AWARE Update March 2007

AWARE Colorado continues to visit communities around the state to inform local officials and others about tools and strategies to protect water quality. To learn more about the AWARE Colorado program or schedule a presentation click here.

Here are some resources, articles and upcoming events.

• NEWS FROM AWARE

AWARE Colorado cosponsors Sustaining Colorado's Watersheds conference

AWARE Colorado and the League of Women Voters of Colorado Education Fund are proud to be cosponsors of the second annual Sustaining Colorado’s Watershed conference.

This conference, Making the Water Quality Connections, will explore the connections between water quality and land use, water supply, energy development, wildlife and other related issues. It will also feature information about emerging issues and recent developments in water quality monitoring.

Other cosponsors include the Colorado Watershed Network, the Colorado Lakes and Reservoir Management Association, the Colorado Watershed Assembly and the Colorado Riparian Association.

The conference will be held on Oct. 2-4, 2007, at The Village at Breckenridge.

For more information, contact Cynthia Peterson at 303-861-5195 or cpeterson@awarecolorado.org.

• MORE NEWS

EPA promotes green infrastructure to protect water quality

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently released a memo to EPA regional administrators highlighting opportunities to increase the development and use of green infrastructure – strategically planned and locally managed networks of protected green space with multiple purposes – in water program implementation.

The memo, issued by Benjamin Grumbles, assistant administrator of the Office of Water, strongly supports using green infrastructure strategies described in the new Natural Resources Defense Council report “Rooftops to Rivers.” (See Resources.)

The Office of Water is working with a coalition of organizations, including the Natural Resources Defense Council, the National Association of Clean Water Agencies, and the Low Impact Development Center, to “develop more strategies for green infrastructure approaches to water quality challenges,” according to the memo. As the strategies are developed, the office plans to make available additional tools and information about implementing green infrastructure in water programs.

• RESOURCES

Riparian Setbacks: Technical Information for Decision Makers

This report documents recent research about the benefits of riparian areas and setbacks, the economics of riparian setbacks and implementation of riparian setbacks through zoning regulations in northeast Ohio.

Logon www.crwp.org/pdf_files/riparian_setback_paper_jan_2006.pdf.

Rooftops to Rivers: Green Strategies for Controlling Stormwater and Combined Sewer Overflows

This report highlights green infrastructure as an alternative to traditional stormwater management approaches. It includes economic benefits of green solutions, policy recommendations for local decision makers and case studies from the U.S. and Canada.

Logon www.nrdc.org/water/pollution/rooftops/contents.asp.

Getting Your Feet Wet with Social Marketing: A Social Marketing Guide for Watershed Programs

This online resource, published by the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, leads readers through the social marketing process using watershed examples and case studies from throughout the country. Worksheets and additional resources are included.

Logon www.ag.utah.gov/conservation/GettingYourFeetWet1.pdf.

"Using NEMO - Nonpoint Source Education for Municipal Officials - to Advance Watershed Management" Webcast audio recording

Chet Arnold from the University of Connecticut’s Center for Land Use Education and Research, John Rosum with the Connecticut Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials (NEMO) Project and Dave Dickson with the National NEMO Network provide a thorough overview of the methods, impacts and educational offerings of the NEMO Program. They also discuss the National NEMO Network, an organization of 30 affiliated state and local educational programs.

An archived audio recording of the Webcast can be accessed at www.epa.gov/owow/watershed/wacademy/webcasts.

Web site encourages green infrastructure

Hosted by The Conservation Fund and the USDA Forest Service, www.greeninfrastructure.net, illustrates that identifying and planning for green infrastructure provides a framework for smart conservation and smart growth to ensure abundant clean water and healthy landscapes into the future.

The site includes a section on Elements of Successful Green Infrastructure Initiatives; examples of benefits; profiles of related projects around the country (including the Mountain West where the Chatfield Basin is featured); and more.

• ARTICLES

Mountain stormwater management in Jefferson County

Even though land development in the mountains appears less “urbanized," the effects of stormwater on mountain land and waterways are similar to the effects in the Plains. The article explains why low-impact development techniques are important in mountain and foothill settings, and gives examples.

Logon http://ourwater.org/econnection/connection24/Jeffco.html.

Water Quality and Land Use: Analyzing relationships among multiple watersheds using contingency analysis

This article in the journal Stormwater discusses how contingency analyses can be used to explain the complex relationships between water quality and land use patterns in easily understood terms.

Logon www.gradingandexcavation.com/sw_0701_water.html.

Learning from Nature: Reducing Stormwater Impacts

Stormwater management systems in the Denver, Colo., area that utilize natural processes as a design guide are featured in this article. The approaches include creating healthy stream channels, designing effective stormwater detention and increasing infiltration of runoff.

Logon www.udfcd.org/downloads/pdf/Wulliman-LakeLine%20Article.pdf.

• UPCOMING EVENTS

Sustaining Colorado’s Watersheds: Making the Water Quality Connections
Oct. 2-4, 2007
The Village at Breckenridge

For more information, contact Cynthia Peterson at 303-861-5195 or cpeterson@awarecolorado.org.

• FOR MORE INFORMATION

To learn more about ways communities can prevent the impacts of land use on water quality, visit the AWARE Colorado Web site at www.awarecolorado.org.

