Grantee Research Project Results
The Social and Environmental Dimensions of Xeriscaping: A Pathway for Ameliorating Coastal Environments
EPA Grant Number: X832302C004Subproject: this is subproject number 004 , established and managed by the Center Director under grant X832302
(EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
Center: Water Innovation Network for Sustainable Small Systems
Center Director: Reckhow, David A.
Title: The Social and Environmental Dimensions of Xeriscaping: A Pathway for Ameliorating Coastal Environments
Investigators: Johns, Rebecca , Krest, Jim , Dorsey, Joseph
Institution: University of South Florida
EPA Project Officer: Packard, Benjamin H
Project Period: September 1, 2005 through August 31, 2008
RFA: Targeted Research Center (2004) Recipients Lists
Research Category: Hazardous Waste/Remediation , Targeted Research
Objective:
More than 80 percent of the domestic water in Florida is used for lawn and garden maintenance despite the relative high expense and scarcity of this important resource. Established xeriscaping techniques could be implemented by citizens to conserve water, but growth in the adoption of sustainable lawn management practices has been slow. This project is a pilot study conducted in the racially and economically diverse neighborhoods of Pinellas County to investigate the socio-economic underpinnings of Florida residents’ lawn management decisions, the persistence of cultural preferences for certain lawn types, and the specific impact of xeriscaping in ameliorating pollution from yard runoff. The study investigates the relationship between characteristics of ethnicity, gender, and socio-economic class in St. Petersburg and degrees of receptivity to environmentally appropriate landscaping.
Supplemental Keywords:
water, watersheds, groundwater, land, soil, marine, estuary, chemicals, toxics, PCB, heavy metals, ecosystem, restoration, terrestrial, aquatic, habitat, innovative technology, remediation, restoration, public policy, decision making, modeling, monitoring, analytical, remote sensing, Florida, FL, EPA Region 4, social science, Florida (FL), Phosphate rock mining (SIC 1475), water, orthophosphate, total phosphorus, Tampa Bay, Bishops Harbor, Cockroach Bay, sediment, pore water,Progress and Final Reports:
Main Center Abstract and Reports:
X832302 Water Innovation Network for Sustainable Small Systems Subprojects under this Center: (EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
X832302C001 Past and Present Water Quality in Florida Coastal Waters
X832302C002 Cyanobacteria Proliferation and Eutrophication in Florida Lakes
X832302C003 Reactive Metal Particle Emulsions for Removal of PCBs
X832302C004 The Social and Environmental Dimensions of Xeriscaping: A Pathway for Ameliorating Coastal Environments
X832302C005 An Historical Perspective on the Economic and Environmental Impacts of the Phosphate Industry on the Tampa Bay Region
X832302C006 Interfacing SWAT and PHABSIM: A Potential GIS-based Water Resource Management Tool
X832302C007 Acquisition of Counters for Gamma-Emitting Radioisotopes
X832302C008 Guided Surface Vehicles
X832302C009 Science Journalism
X832302C010 Administration and Outreach
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.