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SAC Sewer presents pilot pollinator garden at Hovnanian Drive pump station
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Summary
Staff presented a pilot pollinator garden at the Hovnanian Drive pump station in Natomas, citing water savings, native plants and early positive observations; staff said the sign will be installed on the 20th and maintenance is guaranteed through June 2026 before routine landscaper upkeep.
Carolyn Balazs, environmental sustainability coordinator for the Sacramento Area Sewer District, presented a pilot pollinator project at the Hovnanian Drive pump station in Natomas during the boardmeeting on Nov. 12.
Balazs said the project replaces high-water landscaping with drought-tolerant California natives and is organized into four planting zones: a habitat hedgerow for shelter, a nectar bank of perennial flowers, oil-and-resin resources used by native ground-nesting bees, and a grassland buffer that provides cover. Plants named during the presentation include California poppy, Foothill penstemon, Cleveland sage and deer grass. She showed site photos taken 40 and 120 days after installation (the pilot was installed in June) and reported staff observations of increasing plant maturity and pollinator visits.
Balazs said the district will install a 24-by-32-inch metal sign that explains the plant zones and includes a QR code linking to a district web page with species lists and project information; the sign installation is scheduled for the 20th. To evaluate success, staff will monitor plant health, the abundance and diversity of pollinators observed on site, which plants attract pollinators most, and public interest measured by QR-code visits. The site selection was partly driven by available irrigation and proximity to Blackbird Park and a community garden; staff also consulted with the Four Seasons at Westshore HOA regarding water use and signage.
Directors asked about pollinator behavior and maintenance. Balazs said many target species are native solitary bees that may nest in nearby bare ground or forage at adjacent gardens and parks. In response to concerns about long-term upkeep, she said the installing landscaper provides an initial maintenance period that lasts through June 2026; after that, the site will be on the district landscapermaintenance list and staff will continue visits and adaptive management (replacing failed plants, adjusting densities and plant choices as needed).
Chair Krupinski Costa suggested Director Kaplan help monitor the pilot; Kaplan agreed. Balazs said the early observations are promising and staff are evaluating other potential SAC Sewer sites for future pilots.
The presentation concluded with board appreciation and no formal vote attached to the project during the Nov. 12 meeting.
