Swapping grass for gravel: who’s actually done it?

Gravel can save irrigation when it replaces lawn, but it isn’t automatically the best low-water surface. In a hot, sunny spot, drought-adapted ground cover can need much less water than turf while still shading the soil. Gravel stops the lawn watering, but doesn’t provide that living cover. I’d consider it where plants won’t thrive or you need a durable path, and look at drought-tolerant planting for the rest. The water savings depend on what the gravel replaces.