“Drought panic and rebates incentivize too many quick and dirty solutions for our water crisis.”
LA Times
LA Times Op-Ed: Don’t Gravelscape L.A.
People are starting to panic about their lawns. The Metropolitan Water District is adding $350 million to its lawn removal rebate program and homeowners are scrambling to rip out grass and replace it with something easy and oh-so drought tolerant — gravel or artificial turf. At least one lawn removal contractor promises to do it for free (the company cashes in the rebate).
Drought panic and rebates incentivize too many quick and dirty solutions for our water crisis. All over the city — and especially in park-poor areas, where postage-stamp lawns may be the only relief from pavement — we have to think before we act. Will exchanging a living, breathing yard for a bleak gravelscape save water? Some. But is it the only way? Is it the right way?
Before you call the gravel truck, here are a few things to consider.
Photo: Wes Bausmith / Los Angeles Times
