Some 197,479 square feet of grass — almost five acres — have been converted to more water efficient and lower maintenance landscaping through the City of Manteca’s turf replacement incentive program.
It started in the middle of the last drought with 150,772 square feet of grass replaced in the first two years it was offered — 2015 and 2016 — as stricter water conversation measures went into effect. There have been 272 homeowners and commercial properties that have participated in the program.
With Manteca and the rest of the San Joaquin County as well as the Sacramento Valley now in exceptional drought — the worst category possible — as well as 85 percent of California in extreme drought, city officials are hoping more people will take advantage of the program.
The city’s lawn-to-garden rebate program is designed to remove high water consuming turf and replacing it…
