Drought is a serious issue in California. But in the rush to rip out lawns, are we making a catastrophic environmental mistakes? It’s a tough time to be a blade of grass in California. Drought has caused the great American lawn to be viewed harshly. People in drought-stricken areas are ripping out their lawns, afraid of being drought shamed and labeled water guzzlers by other community members. Some estimates say one in five homeowners are switching to synthetic turf, aka, plastic grass.[i] But these knee jerk reactions without careful planning may be catastrophic mistakes. Without living yards, California is not going to be a nice place to live. It will be hotter in your home and neighborhood. Lawns can be 31 degrees cooler than asphalt and 20 degrees cooler than bare soil.[ii] [iii] Without grass to reduce the heat island effect caused by urban asphalt and concrete, plan for temperatures to rise dramatically. If you have lots of hardscape or plastic grass around your home, the temperature jump will be huge. And your home cooling bills? Expect them to go up. Air quality will worsen dramatically. Grass plays a vital role in capturing dust, smoke particles and other pollutants. [iv] It also produces oxygen. A 25 square foot area will supply enough oxygen to support one person for a day. A turf area 50' x 50' will produce enough oxygen to meet the daily needs of a family of four.[v] Without grass, California’s already struggling air quality levels will plummet. Ozone and particle pollutants will increase in the air you breathe. Plan for more code red days. Those with conditions impacted by worsening air quality – the elderly, the young – those with lung disease, asthma, heart disease or diabetes – may only leave home when absolutely necessary – and they’ll be advised to wear a mask and tote an oxygen tank. Children and pets will be inside – a lot. Instead of being outside burning off snacks, children will be indoors due the lack of space to play and poor air quality. So will your dog, who is likely to object to “doing business” on plastic. Kids will also not get the attention and working memory benefits researchers found when children are exposed to greenery. [vi] Water runoff will carry more pollutants into the water supply. Grass slows down and absorbs runoff into bodies of water[vii], while also cleansing water of impurities and dust, and reducing soil erosion. Without the filtering effects of grass, water entering the ground will carry these pollutants. Soil will erode into streams and rivers, carrying nutrients and chemicals with it, and causing large algae blooms which can steal oxygen from the water and kill fish. Birds and wildlife will go away. Grass provides food and habitat for birds and small mammals. Insects, spiders and worms live among the grass blades and below the surface in the turf. Without grass, food sources for birds and small mammals will be gone. Your yard will be without songbirds or wildlife. Forest fires will become more destructive. Living grass is an effective and natural fire break.[viii] Without grass around homes, fire will cause more property damage and endanger more lives. Outdoor entertaining will become a rarity. The family football game on the front lawn after the big dinner, frisbee chasing for hours with your dog, and sandbox playtime in the yard for your kids will be relics of the past. Your outdoor dining area, barbecue, fire pit and other outdoor living areas will be hotter and less enjoyable. Is this the California you want to live in? Before you rip out your lawn, consider the impacts and use commonsense. Everyone realizes that there is a drought, and that water has to be conserved. But deadening California’s landscape is only going to open the door to a greater devastation. We need a living landscape that is drought-friendly. Kris Kiser is the President and CEO of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI). More information is available at www.opei.org/stewardship