> Home > Scottsdale Water Resources Department > Water Conservation > Scottsdale Xeriscape Garden at Chaparral Park > Garden Topics > We Live in a Watershed...the history and the future of our water is carried in its rivers.

We Live in a Watershed...the history and the future of our water is carried in its rivers.


We Live in a Watershed...Scottsdale Xeriscape Garden

view sign enlarged
 (pdf/413kb/1p)

Watersheds, or drainage basins, are the gathering-ground of a river system. Plants and animals along these waterways protect, regenerate, and often reflect the health of a watershed.      

Why are Riparian Areas Important to Us? Riparian areas purify our water by removing chemicals, organic pollutants and sediments. They allow water to percolate through soil to replenish the water table, enhancing water quality and quantity. Riparian habitat provides shady, green spaces for birds, large mammals (including humans) and other wildlife.

Riparian habitat boarders lakes and streams. Surrounding soil retains water (from surface and groundwater sources), allowing plants that are dependent upon readily available moisture to survive. Riparian areas support 80 to 90 percent of our wildlife species at some time during their lives.                     

We're all Connected! 
The ways we use water alter the environment - and the changes in the environment affect our water resources.

What can you do?
  • Plant Xeriscape.
  • Eliminate chemical fertilizer and pesticide use.
  • Harvest rainwater to reduce soil erosion and runoff that carries pollutants into water supplies.
  • Safely dispose of products, such as paint, pool chlorine and motor oil, at household hazardous waste collection sites.
  • Volunteer with conservation groups to help restore watershed and riparian areas.
Return to Scottsdale Xeriscape Garden Topics

Return to Scottsdale Xeriscape Garden home page

Water Resources

Xeriscape Garden

Online Brochures


  • Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert
    A guide to growing more than 200 low-water-use plants.
    Browse brochure
  • Landscape Watering by Numbers Landscape Watering by the Numbers
    Gives instruction for determining how much water your plants need. View Tools
  • Landscaping with Style Landscaping with Style
    A guide for planning,installing, and maintaining your landscape Browse Brochure