AWARE Update April 2008

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, articles and upcoming events.

• NEWS FROM AWARE

Techniques for Managing Water Quantity and Quality Through Land Use

AWARE Colorado is co-hosting a half-day workshop on land use and water quality with the Colorado Office of Smart Growth, Colorado Municipal League and Colorado Counties, Inc.

The workshop will bring together local government planners, engineers and elected/appointed officials to talk about the connection between the built environment, stormwater runoff volume and associated water quality issues. It will feature information about using low-impact development and other water-protective strategies to minimize negative water resource impacts and reduce the need for expensive stormwater infrastructure and waterway stabilization projects.

Workshop speakers will include specialists in the areas of storm water management, urban drainage, planning and infrastructure engineering.

The workshop will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Thursday, June 5, at the Colorado Municipal League offices at 1144 Sherman Street in Denver. Snacks and written materials are included in the $20 registration fee. For more information and details on registration, please contact Andy Hill at 303-866-3785 or Cynthia Peterson at 303-861-5195.

• NEW RESOURCES

Smart Growth Implementation Assistance

This U.S. Environmental Protection Agency program is an annual, competitive solicitation open to state, local, regional and tribal governments (and nonprofits that have partnered with a governmental entity) that want to incorporate smart growth techniques into their future development.

Logon www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/index.htm.

Green Roadways for Environmentally Sustainable Transportation (GREST™)

This initiative of the University of New Hampshire Stormwater Center, Recycled Materials Resource Center and the University of Wisconsin-Madison is a collaborative process that allows groups of stakeholders to develop metrics against which the sustainable aspects of transportation projects can be evaluated.

Download www.rmrc.unh.edu/docs/grest%20one-pager.pdf.

Low Impact Development as a Stormwater Management Technique

This paper discusses the connections and associated costs between land development, water quality and waterway stabilization. Also included are the basics of low-impact development (LID), guidelines and techniques on how to promote LID, and strategies to develop an LID land use code.

Logon www.law.du.edu/rmlui/Programs/documents/RMLUILowImpactDevelopment.pdf.

Reducing Stormwater Costs through Low Impact Development (LID) Strategies and Practices

This publication contains 17 case studies that show the economic viability of LID practices. It highlights examples that, in most cases, reduce project costs while improving environmental performance.

To download, logon www.epa.gov/owow/nps/lid/costs07.

Managing Wet Weather with Green Infrastructure Action Strategy 2008

This recently released document explains how states, municipalities, permitting authorities and nongovernmental organizations can use green infrastructure practices to meet water quality goals while sustaining their water infrastructure.

For more information, logon www.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/gi_action_strategy.pdf.

Urban Subwatershed Restoration Manuals

Three manuals from the Center for Watershed Protection's Urban Subwatershed Restoration Manual series are now available for free download. "An Integrated Framework to Restore Small Urban Watersheds" examines the basics of urban watershed restoration. "Methods to Develop Restoration Plans for Small Urban Watersheds" outlines how to develop, adopt and implement a subwatershed plan. “Urban Stream Repair Practices” focuses on the appearance, stability, structure or function of urban streams.

All manuals can be downloaded at www.cwp.org/PublicationStore/USRM.htm.

Urban BMP Performance Tool

This new, Web-based tool provides stormwater professionals access to approximately 220 studies which assess the performance of over 275 stormwater best management practices (BMPs), including traditional and low-impact approaches.

Visit http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/urbanbmp/bmpeffectiveness.cfm.

• ARTICLES

It's Official: The Program Begins

The National Association of Home Builders recently launched the NAHB National Green Building Program, which is designed to help any builder, anywhere, build green homes – while keeping green practices voluntary, market driven and affordable.

Logon www.nahbmonday.com/NAHB_GBU/issues/2008-03-20/index.html.

Puget Sound Partnership Clears the Way for LID

The Puget Sound Partnership, a state agency in the Puget Sound Watershed, is working to change codes and regulations that block the use of low-impact development (LID) in the watershed.

Logon www.epa.gov/owow/info/NewsNotes/pdf/83issue.pdf.

Erie's natural areas documented

The town of Erie has developed its first Natural Areas Inventory. By documenting valuable information, such as wetlands, habitat types, plant diversity and wildlife habitat, the inventory could become an important document in future development of lands with sensitive ecosystems or habitats.

Logon www.dailycamera.com/news/2008/feb/27/eries-natural-areas-documented.

