Dams would give us more usable drinking water, as California’s population continues to grow, expected to grow an additional 12 million by 2050, this will create a demand for 2.3 million acre feet a year in fresh water. One such dam that is being pushed for is the Temperance Flat Dam, which could provide 450 thousand acre feet a year in drinking water, enough for 1.8 million families. I will provide you with some statistics later that will show you why dams may not be as necessary as we think. There is one solution we could all do, that would save us tons of water and keep our already operating dams full and no it isn’t those expensive desalinization plants. It is actually much simpler than that and more cost effective.

High speed rail doesn’t give us the liquid of life, but it does provide an eco-friendly means of travel, that will allow Californians to travel from Northern to Southern California in a matter of hours. This will help eliminate cars on the roads, thus lowering carbon emissions and helping provide cleaner air to breathe, also a necessity of life. By California implementing and funding this high speed rail, California will once again lead the way towards a cleaner environment and bringing the United States into the 21st century, doing what many other industrialized nations have already done. Here are just a few of the many benefits that surround the high speed rail:
·         Will pay for itself by lowering our dependency on foreign oil and reducing our $700 billion oil trade deficit.
·         Will create millions of “green jobs” nationwide, helping our economy even further
·         Powered by clean energy from renewable resources such as wind and solar, thus giving us Freedom from oil.
·         Safe and affordable means of transportation, reducing the number of cars on the road will lower the amount of lives lost each year in accidents, approximately 43 thousand Americans die each year in car accidents.

Let us put all that aside though, remember how I said there was a solution to our water crisis here in California that could solve this debate on what we need more? It is simple really, quit watering your lawns, let them die, yes you read that right, quit watering your lawns. California uses 6.4 billion gallons of water annually, just to water grass. The average lawn of about 1,800 square feet, uses about 55 gallons a year per square foot, that is 99 thousand gallons of water a year for just one lawn, let that sink in. You like having a green lawn in your front or back yard, maybe both. I have a solution to that also, Synthetic Lawn, yes a synthetic lawn. I’m not talking your grandfather’s Astroturf either, today’s synthetic turf looks and feels like the real thing. Synthetic lawns require no watering and very little maintenance. Synthetic lawns will not only save us billions of gallons of water in our state alone, but the lack of maintenance needed also means no carbon emissions or pesticides getting into our environment. Saving the environment not mean much to you? How about the money it will save you on your water bill, money saved not buying yard equipment or gas for it, not to mention the savings not buying pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers to maintain your lawn. Contact Drought Lawn today for more information at www.droughtlawn.com or at (530) 506-5046, we will gladly answer your questions.

So as you can see we can have a high speed rail system and not sacrifice our water to do so. I’m not saying we don’t need a few more dams for the future, especially with our population growth, but we also need a high speed rail to move that population around effectively and efficiently. The quickest and easiest way to conserve our water for agriculture and drinking is to eliminate our obsession with “real lawns”. Let them die and replace them with the “Lawn of the Future”. Synthetic turf is the real answer to our growing water crisis. Call Drought Lawn today at (530) 506-5046 or visit us at www.droughtlawn.com and see how you can join in on the answer to the drought and become an official drought buster.

Artificial turf, also known as synthetic grass, has come a long way since the days when it was considered something that was used on sports fields. Improvements in the quality of materials used to produce artificial turf have made it a cost-effective solution for homeowners looking to enjoy a lawn that's going to be virtually maintenance free. Here's a closer look at some of the reasons why synthetic grass makes perfect sense for today's busy, environmentally aware, budget-conscious homeowners:

It Looks Great and It's Perfectly Safe
A common misconception with turf is that it's not safe. The process of manufacturing turf has improved greatly since synthetic grass was first introduced for commercial use in the mid-1960s. The turf that's installed today has become increasingly for residential installations. Synthetic lawns are designed to be as safe and durable as possible. It's actually the durability of turf that makes it a popular choice at kennels since it can't easily be dug up or chewed on by pets. Another myth associated with turf is that it's not all that attractive. In fact, today's turf is incredibly realistic in appearance, so much so that it's highly likely that sly homeowners could easily leave neighbors wondering why their lawn always looks absolutely perfect. Unlike the turf of yesteryear, today's artificial grass is designed to retain its color, meaning that fading isn't likely to occur - even in regions with a lot of sun or precipitation. Artificial turf has also gained popularity because of its:
• Longer life expectancy
• Better drainage
• Long-term savings
• Versatility (in terms of coloration, design, style, length and shape)

