WAC Unveils 'Retire Your Turf' Program

The Water Awareness Committee kicked off its new Retire Your Turf program with a great showing at the Monterey County Fair on Friday, August 20. To highlight the program, WAC hosted the Floriculture Building all day.

Pictured are booth volunteers for the first two shifts: Russ Hatch (MCSI Water System Management) and Jo-Ann Hatch, Charley Kemp and Mrs. Kemp (Cal Am), Marilyn Torres (Cal Am), Joe DiMaggio (Cal Am), Mary Stewart (Cal Water), Sue Murphy (California Rural Water Association), Alex Hulanicki (Monterey County Water Resources Agency; not pictured), Rich Youngblood (Marina Coast Water District; not pictured) and Karen Harris (Monterey Regional Water Pollution Control Agency; not pictured).

Additional volunteers for the later shifts (6:30 to 11 p.m.) included Nancy Martella (Monterey County Environmental Health Department) and her husband Tom (Martella Printing), Eric Tynan (Castroville Water District), Sandy Ayala (Monterey County Environmental Health's abandoned well program).

The moisture meters were a big hit! Many people will now be using them and, hopefully, not over-watering their lawns and other plants thereby conserving our precious water supply.

A moisture meter is a tool, a simple meter, used to instantly determine whether soils are dry, moist or wet. The more moisture, the more the meter's indicator needle will swing to the right toward "wet." The meter is positioned on a 12-inch probe that can be placed in pots, lawns and garden beds.

It's a great tool to prevent over-watering of lawns. Turf demands more water to maintain good health than drought-tolerant and native plants. Many people, however, overwater their lawns because they aren't sure how much is needed. The moisture meter will help accurately schedule watering periods.

By reducing excessive watering of turf, our communities can potentially conserve significant volumes of water. In addition, they'll save money on water bills!