As the drought continues, Californians are stepping up to conserve water, and collectively exceeded Gov. Brown’s 25 percent reduction mandate in June 2015. Nonetheless, water-intensive lawns and other hallmarks of an English garden-style landscape still remain a huge draw on our state’s dwindling water supply.
Outdoor watering accounts for about half of residential water use in urban areas, and up to 80 percent in hot, dry inland areas. Reducing outdoor water use is a key focus of state conservation enforcement efforts, particularly in areas of the state that failed to meet the emergency water conservation mandate. Research from the Pacific Institute suggests that Californians could reduce outdoor water use by 70 percent by landscaping with low water-use plants, saving water and money.
California Coastkeeper Alliance and California Waterkeepers are joining forces with Blue Business Council Members and 1% For The Planet to counter the notion that conserving water means brown lawns, bare gravel and spiky cacti. The groups’ Drought without the Drab campaign celebrates California’s beautiful native plants, and other plants that naturally thrive in our arid climate by highlighting water wise landscapes that are green and vibrant, fromupscale hotels to corporate headquarters. Businesses throughout California have embraced native plants and other water wise landscaping and are sharing #DroughtNotDrab images celebrating the beauty of their low-water gardens.
The groups are promoting the campaign with the help of a new drought mascot, the water-wise California bear. A custom art print by San Francisco-artists 3 Fish Studios features the iconic image of the bear embracing California, surrounded by succulents, flowering fuschia, the California poppy and other native plants that thrive in California.
California Waterkeeper organizations are working with businesses to create landscapes that are both beautiful and beneficial for the local environment. Russian Riverkeeper worked with h2 Hotel to select plants that thrive naturally and promote a healthy river habitat. Riverkeeper’sStewardship Park in Guerneville demonstrates ecological features of healthy river habitat. In Southern California, the 2.5 acre Orange County Coastkeeper demonstration garden offers a SmartScape program to help businesses and residents transition to drought-tolerant landscaping and lower water use by identifying financial incentives, design, installation and long-term maintenance options.