It's Drought Resistant
Communities throughout the mid-west and many parts of the western United States, including several cities and towns throughout California, including Sacramento, Folsom, Roseville and Lincoln, that are highly susceptible to annual droughts. Large cities typically affected by drought like Sacramento, often place restrictions on water use - with lawn watering often considered non-essential. Turf, on the other hand, is unaffected by weather conditions and the lack of rain. Consequently, residents in places like Folsom can still enjoy beautiful, green lawns without facing fines for going over water usage limits.

It's 'Green' In More Ways Than One
Once termed the "Eighth Wonder of the World" when first used at the Houston Astrodome in 1965, artificial turf is more environmentally friendly than ever. In some cases, recycled materials are used to manufacture artificial grass, adding to the "green" value of the finished product. Some local governments are offering rebates and other incentives for residents who make improvements to their home that will likely have minimal environmental impact. One Southern California rebate program offers residents $2 per square foot for the removal of their lawns. For homeowners not too keen on the idea of completely going without grass, turf is a viable and realistic-looking alternative that allows homeowners to still get the look of grass without the need to use the thousands of gallons of water per year it can take to keep a lawn properly irrigated in humid climates.  The average lawn in California uses approximately 99 thousand gallons of water a year. Artificial turf also offers the following environmental benefits:

• No carbon emissions (from gas-powered lawnmowers)
• No need to use fertilizers or pesticides
• No run-off from chemicals used to treat living lawns

More Free Time
Mowing the average lawn can take anywhere from 1-2 hours of your time weekly. Since synthetic turf requires no mowing, no watering, no weeding and no trimming, busy homeowners can spend more time with their family and enjoy their weekends. There's also no watering or daily upkeep to worry about, which can also be a plus for senior homeowners. Synthetic grass can also make life easier for property managers by reducing maintenance costs and reducing the need to constantly check up on the condition of lawns at various sites.

Resolving Landscaping Issues
There always seems to be that one area of the yard where the grass is either too dry or too brown. Artificial turf is a cost-effective solution that many landscaping issues. If, for instance, a homeowner is moving into an older home that has a lawn that needs a lot of work, whether it be replacing old grass or dealing with patches of dead grass, they can quickly achieve the "healthy lawn look" with artificial grass. Unlike natural grass, turf doesn't require a lot of attention after it's initially installed - and there's no need for homeowners to wait to see if it's going to take hold and grow or worry about birds snacking on the seeds. Another reason for the growing popularity of turf is the fact that there are many ways it can be applied. Homeowners can, for example, opt for turf for use in problem spots and retain natural grass for parts of a landscape with ideal growth conditions.

Adding Up the Savings
While every homeowner is going to have different needs, artificial turf can still easily add up to significant savings for anyone. The initial purchase and installation is an investment that's going to more than pay for itself over time, especially when considering the accumulated cost of lawn maintenance, which can be extensive for larger properties. This doesn't even include the potential for a boost in property value, curb appeal and retail value that many homeowners tend to enjoy when opting for high-quality synthetic turf. Our artificial turf installation professionals can help customers determine their potential savings when providing an initial estimate.

Artificial grass has many potential benefits beyond what can realistically be achieved with natural grass. For dog owners, it's a surface where dogs can run and play without tracking in weeds, dirt and mud when coming back inside. For families with children, artificial grass can cut down on wear and tear, especially in high-traffic areas where normal grass would be easily damaged. Thanks to a growing list of practical and aesthetic uses, artificial turf is quickly becoming a cost-effective alternative to traditional grass that can provide a problem-free, green landscape.

For more information on how a synthetic lawn can save you water, time and money contact us today at www.droughtlawn.com or by calling 530-506-5046. It’s your turn to help turn California green again.

