How We're Doing Our Part During the Drought

At Parks and Rec, we’re doing all we can to cut our water use, but we’re not forgetting our mission. 

We’re still committed to safeguarding public resources and providing safe, fun recreation opportunities to enhance the health and well-being of the Santa Barbara community.

In recent months, you may have noticed that the lawns at certain Santa Barbara parks and public facilities have been turning gold as the effects of drought conditions begin to show themselves. Our department is doing its part along with the rest of the community.

Here are a few key points from the Strategic Drought Response Plan we recently finalized and presented to the Santa Barbara City Council:

We analyzed our water use and prioritized which areas really need water.

We took a number of factors into consideration, including:

1. Would we do major damage (either short- or long-term) by cutting our water use here?
2. Is this area home to historic or rare trees and plants?
3. How many people use this area for recreation on a regular basis?

Because turf (grassy areas) needs so much water to stay green, we’ve cut back on watering some of our lawns. Before deciding where to save water, we considered whether or not an area would become unsafe if we cut back or stopped irrigation (an example might be a ballfield), how much recreational use each area of turf sees, and a number of other factors.

For instance, at Santa Barbara Golf Club, the City’s municipal golf course, we considered which areas of the course could be left dry without significantly inconveniencing golfers: if an area of the golf course has gone gold, it’s likely an area most golfers don’t stray into during a game.

Read more: the complete text of our Strategic Drought Response Plan is available as a PDF here.

Let’s save together! Remember, gold is the new green.

Master Gardeners Set Three Events to Teach Sustainability in Times of Drought

With drought conditions causing many gardeners to re-evaluate their watering practices, UCCE Master Gardeners of Santa Barbara County has decided to focus on helping teach locals to manage their water use.

As part of Public Gardens Appreciation Month, the Master Gardeners will be offering tours and workshops with an eye to capturing the imagination of local homeowners and supporting them in their efforts to reduce water use.

“There are ways to manage water and cut your water use significantly without killing your plants," said Lesley Wiscomb, chairman of the Executive Committee for the Master Gardeners, emphasizing that the events planned for Saturdays in May will be fun but also useful for homeowners and gardening enthusiasts. “Navigating our drought is an educational process. That’s the key.”

The Master Gardens, in partnership with the City of Santa Barbara Parks & Recreation Department and the Santa Barbara Public Gardens Partnership, will host three events, one on each of the remaining Saturdays in May.

• Saturday, May 17 — Garden Tour of the Masters. Cost: $30/morning or afternoon tour sessions. Click here for tickets.

• Saturday, May 24 — Water in Your Garden: Friend or Foe? UCCE Master Gardeners Workshop with Cathie Pare, city water resources specialist. Cost: free. 10 a.m., with 9:30 a.m. registration at the Louise Lowry Davis Center. Click here for information.

• Saturday, May 31 — Beautiful Garden Designs for Drought. UCCE Master Gardeners Workshop with Billy Goodnick, author and landscape architect. Cost: free. 10 a.m., with 9:30 a.m. registration at the Louise Lowry Davis Center. Click here for information.

The UC Master Gardeners are trained certified volunteers that provide information, workshops, and programs for home gardeners. Public information resources offered by Master Gardeners include plant, pest and problem identification, and advice on sustainable landscape practices.

Link to article on Noozhawk.