Our History
Our History
The Water Conservation Garden is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization located in El Cajon on the campus of Cuyamaca College. The Helix and Otay Water Districts conceived the idea of The Water Conservation Garden as a response to the drought in the early 1990’s. The water districts joined with Cuyamaca College to create a Joint Powers Authority (JPA) that resulted in the creation of The Water Conservation Garden. Other organizations (Sweetwater, San Diego County, and City of San Diego) joined the JPA in subsequent years. In January 2011, the governance of The Garden was shifted from the JPA to an independent non-profit Board of Directors.
In May 1999, The Water Conservation Garden opened with a 4.5 acre plot on the Cuyamaca College campus. Thanks to an additional land donation by the college, The Water Conservation Garden has grown to 6 acres.
Nationally known for leadership in water conservation, The Garden has won recognition from the American Public Gardens Association as one of the eight top gardens in the United States for its community education programs.
In 2013, The Water Conservation Garden’s nationally recognized Ms. Smarty-Plants™ education program won the Governor of California’s Environmental Leadership Award. We were also named “Best Garden/Nursery” by residents through the East County Californian and “Best Educational Facility” by the San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce.