Every day I turn on the local news channel, open a social media site and every day I am reminded just how dire California’s water situation has become. This got me thinking about that ever so famous and somewhat humorous line about saving water from when I was a kid, “If it’s yellow leave it mellow, if it’s brown flush it down.” That got me thinking what are some other ways we could save water and this is my top ten ways to so your part to save water.

1.      Try peeing in the shower – it will save you time and water. The average high efficiency toilet uses 1.3 gallons of water per flush, if you have an older toilet; they can use up to 6-7gallons of water per flush. If you still have one of those water guzzling dinosaurs, may I suggest that you start by replacing it.

So I was reading an article in the Sacramento Bee today (http://www.sacbee.com/news/state/california/water-and-drought/article25425739.html ) and have come to realize the severity of the drought is far worse than I ever could have imagined. We have lakes headed toward record lows, farmers who need more water for agriculture, endangered fish species that may go extinct, Hydro plants that can’t run at capacity and reservoirs that supply water to several cities that are becoming so low that residents may soon find that they have no water coming out of their taps. 

I’m not looking to scare you, but it should. You may be even thinking to yourself, it’s Mother Nature, what can I do about it? Well there is a simple solution, you know that beautiful lawn out front or even your back yard? Get rid of it, tear it out. Then what? Consider installing a synthetic lawn and California native plants and other drought resistant vegetation, even consider rock landscaping or a combination of all these possibilities. Were you aware that the lawn you and so many love is one of the biggest culprits of our drought problem? The average lawn, approximately 1800 square feet, uses roughly 99,000 gallons of water a year. Californians alone waste approximately 6.4 billion gallons of water every year to keep their lawns green.

So I ask you, don’t you think maybe it’s time we all did our part and help conserve water? I do. We can help save California one lawn at a time by switching to the new green … Synthetic Green. Give us a call today and see how we can help you help California during its drought crisis.  There are many rebates available to help offset the costs and along with the money you save not having to water that lawn, in no time, usually within 3-6 years, the switch to a Synthetic Lawn will have paid for itself. 

Go Synthetic Green and call us today! 530-506-5046

With California in its fourth year of drought, have you given thought to going green? Not just eco-friendly green but synthetic lawn green. Its lush and even looks like the real thing, even lawn purist can’t deny that. Synthetic lawn quality has come a long way just since the 90’s – enough so that even the most discerning Californians are making the switch. 

The average 1,800 square foot lawn consumes about 99,000 gallons of our drinking water a year, that’s just one lawn. If everyone in California was to switch to a synthetic lawn, we could likely end our drought and eliminate pesticide, herbicide and fertilizer run-off.

So don’t you think it is time we called on Gov. Jerry Brown and our state legislators to make synthetic lawns mandatory? Many Californians feel it’s time we encouraged and allowed synthetic lawns everywhere, from front and back yards to businesses to schools to golf courses. We are in a drought stricken state and it only looks to get worse, we are using 6.4 billion gallons of drinking water everyday just to water our lawns.

Synthetic lawns are low maintenance and even though they cost more up front than a traditional lawn, it only takes 3 to 6 years to see a return on the investment. Today’s synthetic lawn is not your Grandfather’s Astroturf. Today’s synthetic lawns have fibrous tufts that are luxuriously textured and colored and available in many different varieties for the home alone. It looks and feels just like your natural lawn, so why not make the switch and do your part to help end California’s water crisis? Just imagine a time where we no longer waste our drinking water on unnecessary natural lawns. The synthetic lawn is groomed with a brush, so no more mowing and putting those harmful emissions into the air, so now your helping not only conserve water but improve air quality. There are also many rebates in California that range from $1 to $3 a square foot to remove your natural lawn. We have the rebate list here on our website.

Gov. Jerry Brown has recently proposed fines that could go as high as $10,000 for “excessive water use” and ordered a 25 percent reduction in water use statewide. Local city and county water agencies will enforce restrictions and issue penalties to those who don’t comply. Many homeowners are becoming stuck between a rock and a hard place because many HOA’s won’t allow synthetic lawns and require that residents water their lawn on a regular basis to keep their yards green, all while the state demands water reduction, so what are these homeowners to do? This is why we need the Governor and state legislators to step in and protect homeowners willing to do their part in conserving our most precious resource. So what are you waiting for?