California trims grass watering down as drought dries out West

SACRAMENTO — Grass in office parks, on college campuses or in some California neighborhoods will go brown this summer after state water officials adopted a ban Tuesday on watering certain green spaces as the state’s drought drags on.

The ban adopted by the State Water Resources Control Board follows Gov. Gavin Newsom’s plea for Californians to use less water or face broad, mandatory restrictions on water use. The board also voted to require local water districts to adopt stricter conservation measures, though they are locally designed to meet different community needs. Many of those rules place further limits on how often people can water their yards.

“The governor made very clear yesterday that there is a sense of urgency here,” said E. Joaquin Esquivel, chairman of the water board.

California is in its third year of an acute drought, part of a two-decade megadrought facing the U.S. West that scientists say is the worst in 1,200 years. Hotter temperatures are also exacerbating the state’s water challenges as people have started to water their lawns earlier than normal. This January through March marked California’s driest winter in at least a century.

Starting June 10, watering some grass outside businesses, industrial facilities and institutions like colleges, hospitals and government facilities, as well as spaces managed by homeowners’ associations, won’t be allowed.

Grass that can’t be watered includes anything that’s used for decoration and not for regular activities or events. The ban doesn’t apply to parks, sports fields, people’s lawns, or to watering trees. It would apply to grass managed by homeowners’ associations but not individual residents. Violators can be fined $500 per day.

Beyond those restrictions, about 400 local water districts that supply California cities and towns must step up conservation actions, the board voted. Each district follows conservation requirements based on local plans created after the last drought. Many further limit how often people can water their lawns and aim to boost public messaging about the value of conservation.