AWARE Update March 2009

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

A new Low Impact Development/Green Infrastructure section was recently added to the Rocky Mountain Land Use Institute’s Sustainable Development Code. AWARE Colorado program director Cynthia Peterson and Michelle DeLaria, environmental scientist with Urban Drainage and Flood Control District, collaborated to develop the module.

The module examines relevant obstacles, incentives, and standards associated with sustainable stormwater approaches. It describes actions that local communities can take to attain different achievement levels (bronze, silver and gold) when adopting low impact development/green infrastructure approaches to protect water quality.

The code (beta version 1.2) can be downloaded at http://www.law.du.edu/index.php/rmlui/sustainable-community-development-code.

• NEW RESOURCES

Managing Wet Weather with Green Infrastructure Webcast Schedule

This schedule lists upcoming Webcasts of topics related to green infrastructure. Log on http://www.epa.gov/npdes/outreach_files/webcast_flyer_green_infrastructure.pdf.

Smart Growth Implementation Assistance

Technical assistance is available for communities that want to incorporate smart growth in their future development to meet environmental and other community goals. Those selected will receive assistance in the form of a multi-day visit from a team of experts organized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other national partners to work with local leaders. For more information, visit http://epa.gov/smartgrowth/2009_sgia_rfa.htm.

The StormUlator

This new runoff calculator is an awareness tool that was designed to give stormwater and planning professionals a general idea of what may be needed to keep pre- and post-development runoff volumes equal. Log on http://www.stormulator.com.

After the Storm

DVD and VHS copies of the half-hour television program about watersheds are now available at no charge. Logon www.epa.gov/weatherchannel/ to download the TV special, “After the Storm,” produced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and The Weather Channel.

• ARTICLES

• UPCOMING EVENTS

Colorado WaterWise Conference
The Water Conservation Yardstick: Measuring Success
April 2-3, 2009
Denver Police Protective Assoc. Event Center
Denver, Colo.

The conference will showcase water conservation’s role in green building, water supply management and planning, education, government, and the landscape industry. For more information, visit www.coloradowaterwise.org.

5th National Conference for Nonpoint Source and Stormwater Outreach
Achieving Results with Tight Budgets
May 11 - 14, 2009
Portland, Ore.

This conference will provide the opportunity to learn and share ideas on developing and implementing nonpoint source and stormwater outreach strategies that produce positive, measurable outcomes, comply with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System requirements, and can be successfully implemented with modest budgets. For more information, log on http://epa.gov/owow/nps/outreach2009/index.html.

Rural Philanthropy Days
Western Slope
June 17-19, 2009
Crested Butte, Colo.
Rural Philanthropy Days bring together Colorado's funding community with the nonprofit organizations in rural Colorado to help support needed projects. For more information, log on www.crcamerica.org/rpd/funders.asp

• 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 2009
	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 A new Low Impact Development/Green Infrastructure section was recently added to the Rocky Mountain Land Use Institute’s Sustainable Development Code. AWARE Colorado program director Cynthia Peterson and Michelle DeLaria, environmental scientist with Urban Drainage and Flood Control District, collaborated to develop the module. The module examines relevant obstacles, incentives, and standards associated with sustainable stormwater approaches. It describes actions that local communities can take to attain different achievement levels (bronze, silver and gold) when adopting low impact development/green infrastructure approaches to protect water quality. The code (beta version 1.2) can be downloaded at http://www.law.du.edu/index.php/rmlui/sustainable-community-development-code. • NEW RESOURCES Managing Wet Weather with Green Infrastructure Webcast Schedule This schedule lists upcoming Webcasts of topics related to green infrastructure. Log on http://www.epa.gov/npdes/outreach_files/webcast_flyer_green_infrastructure.pdf. Smart Growth Implementation Assistance Technical assistance is available for communities that want to incorporate smart growth in their future development to meet environmental and other community goals. Those selected will receive assistance in the form of a multi-day visit from a team of experts organized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other national partners to work with local leaders. For more information, visit http://epa.gov/smartgrowth/2009_sgia_rfa.htm. The StormUlator This new runoff calculator is an awareness tool that was designed to give stormwater and planning professionals a general idea of what may be needed to keep pre- and post-development runoff volumes equal. Log on http://www.stormulator.com. After the Storm DVD and VHS copies of the half-hour television program about watersheds are now available at no charge. Logon www.epa.gov/weatherchannel/ to download the TV special, “After the Storm,” produced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and The Weather Channel. • ARTICLES New strategic plan to improve water quality in Fountain Creek watershed GreenCO’s BMP expansion project promotes water conservation, water resources protection and sustainability Barriers to low impact development in the Keep it Clean Partnership communities Parkway project should curb pollution into lake Streamside development takes toll on Roaring Fork River New code aims to clarify zoning Storm-water diversion, courtesy of a curb • UPCOMING EVENTS Colorado WaterWise Conference The Water Conservation Yardstick: Measuring Success April 2-3, 2009 Denver Police Protective Assoc. Event Center Denver, Colo. The conference will showcase water conservation’s role in green building, water supply management and planning, education, government, and the landscape industry. For more information, visit www.coloradowaterwise.org. 5th National Conference for Nonpoint Source and Stormwater Outreach Achieving Results with Tight Budgets May 11 - 14, 2009 Portland, Ore. This conference will provide the opportunity to learn and share ideas on developing and implementing nonpoint source and stormwater outreach strategies that produce positive, measurable outcomes, comply with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System requirements, and can be successfully implemented with modest budgets. For more information, log on http://epa.gov/owow/nps/outreach2009/index.html. Rural Philanthropy Days Western Slope June 17-19, 2009 Crested Butte, Colo. Rural Philanthropy Days bring together Colorado's funding community with the nonprofit organizations in rural Colorado to help support needed projects. For more information, log on www.crcamerica.org/rpd/funders.asp • 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 2009 League of Women Voters of Colorado Education Fund 1410 Grant Street, Suite B204, Denver, CO 80203