You are now in San Diego County category.

This week marks the 10-year anniversary of the man-made opening of the Bolsa Chica wetlands to the Pacific Ocean. Wetlands are an essential part of coastal ecosystems. They improve water quality by filtering sediment, nutrients and pesticides, recharge groundwater, protect shorelines by increasing resistance to erosion, provide bird flyways and most importantly are incubators for a wide variety of fish. California has lost 91 percent of its wetlands, more than any other state.

While the state of California has eased its restrictions on water use in response to a moderately wet winter, the drought is not over yet, and there are simple ways you can continue to save water around your home. Residents should be aware of the options available to reduce outdoor water use, while preserving beautiful outdoor landscapes, including lawns.The good news is that you can take steps to save significant amounts of water, and it does not have to be a death sentence to your landscaping.

You never know what kind of bold, bizarre and humanity-benefitting concepts the Land Art Generator Initiative (LAGI) will yield. After all, the LAGI is the force behind a biannual design competition — motto: “Renewable Energy Can Be Beautiful” — that in 2014 introduced the world to Energy Duck, a semi-terrifying, solar panel-clad bird-monster roughly the size of a tugboat. Like in years past, LAGI 2016 aims to solicit “human-centered solutions” that marry site-specific public art with sustainable energy infrastructure.