Factors influencing landowner willingness to enroll in a cost-share brush management program in the Pedernales River watershed, Texas

Abstract

The amount and type of vegetation cover on privately owned rangelands in Texas is often a key determinant of how much water flows in streams and springs. In many Texas watersheds more brush on rangeland often means less water available for stream flow and aquifer recharge. For this reason, the Pedernales was one of eight watersheds selected to determine the feasibility of implementing cost-share brush management programs aimed at increasing water yields. In June of 2000, a survey questionnaire was mailed to 720 randomly selected landowners in Blanco and Gillespie Counties to identify factors they found important in their decisions concerning brush management and their willingness to participate in cost-share brush management programs. A total of 418 questionnaires (58%) were completed and returned with 82% of respondents (n=328) who answered a question about enrolling their land indicating a willingness to enroll at least part of their property. Factors such as number of acres owned, primary place of residence, length of time living on the property, satisfaction with brush and amount of brush cover, percent of property with canopy coverage of 5% or less and greater than 50%, and income from wildlife all had a significant influence on respondents' willingness to enroll.