XERISCAPE REBATE APPLICATION FORM FOR

DRIP IRRIGATION AND RAINWATER HARVESTING LANDSCAPES

HOW TO PARTICIPATE
1) DECIDE WHAT TYPE OF LANDSCAPE YOU WANT TO INSTALL. You can combine the two in different areas of your yard if desired.
2) DEVELOP A PLAN – Use the approved Plant list. Draw a simple diagram on the form provided by the Authority. List each plant to
be used on the form provided by the Authority. List each plant to be used on the application form. Use the numbered lines from
your list to identify the plants on your landscape drawing. HAVE YOUR APPLICATION PREPARED PRIOR TO INSPECTION.
3) CALL 768-3655 to have an Authority inspector visit you at the property to review your application. When your application has
been approved, you may begin your project. Funding will be reserved for the anticipated amount of your rebate.
4) PROCEED WITH YOUR PROJECT. You have six months after your application is approved to complete your project. You may
apply for a project extension if rebate funds are still available.
5) CALL 768-3655 (TTY-768-2477) to arrange for a final inspection. Following final approval, the Authority will apply the rebate
credit to your ABCWUA water bill. Your rebate should appear on your water bill one to two billing cycles after your form is
processed.
6) REBATE CREDITS CANNOT BE GIVEN TO WORK THAT IS ALREADY COMPLETED.

Drip Irrigation Program Requirements

1) Your landscape irrigation water must be provided by the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority.
2) Any landscape removed must be designated high water use on the Albuquerque Plant List. An ABCWUA inspector must approve
your application before you proceed. Pre-existing low water use landscapes are not eligible.
3) Fifty percent of the project rebate area must be covered by plants, as they appear at maturity –not at installation. You select
the qualifying plants from the list provided by the Authority and claim the mature plant area noted on the approved plant list.
Existing plant may be incorporated into the design and contribute to coverage, provided they are on the approved list. Although
trees do not provide ground cover, the Authority recognizes their importance by assigning a fixed ground cover value to
approved trees.
4) Spray irrigation is not permitted in the rebate area. You may hand water or use drip soakers or bubble irrigation systems. If you
hand water, plants must be one gallon or lager container stock. Areas watered with sprinkles, including micro-sprinkles, will not
disqualify your project, but will be excluded from the rebate calculation. Existing sprinkles may be converted to a drip system.
All irrigation systems must have an approved backflow prevention device.
5) You must cover the soil between and beneath the plants with a minimum 2 inches of mulch (3 to 4 inches is recommended).
Common mulches are gravel or decorative bark, but other materials may qualify. Impervious plastic is not permitted, unless it is
part of a water harvesting design.
6) Qualifying landscapes will receive a maximum of .75 cents for every square foot of high water use turf that is converted.
7) You must convert a minimum of 500 square feet to participate.
8) You may receive additional rebate money for COMPOST or RENTAL OF EQUIPMENT to remove sod. See abcwua.org for details.

Note: Rebate credits must remain at the address where the water conservation work has taken place. You
may not transfer the credit from the location of the savings to another account, even if both properties are
owned by the same person.

