Introduction
Purpose of the Manual
The Urban Landscape Guide Manual is designed to assist municipal
water utilities in implementing Best Management Practices (BMP) 2.9 Landscape
Irrigation Conservation and Incentives and BMP 2.10 Water Wise Landscape
Design and Conversion Programs from the Water Conservation Best Management
Practices Guide 2004. The Water Conservation Best Management Practices
Guide is the result of the work of the Texas Water Conservation Implementation
Task Force, a volunteer group of Texas citizens with experience in and commitment
to using Texas water more efficiently. It details the Best Management Practice,
or BMP, that is structured for delivering a specific water conservation measure
or series of measures. Each BMP is designed to fit into the water resource
conservation and planning process in order to meet future water needs by
outlining implementation techniques, efficiency measures, cost effectiveness,
and references. While the landscape and the irrigation BMPs are related,
the programs are separated here because in most municipal conservation programs,
the techniques for water efficiency separate along the lines of focus on
landscape plant materials and programs which deal with turfgrass irrigation
systems.
This manual contains more detailed information and links to additional resources
for those considering implementing either or both BMP 2.9 Landscape Irrigation
Conservation and Incentives or 2.10 Water Wise Landscape Design and Conversion
Programs. In addition, the information in this manual can assist utilities
in implementing BMP 2.2 Water Conservation Pricing, BMP 2.8 Water Survey
for Single-Family and Multi-Family Customers, BMP 2.11 Athletic Field Conservation,
BMP 2.12 Golf Course Conservation, and BMP 2.20 Park Conservation.
Section 2 of the Manual contains a discussion of the
role of soil, plants, and atmosphere in water use – a useful background
for developing effective programs. Readers interested in BMP 2.10 Water
Wise Landscape Design and Conversion Programs will find information useful
for implementation in Section 3, which is organized to follow the Seven
Principles of Water Wise Landscape. Section 4 follows the organization
of BMP 2.9 Landscape Irrigation Conservation and Incentives. Section 5
includes information to assist utilities in deciding appropriate sized
programs for the resources they have available. It contains information
on suggested staffing and resources needs for various programs. It also
contains instructions to assist utilities with cost effectiveness analysis
specifically for BMP 2.9 Landscape Irrigation Conservation and Incentives
and BMP 2.10 Water Wise Landscape Design and Conversion Programs. The appendices
includes sample lists of potential measures which can be used for landscape
ordinances, drought ordinances, and landscape water conservation plans. There
are also bibliographical references and resource links.
Using the Manual with the Website
The Urban Landscape Guide Manual is the part of The
Urban Landscape Guide designed for use by municipal water conservation
programs. Focusing only on plant selection or only on irrigation of the
landscape has not been as effective as programs which look at all aspects
of the landscape affecting water use. This integrated approach can best
be accomplished through one main resource that can be used as an acknowledged
general reference tool by everyone involved in water conservation in the
landscape. The entire guide, available at [ ], includes
information appropriate for individuals and landscape professionals. The
core of the site is a plant selector database
described in greater detail in Section 3.3. Utilities using this
manual to design landscape water conservation programs are recommended
to include links to The Urban Landscape Guide Website on their
utility Websites and promote the use of the plant selector database as
a lay resource for their customers and landscape professionals in their
service areas. |
