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Big Cuts for Commercial Irrigation06-21-10 | News

Big Cuts for Commercial Irrigation

Some commercial landscapers are exploring variations in turf varieties and root structures that could achieve dramatic water savings, because the Sonoma County Water Agency and the municipalities to which it supplies Russian River water are under a state order to put commercial landscapes with dedicated meters on water budgets that dramatically limit irrigation by December.

The May 24 order from the State Water Resources Control Board calls for a maximum applied water allowance of 60 percent of climate-specific irrigation needed by the same area of turf in previous years. The water agency has to report progress to the state board by year-end. The order resulted from the water agency?EUR??,,????'?????<

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Because the trimmed water allowance is based on applied water, it may be enough for property owners to get through this year because of the late-spring rains and cool weather, according to Ms. Wasem. A meeting of the coalition and municipal officials is planned for June 16 to plan training and outreach programs for properties currently not on water budgets, according to Ms. Wasem.