Page 1 of 7
Rain Water Harvesting Landscape Program Requirements

1) Your landscape irrigation water must be provided by the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority.
2) Any landscape removed must be designated high water use on the Albuquerque Plant List. An ABCWUA inspector must approve
your application before you proceed. Pre-existing low water use landscapes are not eligible.
3) Fifty percent of the project rebate area must be covered by plants, as they appear at maturity –not at installation. You select the
qualifying plants from the list provided by the Authority and claim the mature plant area noted on the approved plant list.
Existing plant may be incorporated into the design and contribute to coverage, provided they are on the approved list. Although
trees do not provide ground cover, the Authority recognizes their importance by assigning a fixed ground cover value to
approved trees.
4) All plants in the rainwater harvest landscape must come from the approved VERY LOW WATER USE PLANT LIST (attached).
5) All irrigation water for the plants must be delivered through harvested rainwater either passively or actively. Passive methods
are contouring the land to direct rainwater to desired areas. Active methods are collecting the water in barrels or cisterns and
then distributing to plants. You can receive additional rebates for rainwater harvesting barrels or cisterns purchased.
6) You must cover the soil between and beneath the plants with a minimum 2 inches of mulch (3 to 4 inches is recommended).
Common mulches are gravel or decorative bark, but other materials may qualify. Impervious plastic is not permitted, unless it is
part of a water harvesting design.
7) Qualifying landscapes will receive a maximum of $1.50 for every square foot of high water use landscape that is converted.
8) You must convert a minimum of 500 square feet to participate.
9) You may receive additional rebate money for COMPOST or RENTAL OF EQUIPMENT to remove sod. See abcwua.org for details.

Note: Rebate credits must remain at the address where the water conservation work has taken place. You
may not transfer the credit from the location of the savings to another account, even if both properties are
owned by the same person.

Page 2 of 7
 Rebate Number _______________

XERISCAPE REBATE APPLICATION FORM

For Drip Irrigation & Rain Water Harvesting Landscapes
Complete this form and call 768-3655 for an appointment.
Property Owner _______________________________________________________________________________________________

Address ______________________________________________________________________________________________________

City __________________________________________________________State _______________ Zip ________________________

Day Phone __________________________________________Evening Phone _____________________________________________

Water Account Number _________________________________________________________________________________________

TO COMPLETE THIS APPLICATION FORM:

1) Measure the high water use area to be converted--Line A below

2) Plant coverage required is half of figure A--Line B below

3) The plant list in the back of the Xeriscape Guide assigns low to
moderate use for plants

4) Rebate Allowance is mature plant values from Xeriscape guide.

A. ___________________ Square feet of high water use landscape to be removed (must be a minimum 500 square feet).
B. ___________________ Square feet of plant cover required (A. divided by 2)
C. ___________________ Amount of rebate to be credited to the above account number.

Page 3 of 7

DRIP IRRIGATION XERISCAPE REBATE APPLICATION FORM
LOW WATER USE PLANTS
Number Rebate Sq. Ft.
Scientific Name of Plants Allowance Total
__________
L1 ______________________________ ________ x __________ = __________
L2______________________________ ________ x __________ = __________
L3 ______________________________ ________ x __________ = __________
L1 ______________________________ ________ x __________ = __________
L4 ______________________________ ________ x __________ = __________
L5 ______________________________ ________ x __________ = __________
L6 ______________________________ ________ x __________ = __________
L7 ______________________________ ________ x __________ = __________
L8 ______________________________ ________ x __________ = __________
L9 ______________________________ ________ x __________ = __________
L10 ______________________________ ________ x __________ = __________
L11 ______________________________ ________ x __________ = __________
L12 ______________________________ ________ x __________ = __________
L13______________________________ ________ x __________ = __________
L14 ______________________________ ________ x __________ = __________
L15 ______________________________ ________ x __________ = __________
LOW WATER SUB TOTAL __________
I am the rightful owner or owner's agent for the property described above.
I am the responsible party for water use and billing at the address described
above. I agree to abide by the requirements of this program. This application
has been accurately completed, and the information herein is intended to
meet the incentive program requirements. I understand that the ABCWUA is
only qualifying my plan for this program and not deeming the plan to be
appropriate to meet any other specific purpose or need.
Owner's Signature _______________________________________________
Date _____________________
Page 4 of 7
Rebate Number _______________
MEDIUM WATER USE PLANTS
Number Rebate Sq. Ft.
Scientific Name of Plants Allowance Total
M1 ______________________________ ________ x __________ = __________
M2______________________________ ________ x __________ = __________
M3 ______________________________ ________ x __________ = __________
M1 ______________________________ ________ x __________ = __________
M4 ______________________________ ________ x __________ = __________
M5 ______________________________ ________ x __________ = __________
M6 ______________________________ ________ x __________ = __________
M7 ______________________________ ________ x __________ = __________
M8 ______________________________ ________ x __________ = __________
M9 ______________________________ ________ x __________ = __________
M10 ______________________________ ________ x __________ = __________
M11 ______________________________ ________ x __________ = __________
M12 ______________________________ ________ x __________ = __________
M13______________________________ ________ x __________ = __________
M14 ______________________________ ________ x __________ = __________
M15 ______________________________ ________ x __________ = __________
MEDIUM WATER SUB TOTAL __________
TOTAL COVERAGE __________
ABCWUA USE ONLY
I have inspected the area to be converted and the conversion plan.
This applicant is eligible to proceed with installation.
ABCWUA Inspector _______________________________Date ____________
This property has been converted and meets
the requirements for this program.
Qualifying square footage:
ABCWUA Inspector _______________________________Date ____________
 Rebate Number _______________

