AWARE Update May 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 new resources and upcoming events.

• NEWS

Green roof over EPA

The new Environmental Protection Agency’s Region 8 headquarters at 1595 Wynkoop St., in Denver, features numerous environmentally friendly designs and systems.

One of the key features that addresses water quality is the building’s green roof, one of the first of its kind in the Interior West. A green roof is vegetated to absorb and slowly release precipitation to mimic a more natural landscape. The vegetation is expected to filter pollutants found in rain water and to reduce peak flow and runoff volumes, resulting in reduced storm water impacts on the nearby South Platte River. More...

• RESOURCES

Green Values Stormwater Toolbox

This Web site describes how green infrastructure can naturally manage stormwater, reduce flooding and improve water quality. It includes a stormwater calculator to estimate how green infrastructure can reduce stormwater runoff and related expenses.

Logon http://greenvalues.cnt.org/.

LID Standard Details and Specifications Technical Guidelines

This Web site promotes the use of the low-impact development (LID) technologies. It hosts a forum and clearinghouse for the development of details and specifications for LID technologies. This is a volunteer effort, which is lead by The Low Impact Development Technical Guidelines Subcommittee of the American Society of Civil Engineers' Environmental & Water Resources Institute.

Logon www.lowimpactdevelopment.org/ewri_sds.htm.

Low Impact Development for Big Box Retailers

This U.S. EPA-funded document helps big box retailers integrate low-impact development stormwater management techniques into their site designs for regulatory compliance and natural resource protection.

Logon www.lowimpactdevelopment.org/bigbox/.

Riparian Buffer Width, Vegetative Cover, and Nitrogen Removal Effectiveness: A Review of Current Science and Regulations

This report summarizes existing scientific literature on the effectiveness of riparian buffers to improve water quality by removing nitrogen from surface and groundwater. It identifies information from published literature to help managers make decisions about developing, maintaining or restoring riparian buffers.

Logon www.epa.gov/ada/download/reports/600R05118/600R05118.pdf.

• ARTICLES

Land Conservation: A Permanent Solution for Drinking Water Source Protection

Published by the National Environmental Services Center in its spring 2006 issue of On Tap, this article discusses how communities can use land conservation as a tool to protect drinking water sources. It offers a step-by-step approach to source water protection.

Logon www.nesc.wvu.edu/ndwc/articles/OT/SP06/OT_SP06_LAND.pdf.

Stormwater Best Management Practices In Site Plan and Subdivision Review: How Should Planning Boards Make Sure that Development Applications Comply with the New State Stormwater Regulations?

This article discusses how to include low-impact development and nonstructural stormwater best management practices in site plan and subdivision review.

Logon www.anjec.org/pdfs/Spring2006ANJECReport.pdf.

• UPCOMING EVENTS

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

This conference will explore the connections between water quality and land use, water supply, energy development, wildlife and other hot topics. Guest speaker Luther Propst, of the Sonoran Institute, will discuss "Overlapping Interests: Balancing Water Quality, Quantity and Energy." Harris Sherman, executive director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, and Jim Martin, executive director of the Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment will lead a legislative panel, which will be followed by a variety of presentations and fieldtrip/workshop opportunities.

For more information logon www.coloradowater.org/conference/index.htm.

Emerging Contaminants of Concern in the Environment: Issues, Investigations, and Solutions
June 25-27, 2007
Vail Cascade Resort, Vail, Colo.

The conference will provide a forum on contaminants of emerging concern (ECs) and is structured around four major themes: EC detection and sources; EC fate and transport; EC receptors and effects; and EC solutions and communication.

For more information logon http://awra.org/meetings/Vail2007/index.html.

• 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 • May 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 new resources and upcoming events. • NEWS Green roof over EPA The new Environmental Protection Agency’s Region 8 headquarters at 1595 Wynkoop St., in Denver, features numerous environmentally friendly designs and systems. One of the key features that addresses water quality is the building’s green roof, one of the first of its kind in the Interior West. A green roof is vegetated to absorb and slowly release precipitation to mimic a more natural landscape. The vegetation is expected to filter pollutants found in rain water and to reduce peak flow and runoff volumes, resulting in reduced storm water impacts on the nearby South Platte River. More... • RESOURCES Green Values Stormwater Toolbox This Web site describes how green infrastructure can naturally manage stormwater, reduce flooding and improve water quality. It includes a stormwater calculator to estimate how green infrastructure can reduce stormwater runoff and related expenses. Logon http://greenvalues.cnt.org/. LID Standard Details and Specifications Technical Guidelines This Web site promotes the use of the low-impact development (LID) technologies. It hosts a forum and clearinghouse for the development of details and specifications for LID technologies. This is a volunteer effort, which is lead by The Low Impact Development Technical Guidelines Subcommittee of the American Society of Civil Engineers' Environmental & Water Resources Institute. Logon www.lowimpactdevelopment.org/ewri_sds.htm. Low Impact Development for Big Box Retailers This U.S. EPA-funded document helps big box retailers integrate low-impact development stormwater management techniques into their site designs for regulatory compliance and natural resource protection. Logon www.lowimpactdevelopment.org/bigbox/. Riparian Buffer Width, Vegetative Cover, and Nitrogen Removal Effectiveness: A Review of Current Science and Regulations This report summarizes existing scientific literature on the effectiveness of riparian buffers to improve water quality by removing nitrogen from surface and groundwater. It identifies information from published literature to help managers make decisions about developing, maintaining or restoring riparian buffers. Logon www.epa.gov/ada/download/reports/600R05118/600R05118.pdf. • ARTICLES Land Conservation: A Permanent Solution for Drinking Water Source Protection Published by the National Environmental Services Center in its spring 2006 issue of On Tap, this article discusses how communities can use land conservation as a tool to protect drinking water sources. It offers a step-by-step approach to source water protection. Logon www.nesc.wvu.edu/ndwc/articles/OT/SP06/OT_SP06_LAND.pdf. Stormwater Best Management Practices In Site Plan and Subdivision Review: How Should Planning Boards Make Sure that Development Applications Comply with the New State Stormwater Regulations? This article discusses how to include low-impact development and nonstructural stormwater best management practices in site plan and subdivision review. Logon www.anjec.org/pdfs/Spring2006ANJECReport.pdf. • UPCOMING EVENTS Sustaining Colorado’s Watersheds: Making the Water Quality Connections Oct. 2-4, 2007 The Village at Breckenridge This conference will explore the connections between water quality and land use, water supply, energy development, wildlife and other hot topics. Guest speaker Luther Propst, of the Sonoran Institute, will discuss "Overlapping Interests: Balancing Water Quality, Quantity and Energy." Harris Sherman, executive director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, and Jim Martin, executive director of the Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment will lead a legislative panel, which will be followed by a variety of presentations and fieldtrip/workshop opportunities. For more information logon www.coloradowater.org/conference/index.htm. Emerging Contaminants of Concern in the Environment: Issues, Investigations, and Solutions June 25-27, 2007 Vail Cascade Resort, Vail, Colo. The conference will provide a forum on contaminants of emerging concern (ECs) and is structured around four major themes: EC detection and sources; EC fate and transport; EC receptors and effects; and EC solutions and communication. For more information logon http://awra.org/meetings/Vail2007/index.html. • 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