David G. CasagrandeDavid G. Casagrande

Insecurity of Climate Change and Insecurity of Climate Change and Residential Landscaping in the Residential Landscaping in the Phoenix OasisPhoenix Oasis

Department of Sociology & AnthropologyDepartment of Sociology & Anthropology

OverviewOverview► Security = economic and politicalSecurity = economic and political► Growing populationGrowing population► Constant or decreasing water supplyConstant or decreasing water supply► Research identified three important Research identified three important

processes that decrease security:processes that decrease security:1.1. cognitive human/desert dichotomycognitive human/desert dichotomy

2.2. oasis mentality as cognitive oasis mentality as cognitive compromisecompromise

3.3. poor sense of community (poor sense of community (““sense of sense of placeplace””))

Population Population Growth in Growth in PhoenixPhoenix

Three Water SourcesThree Water Sources1.1. Salt River systemSalt River system

2.2. Colorado River SystemColorado River System

3.3. Ground WaterGround Water

Currently in 8Currently in 8thth year of drought conditions year of drought conditions► Total Salt River system is at 63% of capacity Total Salt River system is at 63% of capacity

(as of March 23, 2007; source: Salt River Project)(as of March 23, 2007; source: Salt River Project)

► Water managers consider Lake Powell a Water managers consider Lake Powell a primary indicator for the Colorado systemprimary indicator for the Colorado system

► Lake Powell is at 47 % of capacity Lake Powell is at 47 % of capacity (as of March (as of March 5, 2007; source: US DOI Bureau of Reclamation)5, 2007; source: US DOI Bureau of Reclamation)

► Both rely heavily on snow meltBoth rely heavily on snow melt

Why focus on landscaping Why focus on landscaping behavior?behavior?

► Expression of identity and personal securityExpression of identity and personal security► Represents a critical interface between public and Represents a critical interface between public and

policypolicy► Per capita use (gallons per day):Per capita use (gallons per day):

US average US average 100100

Phoenix Phoenix 226226

Paradise Valley Paradise Valley 400 400 ► In Phoenix, 40 % of all water used is for residential In Phoenix, 40 % of all water used is for residential

landscapinglandscaping

““Per capita reduction in water Per capita reduction in water use requires a change in use requires a change in lifestyle expectations…away lifestyle expectations…away from the from the ‘‘oasisoasis’’ mentality mentality””

Phoenix water managerPhoenix water manager

Why focus on landscaping Why focus on landscaping behavior?behavior?

► current per capita water use in Phoenix is current per capita water use in Phoenix is 226 226 gallons gallons per dayper day

► residential per capita use must be reduced to residential per capita use must be reduced to 90 gallons90 gallons per day by 2040 per day by 2040

► current current optimaloptimal technologies could reduce technologies could reduce indoor per capita use to indoor per capita use to 40 gallons40 gallons per day per day

► leaving leaving 50 gallons50 gallons available for outdoor use available for outdoor use► but note some communities currently use but note some communities currently use 400400► this assumes non-residential demand is this assumes non-residential demand is

constantconstant► AND supply remains constantAND supply remains constant

Economic SecurityEconomic Security► Most businesses in metro Phoenix could be Most businesses in metro Phoenix could be

located anywherelocated anywhere► Residents think of Phoenix as a place to Residents think of Phoenix as a place to ““park park

capitalcapital”” ““We have plenty of water, just too many We have plenty of water, just too many

people. I donpeople. I don’’t know how much It know how much I’’m willing to m willing to conserve before weconserve before we’’ll leave. Well leave. We’’re thinking of re thinking of going back to California.going back to California.”” (Interview participant)(Interview participant)

► 12% of jobs are in construction or real estate12% of jobs are in construction or real estate► Property values and regional economy may be Property values and regional economy may be

vulnerablevulnerable► Consider Detroit (and other Consider Detroit (and other ““rust beltrust belt”” cities) cities)

Economic SecurityEconomic Security► ““The WestThe West’’s snow resources are already s snow resources are already

declining as the climate warms.declining as the climate warms.”” (Mote et al (Mote et al 2005)2005)

► Previous residential efficiency goals Previous residential efficiency goals insufficientinsufficient

► Could we create a Could we create a ““dust beltdust belt”” similar to the similar to the ““rust beltrust belt””

Other Complicating FactorsOther Complicating Factors

►microclimate and utility costsmicroclimate and utility costs►heat islandsheat islands►dissatisfaction with growthdissatisfaction with growth►air qualityair quality►traffictraffic►crimecrime

ResearchResearch

►Goal: identify perceptions contributing Goal: identify perceptions contributing to landscaping behavior to landscaping behavior

►Phoenix Area Social Survey (Harlan et Phoenix Area Social Survey (Harlan et al.)al.)

