AWARE Update August 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 news, resources and upcoming events.

• NEWS

Field trip highlights concrete examples of LID

The tour bus was full as it pulled out of the Urban Drainage & Flood Control District parking lot on a June morning, this spring, that threatened rain. The weather seemed fitting. The 47 participants would learn about the stormwater management benefits of six-low impact development (LID) projects in the metro Denver area. More...

• RESOURCES

Better Site Design: A Handbook for Changing Development Rules in Your Community

This handbook presents changes to community regulations that result in more environmentally-friendly development. It covers engineering principles, actual vs. perceived barriers, economic and environmental considerations, and presents case studies from across the country.

This handbook is now available as a free PDF download at http://www.cwp.org/PublicationStore/bsd.htm.

Low-Impact Development Photo Database

The Stormwater Quality Committee of the Colorado Association of Stormwater and Floodplain Managers has compiled an online photo database of low-impact development approaches, which includes porous concrete, modular block pavement, porous landscape detention, grass buffers, green roofs, level spreaders and more.

Logon www.casfm.org/stormwater_committee/LID-00.htm.

Using GIS Tools to Link Land Use Decisions to Water Resources Protection

This Web site, developed by the National Association of Counties, lists a variety of resources to help communities use geographic information systems (GIS) to evaluate water quality impacts of various land use decisions.

Logon Using GIS Tools to Link Land Use Decisions to Water Resources Protection Web site. Included on the site is the recently updated County Water Quality Issue Brief.

• ARTICLES

Pringle Creek's Full-Scale Porous Pavement System Flies Through Wettest Month in Oregon History

According to the National Weather Service, Oregon experienced record-breaking rainfall throughout the month of November. Yet while many regional streets and sidewalks flooded as a result of clogged storm drains, Pringle Creek Community — a 32-acre sustainable living community located in the Willamette Valley — cruised through the month without flooding due to the success of its state-of-the-art porous pavement or “green street” system.

Logon www.pringlecreek.com/news/12_11_06.htm.

• 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 that will be followed by a variety of presentations and fieldtrip/workshop opportunities. Early registration for the conference has been extended until Sept. 14, 2007.

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

Note: Training to help nonpoint source project funding recipients learn about new program requirements will be offered in conjunction with the conference. Participants will learn about administering a project, including reporting requirements, how to submit reimbursement requests, helpful resources and more. The training will be 10 to noon on Oct. 2, prior to the start of the conference.

To sign up for the training or for more information, contact Lucia Machado, nonpoint source management coordinator at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, at 303-692-3585 or lucia.machado@state.co.us.

Second Annual Colorado Environmental Film Festival
November 1-3, 2007
American Mountaineering Center
710 10th Street, Golden, Colo.

This event will offer attendees the opportunity to view thought-provoking and entertaining local, national, and international feature length and short films for all ages, participate in a forum on environmental filmmaking, attend an evening reception, and learn from a variety of organizations in the Expo Hall. Featured films will explore interconnected ecological, social, and economic themes, and engaging audience discussion with filmmakers, producers, and experts on the films’ topics will enrich the experience.

For more information logon www.caee.org/ceff.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 • August 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 news, resources and upcoming events. • NEWS Field trip highlights concrete examples of LID The tour bus was full as it pulled out of the Urban Drainage & Flood Control District parking lot on a June morning, this spring, that threatened rain. The weather seemed fitting. The 47 participants would learn about the stormwater management benefits of six-low impact development (LID) projects in the metro Denver area. More... • RESOURCES Better Site Design: A Handbook for Changing Development Rules in Your Community This handbook presents changes to community regulations that result in more environmentally-friendly development. It covers engineering principles, actual vs. perceived barriers, economic and environmental considerations, and presents case studies from across the country. This handbook is now available as a free PDF download at http://www.cwp.org/PublicationStore/bsd.htm. Low-Impact Development Photo Database The Stormwater Quality Committee of the Colorado Association of Stormwater and Floodplain Managers has compiled an online photo database of low-impact development approaches, which includes porous concrete, modular block pavement, porous landscape detention, grass buffers, green roofs, level spreaders and more. Logon www.casfm.org/stormwater_committee/LID-00.htm. Using GIS Tools to Link Land Use Decisions to Water Resources Protection This Web site, developed by the National Association of Counties, lists a variety of resources to help communities use geographic information systems (GIS) to evaluate water quality impacts of various land use decisions. Logon Using GIS Tools to Link Land Use Decisions to Water Resources Protection Web site. Included on the site is the recently updated County Water Quality Issue Brief. • ARTICLES Pringle Creek's Full-Scale Porous Pavement System Flies Through Wettest Month in Oregon History According to the National Weather Service, Oregon experienced record-breaking rainfall throughout the month of November. Yet while many regional streets and sidewalks flooded as a result of clogged storm drains, Pringle Creek Community — a 32-acre sustainable living community located in the Willamette Valley — cruised through the month without flooding due to the success of its state-of-the-art porous pavement or “green street” system. Logon www.pringlecreek.com/news/12_11_06.htm. • 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 that will be followed by a variety of presentations and fieldtrip/workshop opportunities. Early registration for the conference has been extended until Sept. 14, 2007. For more information logon www.coloradowater.org/conference/index.htm. Note: Training to help nonpoint source project funding recipients learn about new program requirements will be offered in conjunction with the conference. Participants will learn about administering a project, including reporting requirements, how to submit reimbursement requests, helpful resources and more. The training will be 10 to noon on Oct. 2, prior to the start of the conference. To sign up for the training or for more information, contact Lucia Machado, nonpoint source management coordinator at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, at 303-692-3585 or lucia.machado@state.co.us. Second Annual Colorado Environmental Film Festival November 1-3, 2007 American Mountaineering Center 710 10th Street, Golden, Colo. This event will offer attendees the opportunity to view thought-provoking and entertaining local, national, and international feature length and short films for all ages, participate in a forum on environmental filmmaking, attend an evening reception, and learn from a variety of organizations in the Expo Hall. Featured films will explore interconnected ecological, social, and economic themes, and engaging audience discussion with filmmakers, producers, and experts on the films’ topics will enrich the experience. For more information logon www.caee.org/ceff.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