Get Inspired for the 2025 Water Conservation Art Contest!

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Welcome to the Tri-Valley Water Conservation Art Contest! This year, we’re inviting students from Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin, and Dougherty Valley to channel their creativity and help inspire our community to rethink our front lawns.

This Year’s Theme: Habitat Heroes: Transforming Lawns into Vibrant Native Gardens

Create a piece of art that shows why replacing lawns with California-native, water-wise habitat gardens is important for our environment, wildlife, and future. Not only will you learn something new, but your artwork could make a real difference in our community’s efforts to protect nature and conserve water.

Why Are Lawns a Problem?

Most of us are familiar with the traditional green lawn—but did you know they can have some serious downsides for the environment?

  • Water Waste: Did you know that about one-third of the water used in American homes is for landscape irrigation? Lawns need a lot of water to stay green, and in places like California, where droughts are common, this can put a huge strain on our water supply.
  • Pollution: Lawns can harm the environment in a few ways:
    • Air Pollution: Gas-powered mowers, leaf blowers, and other lawn equipment release greenhouse gases and other pollutants into the air.
    • Water Pollution: Fertilizers and pesticides used on lawns can run off into creeks, rivers, and lakes, polluting the water and harming fish and other aquatic life.
  • Biodiversity Loss: Lawns are like a desert for many animals. They don’t provide food, shelter, or nesting places for birds, bees, butterflies, and other wildlife that make our ecosystems thrive.
  • Carbon Footprint: Between the production of fertilizers, the fuel for mowing, and the water used for irrigation, lawns have a big carbon footprint, contributing to climate change.
What’s the Solution? Habitat Gardening!

Instead of a lawn, imagine turning your yard into a vibrant garden filled with beautiful, drought-resistant plants that support wildlife. This is called habitat gardening or backyard restoration. Here’s why it’s a great idea:

  • Supports Wildlife: Native plants attract and support local birds, bees, butterflies, and other animals by providing food, shelter, and nesting places.
  • Saves Water: Native plants are adapted to our local climate, meaning they need less water to survive.
  • Reduces Pollution: Habitat gardens don’t need fertilizers or pesticides, and you don’t need gas-powered equipment to maintain them.
  • Encourages Exploration: These gardens create spaces for kids and families to explore nature right in their own backyard.
  • Adds Beauty: Habitat gardens reflect the natural beauty of California with stunning plants, lovely fragrances, and colorful pollinators like butterflies and hummingbirds.

Want to learn more about habitat gardening? Check out Calscape.org, a free tool that shows you what plants are native to your area and how to create a wildlife-friendly garden.

Your Mission

We want you to help show why replacing lawns with habitat gardens is so important! Use your creativity to create a piece of art that educates and inspires others about this change. Your artwork can be a painting, drawing, photo, sculpture, digital illustration, or even a short animation—it’s up to you!

Need Some Inspiration?

Think about:

  • How much water lawns use compared to native gardens.
  • The birds, butterflies, and bees that benefit from habitat gardens.
  • The beauty of California-native plants and how they can replace boring, thirsty grass.
  • Envision what a healthy and thriving habitat looks like.
  • Think about which visitors would you like to see in your habitat garden.
  • Find a habitat garden near you to visit and count the species you see.

Check out these resources for ideas and inspiration:

By planting native plants we can provide important habitats for our native birds and butterflies. Click here to play our matching game to see which plant supports each native bird or butterfly, and then try to match the before and after pictures of homes that have transformed their lawns into habitat gardens. 

Habitats at work!

See examples of how the plants we choose to use in our gardens can support various wildlife in the following images.

 

If you build it, they will come!

Providing food, shelter, water and nesting places in our landscaping will attract birds, bees, butterflies and other wildlife. Let’s work together to make our community a more sustainable place—your artwork may just inspire someone to replace their lawn with a habitat garden making you a Habitat Hero too!

Contest Details
  • Who Can Enter?
    • K-12 students in Livermore, Dublin, Pleasanton, or Dougherty Valley.
  • What Can You Submit?
    • Any visual art, as long as it’s no larger than 2 ft x 2 ft x 2 ft.
  • When’s the Deadline?
    • All entries must be submitted by March 3, 2025, at 5:00 PM.
  • Judging and Prizes
    • Finalists will be selected by staff from local water agencies and displayed online in April 2025 for public voting.
    • The grand prize winner will receive a brand-new iPad, and all finalists’ artwork will be displayed at public locations in May 2025.
  • Click here for the full contest rules and submission form