David G. Casagrande

1
Insecurity of Climate Change and Residential
Landscaping in the Phoenix Oasis
David G. Casagrande
Department of Sociology Anthropology
2
Overview

• Security economic and political
• Growing population
• Constant or decreasing water supply
• Research identified three important processes
  that decrease security
• cognitive human/desert dichotomy
• oasis mentality as cognitive compromise
• poor sense of community (sense of place)

3
Population Growth in Phoenix
4
Three Water Sources

• Salt River system
• Colorado River System
• Ground Water
• Currently in 8th year of drought conditions
• Total Salt River system is at 63 of capacity (as
  of March 23, 2007 source Salt River Project)
• Water managers consider Lake Powell a primary
  indicator for the Colorado system
• Lake Powell is at 47 of capacity (as of March
  5, 2007 source US DOI Bureau of Reclamation)
• Both rely heavily on snow melt

5
Why focus on landscaping behavior?

• Expression of identity and personal security
• Represents a critical interface between public
  and policy
• Per capita use (gallons per day)
• US average 100
• Phoenix 226
• Paradise Valley 400
• In Phoenix, 40 of all water used is for
  residential landscaping

Per capita reduction in water use requires a
change in lifestyle expectationsaway from the
oasis mentality Phoenix water manager
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Why focus on landscaping behavior?

• current per capita water use in Phoenix is 226
  gallons per day
• residential per capita use must be reduced to 90
  gallons per day by 2040
• current optimal technologies could reduce indoor
  per capita use to 40 gallons per day
• leaving 50 gallons available for outdoor use
• but note some communities currently use 400
• this assumes non-residential demand is constant
• AND supply remains constant

7
Economic Security

• Most businesses in metro Phoenix could be located
  anywhere
• Residents think of Phoenix as a place to park
  capital
• We have plenty of water, just too many
  people. I dont know how much Im willing to
  conserve before well leave. Were thinking of
  going back to California. (Interview
  participant)
• 12 of jobs are in construction or real estate
• Property values and regional economy may be
  vulnerable
• Consider Detroit (and other rust belt cities)

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Economic Security

• The Wests snow resources are already declining
  as the climate warms. (Mote et al 2005)
• Previous residential efficiency goals
  insufficient
• Could we create a dust belt similar to the
  rust belt

9
Other Complicating Factors

• microclimate and utility costs
• heat islands
• dissatisfaction with growth
• air quality
• traffic
• crime

10
Research

• Goal identify perceptions contributing to
  landscaping behavior
• Phoenix Area Social Survey (Harlan et al.)
• Detailed follow-up survey with 55 participants
• Thematic content analysis of in-depth interviews
  with 55 participants

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Landscape Types
Native Desert
Xeriscape (dry)
Oasis (mixed)
Mesic (Lush)
12
Human / Desert Dichotomy

• Past research suggested a paradox
• Arizona natives have lowest preference for desert
  landscape and the highest preference for mesic
  landscape (Martin, Peterson, Stabler, 2002)
• In our survey 67 of long-term residents agreed
  with the statement the desert is beautiful
• Did our respondents prefer dry landscapes for
  their yards?

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Human / Desert Dichotomy
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Human / Desert Dichotomy

• Ive lived here my whole life. I love the
  desertwhat they choose for desert landscaping is
  a different story from going out into the real
  desert.
• I strongly agree desert is beautiful if it is
  out in its natural environment.
• I think the desert belongs in the desert.
• I have lived in Arizona all my life. I love the
  desert in its place.

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Family Identity and Lawns
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Family Identity and Lawns

• That mesic to me looks ideal. It looks like a
  family could live there.
• If its all desert landscaping, the kids cant
  go out and play, especially if theres no
  convenient areas where they can play, or parks
  nearby.
• Cactuses I think about children. The cactuses
  are very unsafeI have children and then theres
  children in the neighborhood that could get hurt
  .

17
Oasis Mentality

• "The mind-set in Phoenix is that we live in an
  oasis . . . (Conservation coordinator, Phoenix
  Department of Water Services)
• I came to visit when I was 16. I took one look
  at the palm trees and I said This is like and
  oasis. This is where I have to live! (interview
  participant)
• I love the desert. Where else can you live in a
  place with no humidity and be only five minutes
  from the golf course. (interview participant)

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Environmental Values
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Environmental Values
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Oasis as a Compromise

• Compromise emerges as a theme within oasis-like
  landscape choices
• I think thats mesic real dumb for Arizona,
  although I do like it best. But Im going to
  choose 3 oasis.
• not too much grass, especially considering we
  live in a desert, water conservation is a very
  big thing, but there is still some grass, and I
  like the shade of trees. It also helps it save
  more energy as far as electric bills

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Oasis as a compromise

• fits well with history of marketing Phoenix as an
  oasis in the desert (still continues)

22
Oasis as a compromise

• Oasis mentality may also result from conflicting
  messages

23
Conservation

• e.g., Phoenix Dept. of Water Resources

24
Economic Development
Arizona Office of Tourism

• The desert is a myth!

25
Solutions?

• oasis landscaping is insufficient for required
  per capita water use reduction goals
• Policy Recommendations
• water pricing political suicide
• emphasize economic implications in addition to
  environmental responsibility
• coordinate messages between public agencies
• emphasize xeriscaping, not necessarily desert
  landscaping

26
Thanks to

• Collaborators at Arizona State University
• Scott Yabiku
• Liz Farley-Metzger
• Sharon Harlan
• Funded by the National Science Foundation
  Long-Term Ecological Research Program