Instead of being dependant on petrochemical agribusiness and wasting river water to inefficiently water lawns and monoculture crops, why not grow food that is adaptable to the ecosystem of the hot dry central valley??

Dandylions on lawns are valued guests, not "weeds", they are rich in vitamin C and essential elements like iron (Fe) and magnesium (Mg). We sincerely hope people would not spray dandylions with toxic herbicide (another petrochemical byproduct, reason for ongoing occupation of Iraq) as a hungry traveler may wish to eat a leaf or two of this nutritious so-called "weed"..

Sacramento and San Joauqin river delta/valley plants like cattail that are edible could survive in the flooded delta that is now walled of by levees surrounding sinking islands. The levees prevent minerals and nutrients from gathering on islands, part of the reason they have subsided several meters below sea level and need taxpayer money to repair the leaking levees. Farms on the islands are relying on the remnants of once rich topsoil, from when the river remained unhindered by dams and diversions. However, by staying there year after year and preventing flooding from depositing new nutrients/minerals, they are losing the value of the soil..

The starchy roots of cattail can be cooked and taste sort of like potatoe. imagine a time when the Sacramento and San Joauqin merged naturally at the bay and edible plants like cattail grew free and unhindered. Needless to say the poor and hungry would not be turned away..

If dandylions and cattails are not to your liking, there are many other options for growing food on any given lawn space. Garlic and other root vegetables are options, nopalitos cactus would also tolerate the dry heat..