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Some Ridgecrest city officials balk at water-efficient landscape ordinances

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on December 21, 2007 at 11:48 am

From the Ridgecrest Indpendent:

Removing water-thirsty trees or plants does not really conserve water — that’s the consensus of some city officials.

The Indian Wells Valley Water District, however, disagrees with that opinion and that has spurred some debate between the city and water agency.

Ridgecrest’s demand for water is growing because the population continues to increase. More people means more water usage. Aside from human consumption, water is also necessary to build homes and commercial properties. In 2006, Ridgecrest saw more than 1,800 residential developments and several commercial properties built. This includes the buildings in the business park, the construction of new medical structures and small offices around the city.

Ridgecrest is bracing for even greater growth once a Navy plan, under Base Realignment and Closure 2005, for China Lake is approved, that would transfer several more people and possibly other businesses into the area.

In the Indian Wells Valley, groundwater is the only source of water for consumptive and household use. Relying solely on this source of water, agree local water leaders isn’t a good idea. So they have begun to look at alternatives. “Conservation,” however, “is the cheapest,” choice says Water District Board President Don Cortichiato.

But Ridgecrest city planners don’t think the water savings is significant – enough to warrant any landscaping changes:

Excess water use is “only a problem in the Summer. There is no water shortage here,” City Planner Jim McCrea said.

Some Ridgecrest authorities believe that if there is too many landscaping restrictions, growth will be stopped and that would hurt the city financially. Water District officials say they are not attempting to stop growth — they have no authority to do so. However, at a Dec. 11 Water District meeting, the Board of Directors asked their attorney to look into the possibility of refusing water service to new developments that to adhere to water-friendly landscaping.

A practice some city officials don’t appreciate. “There are cities who see growth with thousands of new residential units a year. Our city isn’t growing at that speed so the impact on water supplies isn’t as much as the Water District says it is,” said one city planner.

To read the full text of this article from the Ridgecrest Daily Independent, click here.

December 21, 2007 · Filed Under Drought Tolerant Landscaping

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