The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's
River Systems and Meteorology Group

The Bureau of Reclamation has entered into cooperative agreements, collectively called the "National Xeriscape(tm)⁽¹⁾ Demonstration Program" (NXDP), to develop data and analyses from the various field projects on the cost, yield and reliability of water use savings from the installation of water-conserving Xeriscape landscapes. Xeriscape is defined as a landscaping approach that uses drought resistant grasses and plants, efficient watering systems, and proper maintenance practices to create an aesthetically pleasing landscape while maintaining desired attributes such as recreation and cooling.

Cooperative demonstration projects of landscape water conservation are being conducted at Austin TX, Phoenix AZ, Las Vegas NV, Denver CO and vicinity, and Fargo ND. The NXDP results will supply municipalities of the western United States with tools to consider the implementation of Xeriscape programs as part of their water supply solutions.

The primary goals of the NXDP are to:

• Conduct consistent investigations at multiple sites in different geographic and municipal settings of the West.
  
• Conduct a summary evaluation (known as meta-analysis) of demonstration features common to all field projects.
  
• Develop a computer model that uses local data as inputs, to estimate the benefits of Xeriscape at municipalities of the western United States.

Four key questions that must be answered to assess the viability of Xeriscape as an alternative in water supply planning are:

• How much water is saved on an annual and seasonal basis when a Xeriscape landscape design is properly installed and maintained? That is, what is the annual and seasonal yield of Xeriscape to the water supply system?
  
• What is the cost of the implementation of Xeriscape both for new construction and as a retrofit to existing landscapes?
  
• How reliable are Xeriscape water savings? Once implemented, does the pattern of conservation savings remain stable or do water consumption patterns change with the age of the landscape?

What marketing strategies affect the implementation of Xeriscape in a community? What is the mix of market incentives, regulatory controls, and educational programs that facilitate the development of Xeriscape as an alternative to the traditional landscape?

Xeriscape(tm)⁽¹⁾ - The trademark for Xeriscape is held by the Denver Water Department