AWARE Update May 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

AWARE Colorado conducted research earlier this year about the barriers and benefits related to specific water protective land use strategies, such as low impact development and green infrastructure.

The resulting research report, “Preventing Polluted Runoff From Parking Lots: Benefits, Barriers and Opportunities,” is now available at http://www.awarecolorado.org/resources/report.pdf.

Attend presentation of AWARE Colorado research findings

AWARE Colorado will be hosting a meeting to present the research findings on Wednesday morning, June 3, from 9:30 to noon, in the conference room at the Boulder County Recycling Center, located just north of Arapahoe at 1901 63rd St. (See map at http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Boulder&state=CO&address=1901+63rd+St.)

Other water experts will also speak

In addition, Andrew Earles, vice president of water resources for Wright Water Engineers, will speak about the “Low Impact Development Opportunity Checklist” and Ken MacKenzie, master planning manager for the Urban Drainage and Flood Control District, will discuss revisions to the organization’s Volume Three guidance document. The presentations will be followed by a group discussion of next steps, potential needs and upcoming projects.

Please feel free to invite your colleagues to this program. Light refreshments will be served.

• NEW RESOURCES

References for LID Barrier Research

This annotated bibliography identifies over 20 key studies identifying barriers that prevent or impede the implementation of low impact development by local governments. Most of these studies were done in the last two years. Log on http://drop.io/lid_barriers/asset/annotated-bibliography-of-lid-barriers-research-pdf.

Healthy Watersheds Web site

This U.S Environmental Protection Agency Web site provides information on tools to identify and protect healthy watersheds and their components. Log on www.epa.gov/healthywatersheds/.

Efforts to Address Urban Stormwater Runoff

The House Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment heard testimony on March 19, 2009, about the use of green infrastructure and low impact development approaches in addressing urban stormwater runoff, as well as barriers towards implementing these technologies. To view the testimony or read the full summary, log on http://transportation.house.gov/hearings/hearingDetail.aspx?NewsID=833.

• ARTICLE

How a 'Green House of the Future' Can Impede Environmental Progress

• UPCOMING EVENTS

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.

‘Green Roofs for the West’ Symposium
June 18, 2009
Denver Botanic Gardens
Denver, Colo.

Topics to be covered at this symposium include regional green roof plants, design criteria, making the business case for green roofs, policy issues, and how green roofs fit into the big picture. Log on http://growwest.org/.

Fourth Annual Sustaining Colorado Watersheds Conference:
Thriving in Challenging Times
Oct. 7-9, 2009
Vail Cascade Resort and Spa
Vail, Colo.

Early registration begins in June at www.coloradowater.org.

• 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.

Home	AWARE Colorado Update • May 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 AWARE Colorado conducted research earlier this year about the barriers and benefits related to specific water protective land use strategies, such as low impact development and green infrastructure. The resulting research report, “Preventing Polluted Runoff From Parking Lots: Benefits, Barriers and Opportunities,” is now available at http://www.awarecolorado.org/resources/report.pdf. Attend presentation of AWARE Colorado research findings AWARE Colorado will be hosting a meeting to present the research findings on Wednesday morning, June 3, from 9:30 to noon, in the conference room at the Boulder County Recycling Center, located just north of Arapahoe at 1901 63rd St. (See map at http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Boulder&state=CO&address=1901+63rd+St.) Other water experts will also speak In addition, Andrew Earles, vice president of water resources for Wright Water Engineers, will speak about the “Low Impact Development Opportunity Checklist” and Ken MacKenzie, master planning manager for the Urban Drainage and Flood Control District, will discuss revisions to the organization’s Volume Three guidance document. The presentations will be followed by a group discussion of next steps, potential needs and upcoming projects. Please feel free to invite your colleagues to this program. Light refreshments will be served. • NEW RESOURCES References for LID Barrier Research This annotated bibliography identifies over 20 key studies identifying barriers that prevent or impede the implementation of low impact development by local governments. Most of these studies were done in the last two years. Log on http://drop.io/lid_barriers/asset/annotated-bibliography-of-lid-barriers-research-pdf. Healthy Watersheds Web site This U.S Environmental Protection Agency Web site provides information on tools to identify and protect healthy watersheds and their components. Log on www.epa.gov/healthywatersheds/. Efforts to Address Urban Stormwater Runoff The House Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment heard testimony on March 19, 2009, about the use of green infrastructure and low impact development approaches in addressing urban stormwater runoff, as well as barriers towards implementing these technologies. To view the testimony or read the full summary, log on http://transportation.house.gov/hearings/hearingDetail.aspx?NewsID=833. • ARTICLE How a 'Green House of the Future' Can Impede Environmental Progress • UPCOMING EVENTS 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. ‘Green Roofs for the West’ Symposium June 18, 2009 Denver Botanic Gardens Denver, Colo. Topics to be covered at this symposium include regional green roof plants, design criteria, making the business case for green roofs, policy issues, and how green roofs fit into the big picture. Log on http://growwest.org/. Fourth Annual Sustaining Colorado Watersheds Conference: Thriving in Challenging Times Oct. 7-9, 2009 Vail Cascade Resort and Spa Vail, Colo. Early registration begins in June at www.coloradowater.org. • 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.