The Analysis of Lawn Rebate Programs and Drought Tolerant Lawn Recommendations in California
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47611/jsrhs.v13i1.6190Keywords:
climate change, lawn alternatives, California lawn rebate programs, water conservation policy, urban heat island, lawn recommendations, xeriscaping, drought tolerant plantsAbstract
California faces persistent cyclical droughts that are expected to worsen due to climate change. The state currently operates in an overall annual water deficit, and projections suggest a 10% reduction in water availability by 2040. To combat these water shortages, Governor Newsom's administration has unveiled a water supply strategy with substantial investments in water conservation policies, including rebate initiatives to encourage residents to replace lawns with drought-tolerant (DT) plants and non-living hardscapes. However, questions have arisen about the overall effectiveness and environmental impact of these costly programs. This study delves into the potential consequences of replacing living lawns with non-living hardscapes, specifically whether it might elevate local microclimate temperatures, akin to urban heat islands (UHI) caused by the substitution of natural land cover with man-made, impermeable surfaces. The research examines existing rebate programs across the state, assessing their reimbursement structures and variations. Surface temperatures of commonly recommended lawn alternatives are measured and compared, including comparisons between different alternatives and drought-tolerant ground cover plants. Additionally, the study includes an experiment involving a drought-tolerant ground cover seed mix to replace a traditional lawn. The findings indicate that hardscape lawn alternatives generate significantly higher temperatures than any of the drought-tolerant ground cover plants analyzed. Furthermore, there is notable temperature variability among the hardscapes studied. Consequently, this paper proposes modifications to the existing rebate programs and emphasizes the importance of ensuring that environmental solutions introduced to address one issue do not inadvertently exacerbate related problems.
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