►Detailed follow-up survey with 55 Detailed follow-up survey with 55 participantsparticipants

►Thematic content analysis of in-depth Thematic content analysis of in-depth interviews with 55 participantsinterviews with 55 participants

Landscape Landscape TypesTypesNative Desert

Xeriscape (dry)

Oasis (mixed)

Mesic (Lush)

Past research suggested a paradox:Past research suggested a paradox:►Arizona natives have lowest preference for Arizona natives have lowest preference for

desert landscape and the highest desert landscape and the highest preference for mesic landscape preference for mesic landscape (Martin, (Martin, Peterson, & Stabler, 2002)Peterson, & Stabler, 2002)

► In our survey 67% of long-term residents In our survey 67% of long-term residents agreed with the statement agreed with the statement ““the desert is the desert is beautifulbeautiful””

►Did our respondents prefer dry landscapes Did our respondents prefer dry landscapes for their yards?for their yards?

Human / Desert DichotomyHuman / Desert Dichotomy

Human / Desert DichotomyHuman / Desert Dichotomy

Human / Desert DichotomyHuman / Desert Dichotomy

““II ’’ve lived here my whole life. I love the ve lived here my whole life. I love the desert…what they choose for desert desert…what they choose for desert landscaping is a different story from landscaping is a different story from going out into the real desert.going out into the real desert.””

““I strongly agree [desert is beautiful] if it is I strongly agree [desert is beautiful] if it is out in its natural environment.out in its natural environment.””

““I think the desert belongs in the desert.I think the desert belongs in the desert.””

““I have lived in Arizona all my life. I love I have lived in Arizona all my life. I love the desert in its place.the desert in its place.””

Family Identity and LawnsFamily Identity and Lawns

Family Identity and LawnsFamily Identity and Lawns►““That [mesic] to me looks ideal. It That [mesic] to me looks ideal. It

looks like a family could live there.looks like a family could live there.””► ““If itIf it’’s s allall desert landscaping, the kids desert landscaping, the kids

cancan’’t go out and play, especially if t go out and play, especially if therethere’’s no convenient areas where s no convenient areas where they they cancan play, or parks nearby. play, or parks nearby.””

►““Cactuses… I think about children. The Cactuses… I think about children. The cactuses are very unsafe…I have cactuses are very unsafe…I have children and then therechildren and then there’’s children in s children in the neighborhood that could get hurt .the neighborhood that could get hurt .””

Oasis MentalityOasis Mentality"The mind-set in Phoenix is that we live "The mind-set in Phoenix is that we live

in an oasis . . .in an oasis . . .““ (Conservation coordinator, (Conservation coordinator, Phoenix Department of Water Services)Phoenix Department of Water Services)

““I came to visit when I was 16. I took one I came to visit when I was 16. I took one look at the palm trees and I said look at the palm trees and I said ‘‘This This is like and oasis. This is where I have is like and oasis. This is where I have to live!to live!’”’” (interview participant)(interview participant)

““I love the desert. Where else can you I love the desert. Where else can you live in a place with no humidity and be live in a place with no humidity and be only five minutes from the [golf] only five minutes from the [golf] course.course.”” (interview participant)(interview participant)

Environmental ValuesEnvironmental Values

Environmental ValuesEnvironmental Values

Oasis as a CompromiseOasis as a Compromise‘‘CompromiseCompromise’’ emerges as a theme within oasis- emerges as a theme within oasis-

like landscape choiceslike landscape choices

► ““I think thatI think that’’s [mesic] real dumb for Arizona, although s [mesic] real dumb for Arizona, although I do like it best. But II do like it best. But I’’m going to choose 3 [oasis].m going to choose 3 [oasis].””

► ““……not too much grass, especially considering we live not too much grass, especially considering we live in a desert, water conservation is a very big thing, in a desert, water conservation is a very big thing, but there is still some grass, and I like the shade of but there is still some grass, and I like the shade of trees. It also helps it save more energy as far as trees. It also helps it save more energy as far as electric billselectric bills””

Oasis as a compromiseOasis as a compromise►fits well with history of marketing fits well with history of marketing

Phoenix as an oasis in the desert (still Phoenix as an oasis in the desert (still continues)continues)

Oasis as a compromiseOasis as a compromise►Oasis mentality may also result from Oasis mentality may also result from

conflicting messagesconflicting messages

ConservationConservatione.g., Phoenix Dept. of Water Resourcese.g., Phoenix Dept. of Water Resources

Economic Economic DevelopmeDevelopmentnt

““The desert is a myth!The desert is a myth!””

Arizona Office Arizona Office

of Tourismof Tourism

Solutions?Solutions?►oasis landscaping is insufficient for required oasis landscaping is insufficient for required

per capita water use reduction goalsper capita water use reduction goals

Policy Recommendations:Policy Recommendations:►water pricing = political suicidewater pricing = political suicide►emphasize economic implications in emphasize economic implications in

addition to environmental responsibilityaddition to environmental responsibility►coordinate messages between public coordinate messages between public

agenciesagencies►emphasize xeriscaping, not necessarily emphasize xeriscaping, not necessarily

desert landscapingdesert landscaping

Thanks to:Thanks to:

Collaborators at Arizona State Collaborators at Arizona State University:University:

►Scott YabikuScott Yabiku►Liz Farley-MetzgerLiz Farley-Metzger►Sharon HarlanSharon Harlan

Funded by the National Science Funded by the National Science Foundation Long-Term Ecological Foundation Long-Term Ecological Research ProgramResearch Program