REMINDER/Recapturing Southern California's Native Beauty: Metropolitan Begins Transforming Public Spaces into Heritage Landscapes.

News Editors/Business Editors

REMINDER...Wednesday (May 21)

--(BUSINESS WIRE)

Rene Russo Joins Metropolitan in Awarding $500,000 to Cities

Throughout the Region for Creation of Native, California-Friendly

Landscapes

WHAT:   Metropolitan Water District awards a total of nearly
        $500,000 to 11 cities and public agencies for proposed
        heritage landscapes to be created in parks and on public land
        in areas from Ventura to San Diego counties. Metropolitan's
        City Makeover program is part of a long-term effort to make
        Southern California look like Southern California again.

WHEN:   11 a.m. Wednesday, May 21; lunch provided at noon.

WHERE:  Metropolitan Water District courtyard, 700 N. Alameda St.,
        adjacent to Union Station in downtown Los Angeles (Thomas
        Guide, page 634, G-3); media parking validated in Union
        Station lot

WHO:    Actress and native plant enthusiast Rene Russo; Phillip J.
        Pace, chairman of Metropolitan's board of directors; local
        elected officials; representatives from public agencies and
        community organizations

VISUALS:

        Rene Russo joins officials in tearing out non-native plants
        and replacing with native plants in MWD courtyard; b-roll
        available of winning makeover sites, interview with Russo

BACKGROUND:

        The City Makeover program is part of Metropolitan's
        multi-faceted $2.4 million campaign to encourage outdoor water
        conservation and promote the use of native and
        drought-tolerant plants. The district's new campaign expands
        the focus of water conservation from inside the home to
        outside, where 30 to 70 percent of residential water is used.