TEXAS URBAN LANDSCAPE GUIDE
INDEX       WaterWise Principles       PlantSelector       Contributors       Links      
Texas AgriLife Extension Service Texas Water Development Board Texas Nursery and Landscape Association Texas AgriLife Extension Service Texas AgriLife Extension Service
A supplement to the Best Management Practices Manual produced by the Texas Water Conservation Task Force.

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
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.


"Landscape planning and design is essential to water use efficiency..."



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