LOS ANGELES — Water restrictions in the West are becoming commonplace as the megadrought intensifies and reservoir levels continue to recede -- including in recreational facilities that require ample amounts of irrigation.
In Southern California, golf courses are altering the way they tend to the green in the wake of new state mandates and forecasts that climate change will cause drought conditions to persist.
In addition, although the varying levels of drought typically determine water budgets for households, golf courses do not fall under those ordinances. For instance, in the service area for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, which houses nearly three dozen golf courses, a Level 3 drought ordinance aims for a 30% savings in water usage in households, Kessler said.
Eight of the city courses are irrigated with recycled water, which does not fall under the state ordinances, but they are irrigating with a minimum of 25% reduction from the normal routine, Reinschmidt said. Courses have begun to replace turf with warm-season grasses, which require much less water, and have also eliminated over seeding, except in the desert where it is necessary, because it is extremely water consumptive, Kessler said. Courses are also investing in redesigning irrigation systems to no longer cover areas where a substantial amount of turf was removed, Kessler said.
"Golfers are very understanding," Kessler said."They recognize that it's not going to be optimal at a time like this."
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