CALIFORNIA CRISIS - TO WET OR NOT TO WET

CALIFORNIANS GETTING MIXED MESSAGES

FROM STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

In reading up on my state's drought crisis, I came across an article in The Desert Sun which pointed out a real conundrum. Residents of the City of Glendora who are concerned about the drought and who choose to limit their water consumption may find themselves in hot water (pun intended) with the city.

The Golden State has approved mandatory outdoor water restrictions, with fines for excessive watering of lawns set at $500.00. But Glendora's city government is sending out notices of violation to residents who are not keeping their lawns green enough. The fine...yep, it's also $500.00...is payable to the city if the situation is not fixed within 60 days of receipt of the notice. Glendora's notice of violation says:

"Despite the water conservation efforts, we wish to remind you that limited watering is still required to keep landscaping looking healthy and green."

Complacency by cities and residents has prompted the state water board to require all water agencies to adopt emergency drought plans. The state has also approved $500.00 fines to be issued to water wasters. Felicia Marcus, the state board's chairwoman is quoted as saying:

"...a brown lawn should be a badge of honor because it shows you care about your community."

Neighbors are less forgiving of a brown lawn, however. Homeowners associations in California aren't allowed to punish residents who restrict outdoor watering because of an executive order signed by Governor Jerry Brown three months ago, but neighborhoods not governed by an association seem to be engaged in taking corrective actions when a neighbor shows their desire to conserve our most endangered resource.

The governor's office condemns cities that are threatening residents with fines for reducing outdoor watering, but has not acted to overrule cities, like Glendora, that are issuing notices of intent to fine residents who fail to green-up their lawns.

The California Association of Code Enforcement Officers has weighed in, as well. Al Baker, the association's president says:

"During a drought or non-drought, residents have the right to maintain their landscaping the way they want to, so long as it's aesthetically pleasing and it's not blighted."

The result of all this conflicting information is that Californians seem to be having trouble giving our water shortage the attention it deserves. 

ADDITION TO STORY:
Southern California finally got some rain, and in keeping with our all or nothing approach to weather, the rain came down in buckets. Our local mountains received as many as 4 1/2 inches of rain, causing flash floods. One man died when his vehicle was swept off the road by debris. Many cars were submerged by flood waters, and several people needed to be rescued from their cars and treated for hypothermia.

The rain we got will, of course, make it harder for us to believe in the need for drought measures despite our very serious drought conditions.