$400,000 federal grant to expand Indio Water Authority’s turf removal program in limbo

The Indio Water Authority is pursuing a $400,000 federal grant that would significantly expand its turf replacement program, which has already helped residents remove water-intensive grass lawns and replace them with drought-resistant landscaping.

Reymundo Trejo, general manager of the Indio Water Authority, told the City Council Wednesday that the agency has already been awarded the grant from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

“But since the new administration, [the funding] is hung up with DOGE [The Department of Government Efficiency],” Trejo said. The Indio Water Authority and other regional water agencies are all awaiting approval, Trejo said.

The water authority currently operates a traditional rebate program with $922,000 in state funding, of which $484,000 has been spent to date reimbursing residents who remove turf and submit receipts for the work.

The agency recently completed a $200,000 pilot program targeting disadvantaged communities along Miles Avenue, where crews removed turf from 40 residential properties and installed water-efficient landscaping and smart irrigation systems. The project required door-to-door outreach to gain residents’ permission before workers could access their water systems.

“We knocked on the doors, and we have a Spanish and English version of a flyer to describe the program and the benefits,” Trejo said. “We have to get the residents’ buy-in because we do have to tap into their system.”

The Miles Avenue project demonstrates continuity along the corridor leading to downtown Indio and serves as a model for potential expansion under the federal grant program. Trejo said the approach maximized the number of participating residents rather than focusing on just a few larger properties.

The water authority said it is positioning itself competitively by demonstrating successful completion of the state-funded disadvantaged communities program and maintaining contracts ready for immediate implementation.

Council members praised the program’s visible results along Miles Avenue and councilmember Benjamin Guitron said he has heard from residents that were happy with the program and the outreach.

The turf removal programs support water conservation efforts in the desert region while helping residents reduce monthly water bills. The initiatives use a combination of rebates for do-it-yourself projects and direct installation for targeted communities.

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