By Tom Smith
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It looks like all California homeowners will be coping with drought emergency regulations that include watering just two days a week. Each city in Stanislaus County will have to reduce water use by at least 28 percent.
These are tall orders. Fines for violators seem to be increasing daily as this drought drags on. We should see lawns going brown this summer.
But what happens after this drought ends? It could be that living with less water has become a permanent reality. For our county, consider groundwater sustainability, increased unimpaired flows in our rivers and climate-change scenarios of higher temperatures and less rainfall.
If we look beyond the current drought, life may not go back to “normal” in our urban landscapes. Since the state views watering outdoor ornamental landscape to be the least essential use of urban water, expect more regulations that drive all Californians toward drought tolerant-landscaping – namely, xeriscaping. We are not ready for that.
The state needs to enable xeriscape conversion incentives of a meaningful magnitude. Its Turf Replacement Initiative covers only about 0.1 percent of the homes in the state. This is not even a drop in the bucket. Xeriscaping know-how and materials need to be put into the hands of homeowners and landscaping professionals.
Modesto Junior College, which does not offer courses in xeriscaping, can help in a big way, as can the UC Cooperative Extension.
Our county, cities and local water agencies can amplify the message to homeowners. Of course, nurseries need to stock a much broader selection of water-miserly plants.
The good news is that converting to xeriscape will benefit the local economy, enhance home values and get homeowners back into their gardens – which are all good for our community!
To view examples of the “new normal” of xeriscaping, surf to the Idea Gallery at www.saveourwater.org.
Smith, an Oakdale resident, leads grape-growing, winemaking, and related research at E.&J. Gallo Winery.
Give reform a chance to work
