Ocean Friendly Gardens
What does ocean friendly mean?
Ocean friendly gardens are native and/or drought tolerant landscapes which have the capacity to capture, infiltrate, and utilize runoff from storm events. Ocean friendly gardens prevent contaminated water from reaching our waterways and, eventually, the ocean. The ocean friendly approach revolves around the principles of CPR – conservation, permeability, and retention – which all aim to conserve water while still creating aesthetically pleasing gardens.
West Basin Ocean Friendly Gardens
Drip irrigation and smart irrigation controller provide precise water needs to plants. This reduces water use and runoff as compared to traditional sprinkler irrigation.
- LOCATION: Carson, CA
- YEAR PLANTED: 2009
- IRRIGATION: Drip & Smart
- SQUARE FEET: 4,400
Decomposed granite provides pathway through garden and reduces rain water runoff by infiltration ground.
- LOCATION: Inglewood, CA
- YEAR PLANTED: 2009
- YEAR PLANTED: 2011
- IRRIGATION: Ground Infiltration
- SQUARE FEET: 12,000
A footbridge provides a walkway over swale. A gabion wall provides extra seating.
- LOCATION: Malibu, CA
- YEAR PLANTED: 2012
- IRRIGATION: Swale
- SQUARE FEET: 5,032
Rainwater downspouts from building directed into garden swale for natural irrigation.
- LOCATION: Carson, CA
- YEAR PLANTED: 2014
- IRRIGATION: Downspout & Smart
- SQUARE FEET: 6,500
Decomposed granite pathway allows students to walk to classes while providing a permeable surface for rainwater. Rainwater downspouts from building directed into garden swale for natural irrigation.
- LOCATION: Palos Verdes Estates, CA
- YEAR PLANTED: 2014
- IRRIGATION: Downspout & Smart
- SQUARE FEET: 33,00
Gravel pathway captures rainwater from landscape on upper garden into underground drainage cells.
- LOCATION: Hermosa Beach, CA
- YEAR PLANTED: 2014
- IRRIGATION: Gravel & Cells
- SQUARE FEET: 1,200
Gravel pathway captures rainwater from building downspout into underground drainage cells. Brochure located here.
- LOCATION: El Segundo, CA
- YEAR PLANTED: 2009
- IRRIGATION: Downspout & Cells
- SQUARE FEET: 1,200
Permeable pathway captures rainwater for infiltration. There are six benches for seating.
- LOCATION: Carson, CA
- YEAR PLANTED: 2013
- IRRIGATION: Permeable Pavers
- SQUARE FEET: 2,300
Boulders rip rap, and broken concrete provide stability to sloping hillside. Drought-tolerant plants were selected based on coastal conditions.
- LOCATION: Manhattan Beach, CA
- YEAR PLANTED: 2013
- IRRIGATION: Drip & Smart
- SQUARE FEET: 2,375
Several swales capture rainwater off of steep, sloping roof. Concrete pathways invite visitors into the garden.
- LOCATION: Csulver City, CA
- YEAR PLANTED: 2014
- IRRIGATION: Drip & Smart
- SQUARE FEET: 2,332
Rainwater downspout from building directed into garden swale for natural irrigation.
- LOCATION: Hawthorne, CA
- YEAR PLANTED: 2014
- IRRIGATION: Downspout & Swale
- SQUARE FEET: 2,000
Rainwater downspouts on building are directed into garden for natural irrigation.
- LOCATION: Gardena, CA
- YEAR PLANTED: 2015
- IRRIGATION: Downspout
- SQUARE FEET: 1,200
| West Basin has partnered with the Surfrider Foundation to help implement this project. The Surfrider Foundation introduced the "Ocean Friendly" idea, which is the concept of using plants that are native to the Santa Monica Bay coastal region for residential and other landscaped areas. To learn more about the Ocean Friendly Program, contact the Program Manager, Gus Meza at gusm@westbasin.org. | 
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