Exploring the mosaic of perceptions for water quality across watersheds in San Antonio, Texas

Past research on environmental perceptions has, for the most part, treated responses as independently distributed across a given study area. However, a random sampling of respondents may not necessarily produce a randomly distributed pattern of views on the natural environment. This article explores the degree to which perceptions of water quality are spatially correlated across two watersheds in San Antonio, Texas. Using spatial analysis techniques, we describe and map the mosaic of perceptions of water quality in Salado and Leon creeks running through the heart of the metropolitan area. Specifically, we test the degree to which responses are spatially autocorrelated across the watersheds, and then provide explanation as to why clustering of perceptions occurs in specific locations. Results demonstrate that environmental perceptions are in fact spatially dependent across the landscape and that geographic networks of issue-based activism contribute to the formation of localized “hot spots” of similar responses. Finally, we discuss how the results provide direction for more effective approaches to watershed planning and policy.