How is the drought ? How are water restrictions doing ?

[steve2470]

All the best to California ! Hope the drought ends ASAP.

Steve

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. Well, I'll tell you, my dear steve2470...

The drought is nearly invisible, unless you read the papers and see the photos of the nearly empty lakes and etc.

My neighbors are still watering their lawn till the water flows over the sidewalk and down the hill.

The drought won't be over soon, unfortunately. We are predicted to have a weak El Nino condition this coming winter, which means less rain and snow. The snow is esp. critical, since that is where most of our water comes from.

Thank you for your good wishes!

[steve2470]

2. I'm guessing the water restrictions aren't being enforced ?

Your anecdote gave me that idea.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. I think they aren't being implemented yet.

And some towns are apparently still going after folks who are letting their lawns die. Idiots. (The towns are, I mean.)

[steve2470]

4. California drought: One water cop patrols all of Los Angeles

A day after state water regulators voted to get tougher on water restrictions, the Los Angeles water police Wednesday were out in force - that being one full-time water cop.

Until he gets three more water enforcement deputies next month, Rick Silva has the herculean task of patrolling 500 square miles of illegally watered lawns, driveways and restaurant water glasses by himself.

"Only full-time water cop, soon to change," said Silva, supervisor of the LADWP's Water Conservation Response Unit, after a one-man hunt for water scofflaws on an afternoon near downtown. "Everything has changed with the drought.

"We're upping our enforcement. We're getting more staff. And we're going to start issuing more tickets.

http://www.mercurynews.com/drought/ci_26174162/california-drought-one-water-cop-patrols-all-los

There's definitely part of the problem.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

6. Oh gawd, I had no idea. I'm not surprised, though.

Even three more people won't be enough for a city the size of LA.

[SunSeeker]

5. Well, most aren't doing anything, except for folks like this couple....

who stopped watering their lawn and then got a threatening letter from their local city rules enforcement:

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/despite-drought-california-couple-in-troube-for-not-watering-lawn/



So I guess the lesson is don't go overboard. Check your sprinklers so that they're not watering sidewalks or letting water run into the gutter. But don't turn them off altogether if you live in places like Glendora. Try switching over to a water free "lawn" like a rock garden or cactus garden...something more decorative than dead grass and dirt.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

7. This scenario was what I had in mind in my post above.

And it is possible to install drip irrigation under lawns. The lawn stays green with a fraction of the water.

[enlightenment]

10. Something else I've been reading about lately -

and I don't know enough about it to know if it's viable, etc - is zeolite. A mineral that can absorb up to 60 times it's weight in moisture, so very useful as a soil amendment. Presumably.

I thought I'd try adding some to my potted plants and see if it helps hold moisture in our 110 degree temps.

[JayhawkSD]

11. It has been way over-hyped

It has made tons of money for the people selling it, and has been of benefit to absolutely no one else. As a landscaper, I had several customers insist I install it. and it resulted in a lot of dead plants.

[enlightenment]

13. Ah - I wondered.

Thanks for the "on the ground" (as it were!) input. Maybe I'll try it for kitty litter, instead . . . I have no trouble killing off my plants without additional assistance.

[antiquie]

8. Our North O.C. water district

has been under reduction and use limitations for years. They never rescind, it seems.

I found these stories interesting and relevant. There are charts and stuff on the second site.
'Dressed' Laser Aimed at Clouds May be Key to Inducing Rain, Lightning
California entrepreneurs try to design their way out of the drought

[NYC_SKP]

9. Drought or no, we've had a water crisis since I was born. I water 1/2 acre just one minute daily.

I've let the lawn and everything else go and have a simple one faucet battery operated timer take care of my tomatoes, one loquat tree, and a square meter of succulents.

Everything else is on it's own. AND, I live on a river, I could tap that but I don't want to deal with it.

This is my primary residence, I just bought another that I'm renting in a community where a water meter costs $40,000.

I am against gratuitous water use, against using drinking water to clean dog poop of sidewalks or washing one's SUV.

Also, against golf courses and the fact that the Colorado River doesn't meet the ocean anymore.

[JayhawkSD]

12. Lake Hodges has turned into a handsome tree farm

In northern San Diego County, it is at 3% of its capacity. Several nice freeway bridges crossing a valley full of eight foot high trees.

[pinto]

14. Our county is doing OK with water supply - for now. We invested in the 80's to increase

local water distribution, utilize resources better and use treated waste water for public green spaces. And there's been an ongoing conservation message from city, county and water department officials. The water board estimates we are good through 2022. As always, a tiered use restriction plan is in place if needed.

[yuiyoshida]

15. I had head on the Radio that starting next month in Augest

There will be a 500 dollar fine imposed for wasting water. I certainly will not be spending a long time in the shower, that's for sure.

[steve2470]

16. 100% of California is in drought, as shown by this map

http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/Home/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?CA


The outlook through 10-31-2014 is not good:



http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/expert_assessment/sdo_summary.html

Sorry to bring you bad news, California.

[antiquie]

17. We are tough, experienced water savers,

'though I haven't had the invitations to shower with a friend that used to come my way.

Good info, thank you.