Will We Have a Drought?

Although December brought near-record precipitation totals, warmer-than-normal temperatures meant very little snow accumulated in the mountains. As a result, snowpack levels currently sit at just 20–30% of normal.

The snowfall we received in the mountains this past week was certainly welcome, but short-range forecasts are calling for dry conditions over the next 7–10 days. Looking further ahead, long-range summer outlooks suggest warmer and drier weather than average this year.

Does this mean we’re heading toward drought?

It’s still too early to say. However, one thing remains certain: water costs continue to rise, and proactive water management is one of the most effective ways to protect and control property budgets.

That’s why we strongly encourage you to review the water conservation recommendations included in your 2026 Budget proposal. These strategies are designed to reduce water use, improve efficiency, and help mitigate financial risk—regardless of how the season ultimately unfolds.

Smart planning today can make a meaningful difference tomorrow.

Plan for Water Conservation in 2026

Water is expensive, which is why water conservation is a critical service we provide. Across the properties we maintain, we actively promote and implement water-saving projects designed to reduce consumption while delivering strong returns on investment.

We are always happy to partner with our customers on solutions that lower water costs without compromising landscape quality. As part of this effort, our 2026 budget proposals include optional recommendations to modify irrigation systems and, where appropriate, adjust landscape design to significantly reduce overall water use.

These proactive improvements help manage long-term operating costs, improve efficiency, and position properties for greater resilience—regardless of future weather conditions.

Weathered Based Irrigation Control

Pacific Landscape Management is a Weathermatic Premier Partner, which allows us to install and support their Remote Access irrigation controllers. Over the past several years, these controllers have been installed on the majority of the properties we manage. For properties that have not yet upgraded, we are actively promoting Weathermatic’s SmartLink Wireless Landscape Network Weather-Based Irrigation Control as a subscription service. This technology can reduce irrigation water use by up to 30% compared to standard manually programmed controllers. The subscription is offered for a modest increase in the monthly contract fee at renewal and eliminates the need for a large upfront capital installation cost.

Like many modern technologies, this innovative solution is subscription-based and includes the required hardware at no upfront capital cost. This makes the transition to weather-based irrigation control—an approach we have successfully promoted for over a decade—a clear and cost-effective choice.

Additional information: Flyer click here

See this video outlining Weather Based Control: Video click here

Pressure Regulation Saves Time and Money

Historically, most irrigation systems have relied on non–pressure-regulated sprinklers, which often operate under excessive pressure. This over-pressurization leads to water waste, misting, runoff, and uneven irrigation coverage. Pressure-regulating spray heads are a newer technology designed to address these issues by maintaining water pressure at optimal operating levels. Built-in regulators ensure consistent pressure, allowing spray nozzles to perform efficiently and uniformly.

Why is pressure regulation important?

There are two key reasons: it saves water, and it is now required by law. All sprinklers sold today must include pressure regulation.

Water Savings:

Compared to non-regulated sprinklers, pressure-regulating spray heads can reduce water use by approximately 20–25%. In addition, if a nozzle breaks, pressure regulation can prevent excessive water loss—saving an estimated up to 70% of the water that could otherwise be wasted with older sprinkler systems.

Lawn Conversion to Conserve Water

Let’s be honest—turf was historically installed in areas where it simply doesn’t perform well. Narrow parking strips, parking islands, and similar spaces are difficult to irrigate efficiently and challenging to mow safely. Converting these areas away from lawn can significantly reduce long-term maintenance and water costs.

What are the alternatives?

There are many effective options, including bark mulch, decorative groundcovers, or other low-water landscape solutions. In our experience, parking strips, parking tips, and parking islands are poor locations for turf due to irrigation inefficiency and maintenance challenges. As a result, we are recommending a long-term strategy of lawn conversion in these areas for many of our clients.

To learn more about our approach and the benefits of lawn conversion, visit:

Benefits of Lawn conversion click here



What about rock instead of lawn?

Rock can be an effective alternative in lawn conversion projects. It requires no irrigation and, when thoughtfully designed, can serve as an attractive and durable landscape element. Across the properties we maintain, we actively promote a variety of water conservation solutions and are always happy to help our customers reduce water use and operating costs through projects that deliver strong returns on investment.

To learn more, visit our Water Conservation page:

https://www.pacscape.com/sustainability/water-conservation/

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