A straw colored lawn may be one that is resting not necessarily one that has died. Benefits your landscape, environment, community, and budget. Plants and turf are healthier if you water them in accordance with their needs. Turfgrass and ornamentals develop deeper root systems with proper watering. Native or adapted plants usually require less maintenance.
Proper irrigation means less run-off of fertilizer.
If fertilizer flows down the street, it is not helping your plants and can harm the water supply. Less water for irrigation means lower water bills. Less run-off means healthier rivers and streams. Steady or increased river flows mean a healthier river and bay aquatic community. Overall decrease in water use, especially during peak water demand periods, means forestalling or avoiding building new drinking water and wastewater treatment plants.