After growing tired of looking at her thirsty backyard lawn languishing during the prolonged drought of 2021, Marty Blum of San Anselmo decided it was time to ditch the grass.

Blum applied for the Marin Municipal Water District’s cash-for-grass program, which offers rebates to customers for qualifying projects that install low-water-use gardens in place of lawns. Blum traded her 200-square-foot lawn for a pollinator garden.

Since the program launched in 2021, more than 12.7 acres of lawn have been replaced through 631 projects, including Blum’s. That saves about 235 acre-feet of water a year, according to estimates by the Marin Municipal Water District.

With a goal of replacing 170,000 square feet of grass this year, the district has increased its rebates to draw new applicants. Rebates have increased 68 cents to $2.18 per square foot of lawn replaced for the base-level incentive, and to $3.68 for “best practices” sustainable landscapes. Thanks to a boost in funding, residents can also earn an extra $1 bonus rebate per square foot for qualifying rain garden installations.

Homeowner reimbursements will be capped at 1,000 square feet, and business owners capped at 5,000 square feet.

The goal of the program is to help customers reduce water use and contribute to the district’s water resiliency, said Adriane Mertens, spokesperson for the district.

“We know that lawns typically need four times more water than climate-appropriate shrubs and perennials, which makes converting lawns to sustainable landscapes one of the best ways to use water more efficiently,” Mertens said. “Guided by its ‘water efficiency master plan’ developed in 2024, the district is focused on prioritizing program offerings that have demonstrated success and show potential for additional savings.”

The program is funded through a few sources, including a $685,000 grant from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. The water district is providing a $376,750 match.

Another $24,466 was provided by the Marin County Storm Water Pollution Prevention Program. The contribution is what’s allowing the district to offer the bonus $1 rebate for rain garden installments. The incentive will be offered until June 30 or while funds last. Depending on customer participation, it might be extended, Mertens said.

Replacing lawn with artificial turf does not qualify for the program, Mertens said.

The district has curated a list of landscaping resources at marinwater.org/WaterSmartGardening. Customers can get gardening inspiration, irrigation tips and tools, information on “water smart” plants and grey water and rainwater harvesting. The site also provides a database of qualified landscapers and other recommendations.

The district has another 747 project applicants who have been approved and are replacing their lawns, Mertens said.

Jim Johnstone, a Corte Madera resident, is among them. Johnstone has been approved to replace his 1,000-square-foot front lawn with a rain garden, a project that qualifies for the highest incentive of $4.68 per square foot.

“Having a drought and pouring water on a lawn doesn’t make a lot of sense,” Johnstone said. “Having a lawn was much nicer when we had kids running around, but they’re grown and moved out. And what we want to do is pretty much what the district is asking for.”

While Blum’s project was completed before the new incentive began, she is glad she did it and encourages others to participate.

“It’s really achievable, even if you don’t consider yourself a gardener,” Blum said. “The water district provides so much help and creating a garden becomes a really terrific journey.”

With her lawn, her household used 340 to 370 gallons of water a day in July. In May, 200 to 240 gallons were used on a typical day, she said. That has been reduced to 150 to 200 gallons a day in the summer months, and about 100 to 145 gallons a day in the spring, she said.

The best part, Blum said, is she now has a home garden full of pollinators, including milkweed, salvias, butterfly bush, monkey flower and more.

“It’s like a sandbox where you can continue to play,” Blum said. “It’s really enriched my life.”

More information on the program is at marinwater.org/Cash4Grass.