A statewide program to educate local decision makers about the impacts of land use choices on water quality AWARE Colorado Home AWARE Updates Past Issues	AWARE Colorado Update • March 2007
	AWARE Colorado continues to visit communities around the state to inform local officials and others about tools and strategies to protect water quality. To learn more about the AWARE Colorado program or schedule a presentation click here. Here are some resources, articles and upcoming events. • NEWS FROM AWARE AWARE Colorado cosponsors Sustaining Colorado's Watersheds conference AWARE Colorado and the League of Women Voters of Colorado Education Fund are proud to be cosponsors of the second annual Sustaining Colorado’s Watershed conference. This conference, Making the Water Quality Connections, will explore the connections between water quality and land use, water supply, energy development, wildlife and other related issues. It will also feature information about emerging issues and recent developments in water quality monitoring. Other cosponsors include the Colorado Watershed Network, the Colorado Lakes and Reservoir Management Association, the Colorado Watershed Assembly and the Colorado Riparian Association. The conference will be held on Oct. 2-4, 2007, at The Village at Breckenridge. For more information, contact Cynthia Peterson at 303-861-5195 or cpeterson@awarecolorado.org. • MORE NEWS EPA promotes green infrastructure to protect water quality The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently released a memo to EPA regional administrators highlighting opportunities to increase the development and use of green infrastructure – strategically planned and locally managed networks of protected green space with multiple purposes – in water program implementation. The memo, issued by Benjamin Grumbles, assistant administrator of the Office of Water, strongly supports using green infrastructure strategies described in the new Natural Resources Defense Council report “Rooftops to Rivers.” (See Resources.) The Office of Water is working with a coalition of organizations, including the Natural Resources Defense Council, the National Association of Clean Water Agencies, and the Low Impact Development Center, to “develop more strategies for green infrastructure approaches to water quality challenges,” according to the memo. As the strategies are developed, the office plans to make available additional tools and information about implementing green infrastructure in water programs. • RESOURCES Riparian Setbacks: Technical Information for Decision Makers This report documents recent research about the benefits of riparian areas and setbacks, the economics of riparian setbacks and implementation of riparian setbacks through zoning regulations in northeast Ohio. Logon www.crwp.org/pdf_files/riparian_setback_paper_jan_2006.pdf. Rooftops to Rivers: Green Strategies for Controlling Stormwater and Combined Sewer Overflows This report highlights green infrastructure as an alternative to traditional stormwater management approaches. It includes economic benefits of green solutions, policy recommendations for local decision makers and case studies from the U.S. and Canada. Logon www.nrdc.org/water/pollution/rooftops/contents.asp. Getting Your Feet Wet with Social Marketing: A Social Marketing Guide for Watershed Programs This online resource, published by the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, leads readers through the social marketing process using watershed examples and case studies from throughout the country. Worksheets and additional resources are included. Logon www.ag.utah.gov/conservation/GettingYourFeetWet1.pdf. "Using NEMO - Nonpoint Source Education for Municipal Officials - to Advance Watershed Management" Webcast audio recording Chet Arnold from the University of Connecticut’s Center for Land Use Education and Research, John Rosum with the Connecticut Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials (NEMO) Project and Dave Dickson with the National NEMO Network provide a thorough overview of the methods, impacts and educational offerings of the NEMO Program. They also discuss the National NEMO Network, an organization of 30 affiliated state and local educational programs. An archived audio recording of the Webcast can be accessed at www.epa.gov/owow/watershed/wacademy/webcasts. Web site encourages green infrastructure Hosted by The Conservation Fund and the USDA Forest Service, www.greeninfrastructure.net, illustrates that identifying and planning for green infrastructure provides a framework for smart conservation and smart growth to ensure abundant clean water and healthy landscapes into the future. The site includes a section on Elements of Successful Green Infrastructure Initiatives; examples of benefits; profiles of related projects around the country (including the Mountain West where the Chatfield Basin is featured); and more. • ARTICLES Mountain stormwater management in Jefferson County Even though land development in the mountains appears less “urbanized," the effects of stormwater on mountain land and waterways are similar to the effects in the Plains. The article explains why low-impact development techniques are important in mountain and foothill settings, and gives examples. Logon http://ourwater.org/econnection/connection24/Jeffco.html. Water Quality and Land Use: Analyzing relationships among multiple watersheds using contingency analysis This article in the journal Stormwater discusses how contingency analyses can be used to explain the complex relationships between water quality and land use patterns in easily understood terms. Logon www.gradingandexcavation.com/sw_0701_water.html. Learning from Nature: Reducing Stormwater Impacts Stormwater management systems in the Denver, Colo., area that utilize natural processes as a design guide are featured in this article. The approaches include creating healthy stream channels, designing effective stormwater detention and increasing infiltration of runoff. Logon www.udfcd.org/downloads/pdf/Wulliman-LakeLine%20Article.pdf. • UPCOMING EVENTS Sustaining Colorado’s Watersheds: Making the Water Quality Connections Oct. 2-4, 2007 The Village at Breckenridge For more information, contact Cynthia Peterson at 303-861-5195 or cpeterson@awarecolorado.org. • FOR MORE INFORMATION To learn more about ways communities can prevent the impacts of land use on water quality, visit the AWARE Colorado Web site at www.awarecolorado.org.
	AWARE Colorado is an educational program of the League of Women Voters of Colorado Education Fund. It is funded by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment through a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Copyright 2007 League of Women Voters of Colorado Education Fund 1410 Grant Street, Suite B204, Denver, CO 80203