#4 DOLA Technical Assistance - Water & Land Use Integration
The Land Use and Water Planner at the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) can provide technical assistance to local governments who are looking to integrate water and land use planning.
Background
House Bill 20-1095 and Senate Bill 24-174 each authorized funding for DOLA to provide educational resources and assistance to local governments that are now required to include water conservation policies in their master (comprehensive) plans.
Contact the Water and Land Use Planner early on
The DOLA Land Use and Water Planner, Scott Williamson will provide technical assistance by:
- Listening to your community needs, values, goals, and circumstances
- Working in coordination with the DOLA Regional Manager for your area to help clarify your community context and the status of water and land use integration along a continuum
- Referring you to a variety of resources, from guidance documents to educational resources to organizational contacts
- Sharing examples from other relevant communities and - to the extent possible - connecting you with staff or leaders in peer communities facing similar circumstances
- Working across state agencies to support you when appropriate, such as with the Colorado Water Conservation Board
Tip: Reach out early
DOLA Regional Managers in each of the eight regions of the state are familiar with the local context. Work with Regional Managers and the Land Use and Water Planner to identify your community water values, goals, and needs and the Land Use and Water Planner can help translate those into a plan for your community.
Attend a Colorado Water and Land Use Planning Alliance meeting
Convened by DOLA and the Colorado Water Conservation Board, the Alliance is a non-formal group that helps local communities to effectively incorporate water in comprehensive planning. The work of the Alliance supports priorities in the Colorado Water Plan. Participants from state agencies, local governments, advocacy organizations, research organizations, and other interested parties gather to develop resources, provide technical assistance, and track progress on water and land use integration across Colorado.
Quarterly meetings of the Alliance are a great place to understand Colorado’s efforts to integrate water and land use. For meeting summaries, visit the Colorado Water Conservation Board’s Land Use webpage. Contact Scott Williamson to learn more.