Readers React: Californians, conserve water

Before spending billions on diverting water or on storage facilities, we should consider limiting the growing of crops that are water intensive but of relatively low value. (“Governor urges smaller water bond,” June 25)

For instance, eliminating alfalfa as a crop would increase water availability to urban areas by a drastic amount. Any one crop need not be cut out, but fallowing of acreage devoted to water-intensive crops such as alfalfa, rice and almonds should be part of the mix of approaches taken to address the drought.

Darrel Miller, Santa Monica

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I’m not sure a water bond is the answer. Water conservation should be.

In years past, our local water district placed a large, highly visible sign on the corner of its property showing that water supplies were low.

That corner is a large grass area, which is watered frequently. Instead, why not plant some of the flowering native drought-resistant plants that are all over south Orange County at that spot? I suggested they do that but got no answer. The day the district sets an example and stops watering the lawn, I’ll conserve.

Time to do the right thing and mandate conservation.

Paul Del Bene, Laguna Niguel