Drought restrictions and limits on outdoor watering were announced on June 1, 2022, in California in response to severely limited water supplies.
The main focus is limiting outdoor water use. Several water districts in Southern California have instituted Phase 3 drought restrictions and are now limiting landscape irrigation to one time per week. Various water districts throughout California have taken similar actions.
The situation has caught the attention of the national news media as detailed in this report from CBS News.
How these restrictions will be addressed by golf courses was discussed at a June 2 meeting of the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (LADWP) Golf Water Task Force. During drought emergencies in 2009 and 2015, the approximately 30 golf courses served by the LADWP were able to operate under an Alternative Means of Compliance ordinance. This allowed golf courses to manage watering schedules and avoid day of the week restrictions while agreeing to cut back an additional 5% over the targeted goal. The program was very successful and resulted in nearly all golf courses far exceeding the target.
Golf courses in Los Angeles and in many parts of California have made significant changes over the past 15 years to reduce water consumption including turf reduction, conversion to drought tolerant grasses, and investments in upgraded irrigation technology.
These efforts are sure to be put to the test this summer, but we’re here to help. Contact us if you have any questions about how to navigate drought restrictions or develop water conservation strategies for your golf course.