HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-17-23 Public Comment - M. Hager - Water ConservationFrom:Megan Hager
To:Agenda
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Water Conservation
Date:Friday, July 14, 2023 3:33:14 PM
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Good afternoon to whoever this may concern,
I just wanted to bring up a water conservation issue. Although we have had a great rainy spring and
the snowmelt has been substantial, we are still in a drought and it really concerns the local residents
of Bozeman and myself. I find it asinine that we are still wasting so much water on just watering
lawns or parks. We waste 50% of our water reserves on just that each year and within the next 10
years, we will definitely find ourselves in a dire situation that will affect all of us.
I suggest that we start implementing restrictions of the types of seed we use for lawn growth and
start bringing in some more native grasses or white clover lawns. Although the latter is not
technically native to Montana, it has become a naturalized species that does not displace other
vegetation and rather grows alongside with it. It saves an exponential amount of water, it requires
less work to take care of as it grows very slow so you don’t have to mow it so frequently – which can
also cut down on a slim part of carbon emissions – and it is pollinator friendly. It also looks nice,
doesn’t burn in the sun, grows well in shade and sun, doesn’t turn yellow due to dog urine, and it is
very soft and durable to walk on. It seems to be a great alternative to the Kentucky bluegrass that is
currently wreaking havoc across the Great Plains where it continues to spread into our native
grasslands and displacing them.
We are in a time where we are really starting to see the effects of climate change and now is the
time to step up and start doing something about it. I am a Montana native and I would like to still
have this place to call home in 50 years, like my family generations before me – a place where I can
raise a family and spend my life in peace surrounded by a climate conscious community that cares.
This is a chance to shape our future into a sustainable oasis and be state leaders in this fight for our
Earth. The people of Montana are known for being caretakers of our land and caring deeply for
nature and it is time to put our money where our mouth is. I beg of you or whoever has some
control over landscaping/conservation/sustainability laws and ordinances to consider my proposal.
Sincerely,
A concerned citizen
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