I've become interested in Bozeman's
concern with "bad grass." Several letters to the Chronicle
have condemned large bluegrass lawns, the kind that looks so good
when luxuriating in ample moisture. They urge public condemnation,
regulation, and a move toward xeriscape lawns that have low water
requirements. Some recommend mandating small lawn areas with drought-tolerant
grasses like buffalograss and blue grama.
While this regulatory strategy can work in new developments, few
people seem eager to rip out their traditional lawns. It's hard
to imagine a successful politician mandating these costly conversions
to xeriscapes. Hence, I expect more aqua angst, and more agitated
letters, especially if longer, dryer, and hotter summers become
the norm and water supplies are stressed. If so, there will be political
demands to constrain lawn sprinkling in efforts to conserve water
and energy.
I have no dog in this fight. Our place is blessed with "Old
Water" (dating from 1866 and 1882) from the Kleinschmidt Canal,
several springs, and 2 creeks. Our ranch is in a conservation easement
and each of the 3 parcels comprising it has water. When our lawn
looks dry, I merely divert a tiny bit of agricultural water and
irrigate it using agricultural techniques and equipment. It lacks
the elegance of automatic sprinklers, but works well.
Further, we could drown any grass fire approaching our home.
My interest in this issue plaguing Bozeman's subdivisions is strictly
academic, not practical. Here's how a political economist would
address the "bad grass" problem.
There are three obvious approaches to this water conservation goal
that are complementary, not exclusionary. Each may be tried, and
one is sure to work with a minimum of disruption and rancor.
First is hectoring and condemning those with too much "bad
grass" species requiring regular watering. Complainers believe
others want the "wrong thing."
Homeowners should take our dry situation into account
and develop an aridity sensitive conscience. People should act as
though they care about others and the ecological system upon which
we all depend. In sum, folks should develop a social, ecological
conscience and act through love of our ecology and others' demands
for water.
Given that lawn owners draw from the common pool of municipal water,
is this the likely outcome? Probably not for Bozeman is neither
a Hutterite nor a small Mormon community.
Regulation is likely to be the second alternative if aridity becomes
dire.
For example, water lawns only between 6 and 10 a.m. If your house
number is even, water on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. If odd,
water on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. If Jewish or Seventh Day
Adventist (or any other Saturday Sabbath observer), you may have
a special permit to water on Sunday.
This is a recipe for confusion and conflict. "Our house number
is odd, but I'm Lutheran and my wife is Jewish and she cares for
our lawn."
The permutations of confusion, deception, and cheating
are endless. The City Council, however, might enjoy creating a water
police. (On an August NPR program, a recent mayor demonstrated love,
enjoyment, and advocacy for more
regulation.)
Rules work on canals, but good farmers understand
irrigation regimes. Bozeman's elected officials may not understand
the consequences different property rights regimes have on water
allocation.
Finally, if scarcity looms, Bozeman could price water on an escalating
scale. The amount required for normal household use would be cheap.
The next Y thousand are more expensive and some folks reduce car
washing and garden watering. The third increment of water usage
might be quite expensive. The fourth, even more costly. After a
high water bill this is a likely comment; "Dear, let's replace
our bluegrass lawn with buffalograss." Among their other advantages,
markets economize on love, always a scarce resource.
Pricing an increasingly dear commodity, water, is the ecological
and humane approach, feedbacks are built in, conflicts and meddling
minimized. Higher prices cause people to act as though they care
about others.
Luckily Bozeman is moving toward price-based water
conservation. The Chronicle recently reported that now, "Residential
rates will be based on the amount of water used and will decrease
about 4 to 5 percent for customers whose consumption is low to average.
Customers who use lots of water will see their rates increase."
Good sense indeed.
John A. Baden, Ph.D., is Chairman of FREE
and Gallatin Writers. Contact him at jbaden@free-eco.org.
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