RAIN WATER HARVESTING REBATE APPLICATION FORM

VERY LOW WATER USE PLANTS
Number Rebate Sq. Ft.
Scientific Name of Plants Allowance Total
__________
L1 ______________________________ ________ x __________ = __________
L2______________________________ ________ x __________ = __________
L3 ______________________________ ________ x __________ = __________
L1 ______________________________ ________ x __________ = __________
L4 ______________________________ ________ x __________ = __________
L5 ______________________________ ________ x __________ = __________
L6 ______________________________ ________ x __________ = __________
L7 ______________________________ ________ x __________ = __________
L8 ______________________________ ________ x __________ = __________
L9 ______________________________ ________ x __________ = __________
L10 ______________________________ ________ x __________ = __________
L11 ______________________________ ________ x __________ = __________
L12 ______________________________ ________ x __________ = __________
L13______________________________ ________ x __________ = __________
L14 ______________________________ ________ x __________ = __________
L15 ______________________________ ________ x __________ = __________
LOW WATER SUB TOTAL __________

I am the rightful owner or owner's agent for the property described above.
I am the responsible party for water use and billing at the address described
above. I agree to abide by the requirements of this program. This application
has been accurately completed, and the information herein is intended to
meet the incentive program requirements. I understand that the ABCWUA is
only qualifying my plan for this program and not deeming the plan to be
appropriate to meet any other specific purpose or need.
Owner's Signature _______________________________________________
Date _____________________
ABCWUA USE ONLY
I have inspected the area to be converted and the conversion plan.
This applicant is eligible to proceed with installation.
ABCWUA Inspector _______________________________Date ____________
This property has been converted and meets
the requirements for this program.
Qualifying square footage:
ABCWUA Inspector _______________________________Date ____________

Page 5 of 7
DRAW A DIAGRAM OF YOUR FINAL PLAN HERE (Include rain water harvesting plans if needed)
Xeriscape Plan Account # ____________________________________________________One Square Inch = ___________ feet
Address ________________________________________________________________________________________________

Page 6 of 7
Page 7 of 7
Plants Approved for the
“Rainwater Harvest Garden” Rebate Program

All plants need regular watering when they are first planted in order to establish a root
system that will support growth. The length of time it takes for plants to become well
established varies greatly among plant species and with site conditions. The best
adapted, fastest rooting plants may be well established in one or two growing
seasons. Some plants may take three to five years of watering in summer before they
can be weaned entirely. As the plants root out, gradually decrease the frequency of
irrigation from weekly to semi-monthly, then monthly in summer, half as often in spring
and autumn, and once or twice in winter. As you decrease the frequency of irrigations,
increase the depth that the water penetrates to 30 inches to promote rooting well
below the surface.
Three to four inches of mulch, stones or fibrous types such as pecan shells or
shredded bark, helps suppress the growth of weeds which compete with the desirable
plants for moisture and reduce evaporation of moisture from the soil.
Plants supported only by available precipitation once they are established will
generally grow more slowly and mature at smaller overall dimensions than the same
plants will when irrigated.

