Residential Landscapes, Homeowner Attitudes, and Water-wise Choices in New Mexico

Abstract

<jats:p>Residential landscapes are responsible for a large share of the water use of New Mexico communities. Water conservation plans and programs are being promulgated throughout New Mexico and the western U.S. as concern grows over the sufficiency and variability of present supplies, sustainability of current population growth rates, and desire for enhanced economic development. Household attitudes, choices, and behaviors ultimately underlie the success and performance of community water conservation programs. Homeowners in three New Mexico cities were surveyed concerning their attitudes and behavior toward water use, water conservation, and residential landscapes. Findings suggest that New Mexico's homeowners are mindful of the water resource challenges faced by communities, and are prepared to shoulder responsibility for stewarding the state's water resources. There is broad community support to limit traditional turfgrasses [e.g., kentucky bluegrass (<jats:italic>Poa pratensis</jats:italic>)] and to increase the areas planted to native, natural, and water-conserving landscapes; for example, 92% favored limiting turfgrass to less than 25% of the area around public buildings. Evidence showing that 40% are not “content” with their current landscape suggests that significant impediments remain and limit still greater adoption of water-conserving landscapes and subsequent potential for increased household water savings.</jats:p>

Residential landscapes as social-ecological systems: a synthesis of multi-scalar interactions between people and their home environment

“…This positive relationship is described by ecologists as a "luxury effect" resulting from the financial ability to create ecologically-rich landscapes, and by social scientists as a "prestige effect" involving symbolic displays of identity and social status beyond economic wherewithal (Martin et al 2004;Kinzig et al 2005;Grove et al 2006b;Hope et al 2006;Troy et al 2007). Financial resources, as well as time constraints, influence management choices by restricting the capacity to modify landscapes (Templeton et al 1999;Hurd et al 2006;Boone et al 2010). Specifically, income predicts landscape preferences , irrigation time, and outdoor water consumption (Osmond and Hardy 2004;Sovocool et al 2006;Harlan et al 2009;Polebitski and Palmer 2010).…”

Irrigation performance in private urban landscapes: A study case in Zaragoza (Spain)

“…This is particularly true in areas characterized by low-middle income and high irrigation water cost (Domene and Saurí, 2003). Hurd et al (2006) showed that water cost was closely related to the choice of landscape species in New Mexico (USA). In general, residential water use is characterized by inelastic demand (Renzetti, 2002): demand variation is a smaller ratio than the ratio of water cost variation.…”

Domestic Gardens as Water-wise Landscapes: A Case Study in Southwestern Europe

“…Multiple factors, such as the typology of the garden, its components, and its influence on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, were analyzed in that project Smith et al, 2005). In the United States, there have been several studies examining residents' attitudes and preferences toward urban landscapes and water conservation choices (Hurd et al, 2006;Spinti et al, 2004;St. Hilaire et al, 2010;Varlamoff et al, 2001).…”