With the sprinkling ban in effect, people just may get it now – we are in drought conditions. As lawns turn from emerald to brown, our lawn-addicted society will begin to understand the preciousness of water.
Now is the time to prioritize water usage and evaluate our landscapes for what works and what doesn't. A lack of trees, excessive lawn areas, unprotected soils and poorly sited plants become evident in drought conditions. Trees provide shade, oxygen, temperature moderation, wind dissipation, particulate capture, erosion control, and wildlife food and habitat. Lawns provide play areas, but unprotected by trees, become easily parched. If large open areas of lawn aren't needed, why have them? Our little bits of lawn are still green under our trees, but where the sunlight penetrates, it is turning brown. In our yard, food and trees come first; we are alive because we eat and we depend on the forest in our yard for its life giving forces and to shade our home from searing heat.
Perhaps we need to provide incentives to homeowners to ensure better resilience in drought. A wood-first (tree-first?) community should be willing to provide a rebate on property taxes to promote the importance of trees. Water barrels and water meters should become standard installations, as well as water conservation education.
Sound leadership and enforcement will get us through these challenging times. We cannot go blindly on, clear-cutting future subdivisions and then hardscaping, grassing and watching our waters run-off or be sucked up by non-food producing, treeless landscapes. Now is the time for planners to address the future to force resilience and give us a better chance of surviving drought. Perhaps applying for a federal grant to get water meters into homes would be an idea? Those vehemently opposed to paying for water should question the cost of pipes and pumps to get their daily fix and ask themselves how much they paid for that bottle of water they just consumed.
The problems begin with us--climate change, a lack of knowledge and a disregard for the sprinkling regulations have forced the ban. I agree with regulations and the ban, but as a community we must prioritize water usage. Watering (and preferably sprinkling to promote best root development) food lands is a necessity, once a week, and should be exempt. Lawns are not a dietary requirement...unless you have sheep!
Jovanka Djordjevich
Prince George