Aurora Strikes (LEED) Gold

Aurora policymakers recently approved a resolution mandating that all new city-owned buildings be con-structed to achieve the U.S. Green Building Counci's LEED NC Gold standard, making the city the first of its size in the state to require such stringent environmental standards on new buildings.

Logon http://usgbccolorado.com/news-events/documents/USGBC_CO_SepOct07.pdf.

Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 includes Storm Water Runoff Requirements for Federal Development Projects

Title IV, Subtitle C, Section 438 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 provides that "the sponsor of any development or redevelopment project involving a Federal facility with a footprint that exceeds 5,000 square feet shall use site planning, design, construction, and maintenance strategies for the property to maintain or restore, to the maximum extent technically feasible, the predevelopment hydrology of the property with regard to the temperature, rate, volume, and duration of flow."

Logon www.epa.gov/watershed/winnews/2008/0801.html#14.

Porous Asphalt Paving Seminar

Material likened to icing on the cake

The Rocky Mountain Asphalt Education Center (RMAEC) recently hosted a porous asphalt pavement seminar, which was attended by 27 contractors, design engineers, regulators and others interested in learning more about paving technology. More…

What I Learned in Paver School

There are several low-impact development (LID) techniques used to mimic predevelopment hydrology and reduce the negative effects of urbanization on waterways. While vegetative LID techniques such as grass swales, buffers, green roofs and porous landscape detention areas are attractive, they have limited use and effectiveness in significantly reducing runoff volume in existing, highly impervious environments. More…

A Local Ordinance to Protect Wetland Functions

This is the most recent article of the Center for Watershed Protection's Wetlands and Watersheds article series. It is the fourth in the series and is now available for free download. Other articles in the series are also available.

To download the articles, logon www.cwp.org/wetlands/articles.htm.

• UPCOMING EVENTS

Sustaining Colorado Watersheds: Striking a Balance for the Future

3rd annual Colorado watersheds conference
Oct. 1-3, 2008
Vail Cascade Resort & Spa
Vail, Colo.

Logon http://coloradowater.org/2008conference.

