#1 Water Planning Self-Assessment
A self-assessment of water and land use integration involves consulting with experts, gathering data and information, assessing status and trends along with gaps, challenges, and opportunities in order to better understand your community’s water issues. It is also a chance to consider new best practices.
Background.
DOLA’s Energy/Mineral Impact Assistance Fund Grant guidelines require planning grant recipients to conduct a water self-assessment, such as the Colorado Growing Water Smart: Community Self-Assessment. This assessment should include, at minimum, water supply and demand status and trends, with existing water conservation and efficiency goals and policies.
Why is a water planning self-assessment important?
To effectively carry out the requirements of Colorado Revised Statutes 30-28-106(3)(a.5)(II) and 31-23-206(1.5)(c), it is essential to have accurate and up-to-date information. Consulting with water providers will help interpret and apply this information to land use planning.
Tip: Gather your data
Staff from the Town of Pagosa Springs recommended the Growing Water Smart: Community Self-Assessment: “It really brought to light a lot of information that we probably should of known, but it was on the shelf.”
A water-related self-assessment:
- Ensures that your community has the coordination and information needed for a thoughtful water element in your comprehensive plan (or when developing land use codes)
- Supports alignment in data sources used by planners and water providers, such as growth projections
- Provides evidence of coordination with local water providers in meeting requirements of State Law
- Provides a feedback loop with technical experts and DOLA for assistance tailored to your community
Water providers face similar requirements
A self-assessment is one of the Foundational Activities strongly recommended for water providers in development of Water Efficiency Plans under the Colorado Water Conservation Boards’ Best Practices for Implementing Water Conservation and Demand Management Through Land Use Planning Efforts.
Under Colorado Revised Statutes 37-60-126(4)(f) a water provider that sells more than 2,000 acre-feet per year of water should have a Water Efficiency Plan that must evaluate “best management practices for water demand management, water efficiency, and water conservation that may be implemented through land use planning efforts.” A water provider should have this plan on file with the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB). This plan is one good place to start gathering important information for the self-assessment in collaboration with water providers serving your community.
Our community has already gone through the Growing Water Smart Program
(Or we already have an extensive Water Conservation or Water Efficiency Plan)
Great! Communities that have been through the Growing Water Smart workshop have a strong starting point, and should re-visit their self-assessment and update any relevant sections. This will ensure that you have the best information at your fingertips when making critical water-related land use planning decisions.
Tips for Successful Self-Assessment
Early in your process:
- Contact the DOLA Land Use and Water Planner, Scott Williamson (scott.williamson@state.co.us)
- Initiate local conversations with water provider(s) serving your community, along with staff charged with stormwater, wastewater, and hazards planning drought, flood, wildfire, etc.):
- Set up a standing meeting with this Water and Land Use Planning Team
- Formalize meeting procedures to provide accountability and accommodate staff turnover
- Gather data and complete the self-assessment
- Submit your self-assessment to DOLA within the first six months and check in with the DOLA Land Use and Water Planner for technical assistance as you work to address challenges and opportunities
- Evaluate the frequency of Water and Land Use Planning Team meetings once the self-assessment is complete and the comprehensive planning process begins
Other Resources
- Colorado Growing Water Smart Community Self-Assessment (Sonoran Institute, 2018)
- How to Conduct a Self-Assessment (Sonoran Institute webinar, 2018)
- Questions to Guide Water and Land Use Integration (Pace Law School Land Use Law Center, 2017)