Palm Springs moving toward drought tolerant destination
The City of Palm Springs is making big changes to save water. All city fountains have been turned off and it’s transforming the Tahquitz Canyon median into drought tolerant landscaping.
“It’s a combination of immediate things and long-term things that will get us where we want to be,” said city manager David Ready.
The median project, financed by Meausre J funds, costs $4 million and a potential landscaping project at the Palm Springs International Airport will cost about the same.
“We have been really busy because people that are more aware of the drought or people are more aware of water use because of the drought,” said Rob Parker, designer for RGA Landscape.
The goal of all of this is to cut city water use by 50 percent in the next few years and 35 percent immediately.
The city also plans to eventually remove the grass at City Hall and take out 17 acres of grass from the Tahquitz Creek Golf Course in Palm Springs.
As Gov. Brown proposes fines of up to $10,000 for people who waste water, the city of Palm Springs hasn’t fined anyone yet.
“We’re still in the warning and educational phase, but as these rules now become part of our everyday life, we’re going to have to be doing enforcement actually.”
City code enforcement will be looking for water guzzling violators.
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