and weekly recreational activities in ….

and weekly recreational activities in Leisure World landscape areas than play golf. While we cannot claim all our grass areas as functional, a significant part of each mutual encompasses areas that could easily and fairly be designated as functional grass and continue to be watered.

Importantly, HOAs cannot be fined for watering grass they designate as “functional” as long as they follow water conservation guidelines.

Rules and regulations also state that trees, even in “non-functional” grass where water has been turned off, are exempt from water restrictions (but still have a few rules to follow about when and how to water). Adequately watering trees in this situation will be difficult. It is recommended for established trees to slowly soak the root zone under the canopy until water penetrates 12-18 inches below the surface. A soaker hose is ideal for this purpose.

According to Seal Beach public works officials, the city will water “functional” grass in its parks and (recreation areas in keeping with) state-mandated landscape water guidelines.

So, if we turn all the water off, how will you feel when you gaze upon our dystopian hellscape and then look over the fence and see green parks in non-Leisure World parts of the city?

For Mutuals that have made the decision to turn off all water to their grass, encourage your Mutual boards to reverse course and designate some areas as functional grass that can continue to be watered and kept green.

Meeting water conservation targets and having green space are not mutually exclusive.

We can have both. Let us work together and show how it can be done.

Donald Hodel is an emeritus environmental and landscape horticulture advisor specializing in palms, trees and landscape management, University of California, Cooperative Extension, Los Angeles County