Why Is SoCal Wasting Our Water?
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
March 3rd, 2010
According to a recent AP article, the City of Orange in Southern California is pursuing legal action against a city resident for replacing his lawn with drought-tolerant plants. City code requires 40% of the yard be covered with live plants.
Quan Ha replaced his grass with wood chips in 2008. He and his wife contend they are saving hundreds of thousands of gallons of water by replacing their lawn. They also point out other city residents are being fined for over-watering their lawns. The Has have pleaded not guilty.
This should be a very interesting court case. Many Redding subdivisions have similar requirements but the city does not impose or enforce these rules. Developers, intent on controlling the curb appeal of their developments, place landscaping requirements in the C,C&R’s (Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions).
The West Redding sudivision where I live specifies every front yard must have a minimum of 1000 square feet of grass. Many of my neighbors have removed their lawns in favor of bark, shrubs and/or rocks. My home has never had a blade of grass planted since it was built 24 years ago. Imagine all the water, fertilizer, weed killer and air pollution from mowers and edgers not wasted maintaining a patch of green. Thankfully, nobody has forced the issue for my neighbors or myself to comply with the C,C&R’s.
California should consider sweeping legislation banning any mandates for lawn or plant cover installation for any homes. Replace these laws with requirements for drought tolerant xeric plants adapted to the local climate. This would go a long way toward reaching our goals of water conservation, reducing air and water pollution and freeing up finite water supplies to irrigate farmland in the Central Valley where half of this nation’s produce is grown.
In stark contrast to the City of Orange, Roseville started a cash for grass program a couple years back that paid homeowners $1 for every square foot of lawn replaced with drought tolerant plants. This is the direction the entire state should go unless those opposed to dam building or fish preservation want to abandon their agendas so Californians can continue to water their thirsty lawns.
Is it asking too much of our neighbors to the south to use water imported from the Northstate prudently? Does it make sense to deny farmers water so the LA basin can look green? I think not!
530-224-6767 or 530-941-7492
BRAD GARBUTT
REALTOR/BROKER ASSOCIATE
REAL LIVING REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS
CORNER OF COURT AND PLACER IN REDDING
MORE THAN 25 YEARS LOCAL REAL ESTATE EXPERIENCE
