfect fit for the specific site and client requirements.
What is MWELO?
The Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) stands as a significant California state regulation, and its integration into the Building Code is aimed at preventing the wastage of water resources on irrigated landscapes. MWELO first started in 1993, emerging from the 1990 Water Conservation and Landscaping Act, and underwent revision in 2015 during the height of a severe drought period.
Essentially, MWELO provides a framework for the strategic planning, design, installation, maintenance, and overall management of water-efficient landscapes in the context of both new constructions and the rehabilitation of existing landscaping. The overarching aim of MWELO is to ensure that landscapes are designed in a manner that not only promotes water efficiency but also caters to soil health, stormwater management, and erosion control.
To determine which projects fall under the purview of MWELO, it is important to note that the regulation applies to landscaping endeavors exceeding 500 square feet that necessitate permits, plan checks, or design reviews. Furthermore, it extends to encompass rehabilitation projects involving existing landscapes with an overall area surpassing 2,500 square feet.
For the purpose of submitting necessary documentation alongside Building/Planning application packets, four copies of the subsequent reports/plans are required:
- Landscape Design Plan
- Irrigation Design Plan
- Grading Design Plan (as applicable)
- MWELO Project Information Form (only one copy needed; details available on the last page)
Learn more about MWELO from the DWR here or contact them:
Phone: (916) 715-7289
Email: WELO@water.ca.gov
§ 18A.44 MWELO Requirements. (A) Individuals such as property owners, their designated building or landscape designers, and those in need of permits, plan checks, or landscape design reviews from the local jurisdiction, are obligated to adhere to Sections 492.6(a)(3)(B), (C), (D), and (G) of the MWELO, inclusive of stipulations concerning the utilization of compost and mulch, as articulated within this § 18A.44. This obligation pertains to the construction of new projects (single-family, multi-family, public, institutional, or commercial) characterized by a landscape area exceeding 500 square feet, as well as the rehabilitation of pre-existing landscapes encompassing a total landscape area exceeding 2,500 square feet.
(B) Additionally, the compost and mulch usage requirements that are integral components of MWELO have been incorporated into this article. It is pertinent to acknowledge that other MWELO requirements remain in effect and can be accessed in 23 CCR, Division 2, Chapter 2.7.
(C) Individuals encompassing property owners, their designated building or landscape designers, who meet the stipulated threshold for MWELO compliance outlined in § 18A.44(A) above, are expected to undertake the following actions:
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Adhere to Sections 492.6(a)(3)(B), (C), (D), and (G) of the MWELO, which entails the submission of a comprehensive landscape design plan complete with a segment focused on soil preparation, mulching, and amendments (see our soil test). This submission must encompass the following components: (a) Incorporation of compost at a minimum rate of four cubic yards per 1,000 square feet of permeable area for landscape installations, with incorporation extending to a depth of six inches into the soil. It's noteworthy that soils exhibiting organic matter exceeding 6% within the uppermost six inches of soil are exempted from this compost addition and tilling requirement. (b) Application of a three-inch minimum layer of mulch on all exposed soil surfaces within planting areas, excluding instances involving turf areas, creeping or rooting groundcovers, or direct seeding applications where the use of mulch is impractical. A deviation from mulching, covering up to 5% of the landscape area, is permissible to provide habitat for beneficial insects and other wildlife. Inclusion of designated insect habitat within the landscape design plan is imperative. (c) Preference for the use of organic mulch materials derived from recycled or post-consumer sources over inorganic materials or virgin forest products, unless locally available recycled post-consumer organic products are unattainable. It's important to acknowledge that local fuel modification plan guidelines or other pertinent local ordinances might prohibit the use of organic mulches in specific instances.
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The provisions of MWELO compliance delineated in this section should not be construed as an exhaustive list of MWELO requirements. Thus, individuals qualifying for MWELO compliance pursuant to § 18A.44(A) are strongly advised to refer to the comprehensive MWELO document to ensure comprehensive adherence to all stipulations.
(D) In the event that the California Department of Water Resources, or an entity succeeding it, modifies 23 CCR, Division 2, Chapter 2.7, Sections 492.6(a)(3)(B), (C), (D), and (G) of the MWELO's September 15, 2015 requirements subsequent to the adoption of this article, in a manner necessitating jurisdictions to integrate the updated MWELO requirements into local ordinances, and if these revised requirements establish provisions more stringent than those outlined within this section, then the augmented requirements within 23 CCR, Division 2, Chapter 2.7 shall be enforced.
