Drought

UC Master Gardener Program of Alameda County: Collection

Gardening in a Changing Climate

Articles include diverse topics of wildfire concerns, firescaping, water conservation and how to's of watering during drought

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Students enthusiastically engage with a water filtration demonstration during the Children's Water Education Festival

Green Blog: Article

SoCal youth inspired by UCCE advisor’s passion for water conservation

May 29, 2025

Esther Lofton, UCCE urban watershed resilience advisor, engaged students in LA and Orange counties with lively activities to celebrate Water Awareness Month in May.

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Water Resilience, Climate Change, and Water Systems in California: Article

Strengthening Drought Preparedness for Domestic Well Owners and Small Water Suppliers

April 22, 2025

By Laura E Garza Diaz, Laljeet S Sangha, Esther N Lofton

Droughts in California: A Frequent ChallengeSubject to severe short and long-term drought conditions, California has experienced two consecutive multiyear droughts in the past decade (Figure 1). The drought of 2012–2016, was considered one of the most severe on record, with…

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Berger Native Garden, by Rebecca Schoenenberger

UC Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County: Page

Waterwise Tips

Even in years with plentiful winter rainfall, summers in Santa Clara County will always be dry. Planning your landscaping and gardens for summer dry conditions will put you ahead of the game for future droughts and water restrictions. Here are some useful tips and links for homeowners and gardeners who want…

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Hand turns on a tap with water splashing out of a glass

Survey: Water system consolidations improve water quality, infrastructure

February 28, 2025

By Michael Hsu

Kristin Dobbin, a UCCE specialist, is studying the consolidation of water systems, which can entail creating physical connections (such as pipelines) between water systems or administrative mergers that leave the physical infrastructure unchanged. Water system consolidation has become a top solution in…

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Photo showing the lawn alternative demonstration area at the Palo Alto Demonstration Garden

UC Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County: Page

Lawn Alternatives

New or replacement plantings for conventional high water-using sod lawns are demonstrated in the Lawn Alternatives section of the Palo Alto Demo Garden.

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Expert advice for gardening in a drought

UC Master Gardener Program of Sonoma County: Page

Gardening and Drought

Prioritize Your PlantsHigh priority plants are usually trees and shrubs that provide shade, are expensive to replace, and take a long time to mature.Medium priority plants are groundcovers, perennials (edibles, herbs, and flowers), and vines that grow quickly and are usually inexpensive to replace.Low…

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UC Master Gardener Program of Sonoma County: Page

Lawn Replacement

Lawns don't really belong in a summer-dry Mediterranean climate like Sonoma County. Tips for removal and plant replacement of existing lawns for a beautiful garden.

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UC Master Gardener Program of Alameda County: Page

Thirsty Plants and Watering in Times of Drought

Learn effective landscape watering strategies for drought conditions, helping conserve water while keeping plants healthy and thriving during dry spells.

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UC Marin Master Gardeners: Page

Managing Drought

This striking drought tolerant design incorporates rocks, monkeyflower, toyons, and lavender. Credit: UC Regents Water is an essential resource for all aspects of life. Californias years of rain and snow shortage are reminders to conserve our limited water supply. Recognize the signs of drought.

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