TREES
Precipitation only adapted trees will typically not reach shade tree canopy proportions
unless they are grown in runoff catchments where they receive occasional flooding.
AFGHAN PINE/ALLEPO PINE/Pinus halepensis var. brutia and eldarica
*CATCLAW ACACIA/Acacia greggii
CANYON LIVE OAK/Quercus chrysolepis
*DESERT (NEW MEXICO) OLIVE/Forestiera neomexicana
*DESERT WILLOW/Chilopsis linearis
*EMORY OAK /Quercus emoryi
FRAGRANT AS/Fraxinus cuspidata
MESCAL BEAN or TEXAS MOUNTAIN LAUREL/Sophora secundiflora
NETLEAF HACKBERRY/Celtis reticulata
*ONE-SEED JUNIPER /Juniperus monosperma
*PIÑON /Pinus edulis
*SCREWBEAN MESQUITE/Prosopis pubescens
*TEXAS HONEY MESQUITE/Prosopis glandulosa
*VITEX Vitex agnus-castus
*VELVET MESQUITE/Prosopis velutina

SHRUBS
*APACHE PLUME /Fallugia paradoxa
BEEBRUSH/Aloysia wrightii
*BROOM DALEA/Psorothamnus scoparius
*BUSH or SAND PENSTEMON/Penstemon ambiguus
*CHAMISA/Chrysothamnus nauseosus
*CREOSOTEBUSH/Larrea tridentata
*DAMIANITA /Chrysactinia mexicana
*DESERT BROOM /Baccharis sarothroides
DUNE BROOM/Parryella filifolia
FAIRY DUSTER/Caliandra eriophylla
*FEATHER DALEA /Dalea formosa
*FOURWING SALTBUSH/Atriplex canescens
GARDNER SALTBUSH/Atriplex gardneri
GREEN EPHEDRA/E. viridis
JOINT FIR/Ephedra torreyana
LITTLELEAF SUMAC/Rhus microphylla
*MARIOLA/Parthenium incanum
*SAND or THREADLEAF SAGE/Artemisia filifolia
SHADSCALE/Atriplex confertifolia
THREELEAF SUMAC/Rhus trilobata
*TURPENTINE BUSH /Ericameria laricifolia
*WINTERFAT /Ceratoides lanata
*WOLFBERRY /Lycium pallidum
*YELLOW BIRD OF PARADISE/Caesalpinia gilliesii

SHRUB-LIKE CACTUS AND SUCCULENTS

AGAVE/Agave Americana mediopicta
AGAVE/Agave havardiana
AGAVE/Agave parryi or neomexicana
AGAVE/Agave utahensis
BEAKED YUCCA/Yucca rostrata
BEARGRASS/Nolina texana
BIG BEARGRASS/Nolina microcarpa
*BLUE SOTOL/Dasylirion wheeleri
BLUE YUCCA/Yucca rigida
CANDELILLA/Ephorbia antisyphililtica
CANDLE CHOLLA/Opuntia kleiniae
*CANE CHOLLA/Opuntia imbricata
*CHIHUAHUAN PINEAPPLE CACTUS /Echinomastus intertextus
*ENGELMANN’S PRICKLY PEAR/Opuntia engelmannii
GOLD CHOLLA/Opuntia davisii
*GREEN SOTOL/Dasylrion texanum
ISOTE/Yucca filifera or decipiens
JOSHUA TREE/Yucca brevifolia
*MESCAL AGAVE /Agave parryi var. truncata
*NARROWLEAF YUCCA /Yucca glauca
*NEW MEXICO PINCUSHION CACTUS /Escobaria vivipara
*OCOTILLO /Fouquieria splendens
*PENCIL or CHRISTMAS CHOLLA/Opuntia leptocaulis
*PURPLE PRICKLY PEAR/Opuntia macrocentra
*RED-FLOWERED HEDGEHOG CACTUS /Echinocereus coccineus
SANTA RITA PRICKLY PEAR/Opuntia Santa Rita
SCHOTT’S YUCCA/Yucca schottii
SILVER CHOLLA/Opuntia echinocarpa
*SOAPTREE YUCCA/Yucca elata
*SPANISH DAGGER/Yucca baccata
*THOMPSON'S YUCCA/Yucca thompsoniana

