Wide Lawns, Narrow Minds

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I returned from Denver Monday. I was shocked as to how Denver differed from the picture I had created in my minds eye. I envisioned a pretty city, complete with crisp mountain air and architecture that complimented the natural habitat. Boy, was I naive. Denver is an ugly, wasteful town. Don't get me wrong, the people were nice enough, but as far as conservation/environmentalism goes, these folks are as behind the times as you can get.

There is a serious air pollution problem in Denver. The local weather reports include a daily "brown cloud" rating. During my stay young children, those who suffer from asthma, and the eldery were told to stay indoors because the pollution was so bad. A program does exist to reduce the amount that people drive in order to reduce harmful emissions. On certain days those with a particular license plate number -say those ending in with an odd digit- are asked to refrain from driving and carpool or lower themselves to using public transportation instead. It is a voluntary program that is largely ignored.

There has been a housing boom in the last few years and the architecture can only be described as regrettable. I admit, I envisioned log cabins. In reality, Denver and the surrounding suburbs have about three or four different houses... Repeated four million times over.

Denver is essentially located in a desert. Therefore it suffers from a perpetual drought. Anything green, other than pine trees, likely survives only because water is pumped in. Residents are asked to water their impractical yet expansive lawns only on certain days. Watering days are determined by house number. One only need to check the newspaper to see whose turn it is to water. In theory the program is mandatory, but it too is largely ignored. Denverites have huge lawns that they water daily, even at high noon, when the water will not to penetrate the soil, but evaporate into the hot, dry, high altitude air. Automatic sprinkler systems are the norm, and aim is far from precise. I've never seen so many sidewalks get a good soak. I asked a resident why they watered this way during a drought and was told, "The homeowner's association will fine me if my grass dies."

I smiled as our airplane approached Peoria. Most of the lawns are a sad shade of light brown. I didn't need to read the front page of the Journal Star to know we are in the midst of a moderate drought. There is no panic, only common sense. Water is precious and expensive. Lawns are ornamental. Midwesterners will not waste. We are frugal. Many of us are only a generation or two off the farm. There is no need for a program to restrict water usage. We already get it. We know the difference between a want and need. (Well, at least those of us who don't live in Weaver Ridge.) My trip from the airport occurred in the early evening. I didn't witness a single sprinkler in use.

It is very, very good to be home.
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