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Brown's Action Draws Excitement, Disdain At Street Level

Wednesday, April 1, 2015 | Sacramento, CA
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Landsystems Landscapes / Flickr

Drought tolerant landscaping may become the norm under the governors new executive order.

Landsystems Landscapes / Flickr

By Jeffrey Hess, Valley Public Radio 

Among other actions, Governor Brown’s executive order mandates the replacement of 50 million square feet of lawn around the state with drought-tolerant landscaping.

That’s a fantastic idea according to Fresno based urban gardening expert Kiel Schmidt:

“We need to get toward a perspective that a drought tolerant landscape is the ideal and that is what everyone should be envious over. I’ve got the most beautiful front yard, but I use no water.” 

The idea also excites Richell Swallow of Fresno, who says she’s already stopped watering her lawn and is ready for the next step.

“That is what we are looking into eventually, is just maybe – I’m not sure what we would put in. I don’t want to put in that Synlawn because it doesn’t last very long, that fake grass, whatever you want to call it. So I don’t know what we would put in, in place of it. But we are looking into other options now.” 

But not everyone likes the idea. John Trotter says there are no level of incentives that lead him to replace his Fresno yard:

“No, it’s still ugly. There are incentives in the south. So many dollars per square foot, but it still wouldn’t be worth it to make our house ugly.”

Brown also plans to offer rebates for the purchase of water-efficient appliances, and he wants golf courses, cemeteries and other large landscaped areas to reduce their water usage.


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    More about drought

  • State Of Drought

    Reservoir levels are at historic lows, municipalities are ordering mandatory conservation and farmers are bracing for water shortages. CapRadio is following how Californians are being impacted by the drought.

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    Reflections On California's Unprecedented Water Reductions

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    On Insight, we have perspective on the shallow spring snowpack and Gov. Brown’s mandatory water restrictions from Leo McElroy who covered Gov. Brown’s first battle with drought back in the 1970’s.
  • Farmers, Water Agencies React To Brown's Water Order

    Wednesday, April 1, 2015
    The governor’s executive order includes stricter reporting requirements for agricultural water users – but no mandatory restrictions, unlike urban areas. To farmers, that’s enough.
  • Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio

    New California Water Reductions Don't Apply to Farmers

    Wednesday, April 1, 2015
    California’s cities are subject to 25 percent water reductions under Governor Jerry Brown’s executive order; but those water restrictions don't apply to the biggest users of water.
  • Jae C. Hong / AP

    Brown Issues Mandatory Water Conservation Order For California

    Wednesday, April 1, 2015
    UPDATED: For the first time ever, a governor of California is imposing mandatory water restrictions. Gov. Jerry Brown issued an executive order Wednesday that mandates a 25 percent cut in urban water use from now through next February.

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