WILDFLOWERS AND GARDEN PERENNIALS

*BLACKFOOT DAISY /Melampodium leucanthum
BUSH MORNINGGLORY/Ipomoea leptophylla
*CHOCOLATE FLOWER/Berlandiera lyrata
DESERT FOUR O’CLOCK/Mirabilis glabra
DESERT GLOBEMALLOW/Sphaeralcea ambigua
*DESERT MARIGOLD /Baileya multiradiata
*DESERT or ROUGH MULE’S EARS/Wyethia scabra
DESERT ZINNIA/Zinnia grandiflora
*FERNLEAF VERBENA /Glandularia bipinnatifida
*GIANT or DESERT FOUR O’CLOCK/Mirabilis multiflora
GOLDEN ASTER/Chrysopsis villosa
GOOSEBERRY-LEAF GLOBEMALLOW/Sphaeralcea grossularifolia
JAMES BUCKWHEAT/Eriogonum jamesii
NARROWLEAF PENSTEMON/P. angustifolius
*PALE EVENING PRIMROSE /Oenothera pallida
*PAPERFLOWER /Psilostrophe tagetina
*PERKY SUE /Tetranuris argentea
* PINK WILD SNAPDRAGON or PALMER PENSTEMON/P. palmeri
*SCARLET GLOBEMALLOW/Sphaeralcea coccinea
*SILVER or THREADLEAF GROUNDSEL/Senecio longilobus
WHITE DESERT ZINNIA/Zinnia acerosa
*WHITE TUFTED EVENING PRIMROSE/Oenothera caespitosa

GRASSES
*ALKALI SACATON/Sporobolus airoides
*BLUE GRAMA/Bouteloua gracilis
*BUSH MUHLY/Muhlenbergia porteri
CANE BLUESTEM/Bothriochloa barbinoides
*GIANT SACATON/Sporobolus wrightii
*INDIAN RICEGRASS/Achnatherum syn. Oryzopsis hymenoides
LITTLE BLUESTEM/Schizachyrium scoparium
SAND BLUESTEM/Andropogon hallii
SAND LOVEGRASS/Eragrostis tricodes
SIDEOATS GRAMA/Bouteloua curipendula
*THREADGRASS/Nassella syn. Stipa tenuissima
* The plants noted with an asterisk are species described in Beyond Xeric: A New
Frontier, the University of New Mexico Landscape Architecture Master's degree thesis
of Deborah Stover. These have demonstrated survivability in Albuquerque under
precipitation only conditions. The other plants on the list are also known to be
extremely drought resistant and native to the Albuquerque area. The following
statement taken from the thesis describes the criteria used for all the plants on this list:
"The plants described here are a collection put together from various sources and
descriptions gleaned from the research for this thesis. Watering requirements are not
indicated because they are all adapted to New Mexico’s dry climate and will do well
solely on precipitation after two to three years of irrigation to establish the root
systems. Exact water requirements of plants are unknown. As a result of this thesis
work, the state of New Mexico is currently seeking funding to allow for a study that
would define urban landscape vegetation water needs. For the purposes of this study,
water requirements are based on examples of settings and the plants within them that
are surviving on rainfall or plants that have been reported to have very low water
requirements. Although the “very low” water requirement terminology is subjective,
the plants that meet this criterion have been culled from sources familiar with
vegetation in New Mexico and that state that the water requirement, even for an arid
area, is very low. This list is by no means all-inclusive, but provides some ideas and
suggestions for species that are proven to work in low water environments once
established.