2008 International Low Impact Development Conference
Nov. 16-19, 2008
Westin Seattle
Seattle, Wash.

Logon http://content.asce.org/conferences/lid08/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 • April 2008
	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, articles and upcoming events. • NEWS FROM AWARE Techniques for Managing Water Quantity and Quality Through Land Use AWARE Colorado is co-hosting a half-day workshop on land use and water quality with the Colorado Office of Smart Growth, Colorado Municipal League and Colorado Counties, Inc. The workshop will bring together local government planners, engineers and elected/appointed officials to talk about the connection between the built environment, stormwater runoff volume and associated water quality issues. It will feature information about using low-impact development and other water-protective strategies to minimize negative water resource impacts and reduce the need for expensive stormwater infrastructure and waterway stabilization projects. Workshop speakers will include specialists in the areas of storm water management, urban drainage, planning and infrastructure engineering. The workshop will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Thursday, June 5, at the Colorado Municipal League offices at 1144 Sherman Street in Denver. Snacks and written materials are included in the $20 registration fee. For more information and details on registration, please contact Andy Hill at 303-866-3785 or Cynthia Peterson at 303-861-5195. • NEW RESOURCES Smart Growth Implementation Assistance This U.S. Environmental Protection Agency program is an annual, competitive solicitation open to state, local, regional and tribal governments (and nonprofits that have partnered with a governmental entity) that want to incorporate smart growth techniques into their future development. Logon www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/index.htm. Green Roadways for Environmentally Sustainable Transportation (GREST™) This initiative of the University of New Hampshire Stormwater Center, Recycled Materials Resource Center and the University of Wisconsin-Madison is a collaborative process that allows groups of stakeholders to develop metrics against which the sustainable aspects of transportation projects can be evaluated. Download www.rmrc.unh.edu/docs/grest%20one-pager.pdf. Low Impact Development as a Stormwater Management Technique This paper discusses the connections and associated costs between land development, water quality and waterway stabilization. Also included are the basics of low-impact development (LID), guidelines and techniques on how to promote LID, and strategies to develop an LID land use code. Logon www.law.du.edu/rmlui/Programs/documents/RMLUILowImpactDevelopment.pdf. Reducing Stormwater Costs through Low Impact Development (LID) Strategies and Practices This publication contains 17 case studies that show the economic viability of LID practices. It highlights examples that, in most cases, reduce project costs while improving environmental performance. To download, logon www.epa.gov/owow/nps/lid/costs07. Managing Wet Weather with Green Infrastructure Action Strategy 2008 This recently released document explains how states, municipalities, permitting authorities and nongovernmental organizations can use green infrastructure practices to meet water quality goals while sustaining their water infrastructure. For more information, logon www.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/gi_action_strategy.pdf. Urban Subwatershed Restoration Manuals Three manuals from the Center for Watershed Protection's Urban Subwatershed Restoration Manual series are now available for free download. "An Integrated Framework to Restore Small Urban Watersheds" examines the basics of urban watershed restoration. "Methods to Develop Restoration Plans for Small Urban Watersheds" outlines how to develop, adopt and implement a subwatershed plan. “Urban Stream Repair Practices” focuses on the appearance, stability, structure or function of urban streams. All manuals can be downloaded at www.cwp.org/PublicationStore/USRM.htm. Urban BMP Performance Tool This new, Web-based tool provides stormwater professionals access to approximately 220 studies which assess the performance of over 275 stormwater best management practices (BMPs), including traditional and low-impact approaches. Visit http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/urbanbmp/bmpeffectiveness.cfm. • ARTICLES It's Official: The Program Begins The National Association of Home Builders recently launched the NAHB National Green Building Program, which is designed to help any builder, anywhere, build green homes – while keeping green practices voluntary, market driven and affordable. Logon www.nahbmonday.com/NAHB_GBU/issues/2008-03-20/index.html. Puget Sound Partnership Clears the Way for LID The Puget Sound Partnership, a state agency in the Puget Sound Watershed, is working to change codes and regulations that block the use of low-impact development (LID) in the watershed. Logon www.epa.gov/owow/info/NewsNotes/pdf/83issue.pdf. Erie's natural areas documented The town of Erie has developed its first Natural Areas Inventory. By documenting valuable information, such as wetlands, habitat types, plant diversity and wildlife habitat, the inventory could become an important document in future development of lands with sensitive ecosystems or habitats. Logon www.dailycamera.com/news/2008/feb/27/eries-natural-areas-documented. Aurora Strikes (LEED) Gold Aurora policymakers recently approved a resolution mandating that all new city-owned buildings be con-structed to achieve the U.S. Green Building Counci's LEED NC Gold standard, making the city the first of its size in the state to require such stringent environmental standards on new buildings. Logon http://usgbccolorado.com/news-events/documents/USGBC_CO_SepOct07.pdf. Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 includes Storm Water Runoff Requirements for Federal Development Projects Title IV, Subtitle C, Section 438 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 provides that "the sponsor of any development or redevelopment project involving a Federal facility with a footprint that exceeds 5,000 square feet shall use site planning, design, construction, and maintenance strategies for the property to maintain or restore, to the maximum extent technically feasible, the predevelopment hydrology of the property with regard to the temperature, rate, volume, and duration of flow." Logon www.epa.gov/watershed/winnews/2008/0801.html#14. Porous Asphalt Paving Seminar Material likened to icing on the cake The Rocky Mountain Asphalt Education Center (RMAEC) recently hosted a porous asphalt pavement seminar, which was attended by 27 contractors, design engineers, regulators and others interested in learning more about paving technology. More… What I Learned in Paver School There are several low-impact development (LID) techniques used to mimic predevelopment hydrology and reduce the negative effects of urbanization on waterways. While vegetative LID techniques such as grass swales, buffers, green roofs and porous landscape detention areas are attractive, they have limited use and effectiveness in significantly reducing runoff volume in existing, highly impervious environments. More… A Local Ordinance to Protect Wetland Functions This is the most recent article of the Center for Watershed Protection's Wetlands and Watersheds article series. It is the fourth in the series and is now available for free download. Other articles in the series are also available. To download the articles, logon www.cwp.org/wetlands/articles.htm. • UPCOMING EVENTS Sustaining Colorado Watersheds: Striking a Balance for the Future 3rd annual Colorado watersheds conference Oct. 1-3, 2008 Vail Cascade Resort & Spa Vail, Colo. Logon http://coloradowater.org/2008conference. 2008 International Low Impact Development Conference Nov. 16-19, 2008 Westin Seattle Seattle, Wash. Logon http://content.asce.org/conferences/lid08/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 2008 League of Women Voters of Colorado Education Fund 1410 Grant Street, Suite B204, Denver, CO 80203