Watering the lawn in Raleigh

Tonight is Tuesday and according to the City of Raleigh 'I think' I can water my lawn. Water restrictions were put in place a couple of years ago during a prolonged drought in the summer of 2006. These restrictions have never been fully lifted and I suspect they probably never will be. This is very frustrating....especially during Autumn when many people in Raleigh North Carolina re-seed their fescue lawns. According to the City of Raleigh I have certain days I am allowed to water: http://www.raleighnc.gov/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_2_306_202_0_43/http;/pt03/DIG_Web_Content/category/Resident/Environment/Cat-FAQ-2007601-114142-Year_Round_Lawn_Irrigati.html

My frustration comes in the fact that Falls Lake (the source for Raleigh's water) has been full or overfull for many months. In fact the lake has been so full that the Army Corp of Engineers are releasing water downstream daily. According to http://www.unc.edu/depts/cmse/science/Falls.html Falls Lake normal level is 250.1 feet. Today's lake level was 250.41 http://epec.saw.usace.army.mil/dailyrep.txt after water was released downstream. It is so frustrating for water to be released downstream when I would like to pay for it and use it in my yard daily. It is also very frustrating trying to understand the day's when I am allowed to water and the days I am not. In fact the only way I can remember my 'safe watering days' was to set up a reminder in my Blackberry's phone calender on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday from 6am to 10am and 6pm to 10pm. Of course if I had a built in watering system the day's and times would be different. This is a perfect example of the inefficiences in government. Couldn't they just put a web site in place they gave us the green light on days when the lake is full and we are allowed to water and a red light when lake level's are dropping and we need to hold back. I agree we needed restrictions last summer. Once back to normal we need to lift the restrictions and use and efficient and clear watering policy that support the people who pay for it. Common sense management can work!