The grass around many of the homes and businesses in Stafford County is turning brown this summer.
Watering lawns continues to be prohibited on county properties and residents are being asked to do their part on a voluntary basis. County Spokeswoman Shannon Howell says it is for the greater good of everyone to avoid a crisis situation. Much of the area remains more than six inches below normal rainfall this year. Though reservoirs there are still within a normal range, that could change if rainfall levels continue below normal.
Populaton levels in Stafford county have increased by a third over the past decade.