Support for LAist comes from
Become a sponsor
Audience-funded nonprofit news
Donate
Stay Connected

LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio, a member-supported public media network.

Audience-funded nonprofit news
Listen
Donate
Podcasts Take Two
How effective are 'cash for grass' drought relief programs
solid orange rectangular banner
()
Take Two Logo
Jul 14, 2014
Listen • 4:51
How effective are 'cash for grass' drought relief programs
California's top water officials meet tomorrow to consider mandatory limits on outdoor water use in cities.
Tom Underhill stands in his front yard filled with California native plants at his home in Long Beach. Six years ago he replaced the lawn and flowers with draught-tolerant native plants. Underhill and his wife inadvertently received a property tax break of $250 for not using their share of municipal water, he said. "I'm sure I have some neighbors that are like 'where is his green lawn,'" he said.
Tom Underhill stands in his front yard filled with California native plants at his home in Long Beach. Six years ago he replaced the lawn and flowers with draught-tolerant native plants. Underhill and his wife inadvertently received a property tax break of $250 for not using their share of municipal water, he said. "I'm sure I have some neighbors that are like 'where is his green lawn,'" he said.
(
Benjamin Brayfield/KPCC
)

California's top water officials meet tomorrow to consider mandatory limits on outdoor water use in cities.

California's top water officials meet tomorrow to consider mandatory limits on outdoor water use in cities.

Even before the drought began, local water agencies had been trying a kinder approach, offering the carrot of homeowners incentives to rip out their lawns. How effective have those efforts been?

KPCC's environment correspondent Molly Peterson tried to find out.