Anything else you’re interested in is not going to happen if you can’t breathe the air and drink the water. Don’t sit this one out. Do something. You are by accident of fate alive at an absolutely critical moment in the history of our planet.”Carl Sagan

We who live in the unincorporated portion of Los Angeles County received one. Did we read it thoroughly? Are we following the suggestions and restrictions outlined in the flyer? After ours arrived, we promptly posted it on the refrigerator. To be honest, not until today did I thoroughly read it.

Water Conservation – Yellow Alert

Sound serious? Yes, just as it should. To read it in its entirety, go to the Crescenta Valley Water District website (www.cvwd.com). Look at News and Information. (To my knowledge, the City of Glendale does not have the same water restrictions.)

Southern California is in a drought, as is the entire southwest.

Just north of Santa Barbara lies Lake Cachuma. The surrounding hills are brown and, combined with the drastically receded shoreline of the lake, you can see a snapshot of the results of a three-year drought. With summer approaching, Gov. Brown requested communities to “conserve water in every way possible.” Beginning in May, the Crescenta Valley Water District moved from a green alert to a yellow one.

A yellow alert is defined as an extraordinary conservation alert. We are being asked to limit our outside water usage to three days a week – Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday – before 9 a.m. and after 5 p.m.* In addition, the following tips are recommended.

• Check for and repair leaky and broken sprinklers.

• Check for overspray and needless runoff and set timers.

• Wash car with a bucket of water  and rinse promptly.

• Use a broom not hose, to clean sidewalks, patios and pool decks. Be sure to let gardeners know about the restrictions. (Last week I came home to washed down hardscaped areas. Thankfully, the water ran into flowerbeds and onto the lawn.)

• Mulch. It’s a wonderful, multi-purpose landscape-must; it maintains moisture, suppresses weed-growth and is attractive. And fewer plants (less water) are needed to achieve a good-looking yard.

• Educate your children and grandchildren about water conservation. I discovered an educational and fun website, kids may enjoy over the summer:
wateruseitwisely.com/kids/.

*A tip from Abby (a wise and wonderful golden retriever): Always keep your pet’s water bowl filled with fresh H20.

Weather-wise, not much change here in the foothills. Along the coastline, June Gloom is doing its annual thing. Our days are peaking in the upper 80s, while nights hover in the 50s.

If only the entire summer would remain the same…

Sue Kilpatrick is a  Crescenta Valley resident and Official Skywarn Spotter for the National Weather Service.
Reach her at  suelkilpatrick@gmail.com.

  Sue Kilpatrick