(A) EVAPOTRANSPIRATION (ET) - The approximate summation of water losses through evaporation from soil and transpiration from the plants during a specified period of time.
(B) EVAPOTRANSPIRATION (ET ) ADJUSTMENT FACTOR - A factor used to set an efficiency goal, that when applied to ETo adjusts for plant factor and irrigation efficiency, two of the major influences upon the amount of water that needs to be applied to a landscape.
(C) LANDSCAPE AREA (LA) - All planting areas, turf areas, and water features where new or altered landscaping is proposed as a part of a development proposal. The landscape area does not include footprints of buildings or structures, sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, decks, patios, gravel or stone walks, other pervious or non-pervious hardscapes, and other non-irrigated areas designated for non-development (e.g., open spaces and existing native vegetation).
(D) LANDSCAPE PLAN - Design plans with a planting plan, irrigation plan, and plans with supporting detail sheets to include notes and/or specifications.
(E) PLANT FACTOR - A factor that when multiplied by the ETo, estimates the amount of water used by a given plant species.
(F) REFERENCE EVAPOTRANSPIRATION (Eto) - The approximation of water loss from a field of 4-to-7-inch-tall cool season grass that is not water stressed.
(G) SPECIAL LANDSCAPE AREA (SLA) - An area of the landscape dedicated permanently and solely to edible plants, such as orchards and vegetable gardens and areas dedicated to active play where turf provides a playing surface, such as parks, sport fields, golf courses are subject to the MAWA with an ET adjustment factor not to exceed 1.0.
(H) TURF - A groundcover surface of mowed grass with an irrigation water need of greater than 30% of the ETo.
(I) WATER BUDGET CALCULATION - The maximum applied water allowance (MAWA) shall be calculated using this formula:
MAWA = (ETo) (0.62) [0.7 x LA + 0.3 x SLA]
MAWA = Maximum applied water allowance (maximum gallons per year available for the project)
ETo = Reference evapotranspiration (42.3) inches per year for Oxnard)
0.7 = ET adjustment factor (as designated by the State of California)
LA = Landscape area (square feet, including SLA)
0.62 = Conversion factor (to gallons)
SLA = Special landscape area (square feet)
0.3 = The additional ET adjustment factor for the special landscape area
(J) WATER WISE PLANTS - Those plants that are evaluated as needing "moderate" (40-60% of ETo), "low" (10-30% of ETo) and "very low" (< 10% of ETo) amounts of water as defined and listed by water use classifications of landscape species (WUCOLS) available at:
Department of Water Resources
Bulletins and Reports
P.O. Box 942836
Sacramento, California 94236-0001
(916) 653-1097
Other sources of water wise plant classifications may be used if approved by the city.
(K) WEATHER BASED IRRIGATION CONTROLLER - An irrigation controller that automatically adjusts the irrigation schedule based on changes in the weather.
(Ord. No. 2822)