Water Fact Sheets Available

The Local Government Commission’s project to address the disconnect between local land use decisions and water resources has produced five new fact sheets to help local elected leaders understand the impacts of, and make better land use decisions. The fact sheets follow on the development of a set of water principles in 2004. A guidebook with model water element language is now in the works.

The Fact Sheets

Land Use and Watersheds. This fact sheet describes the critical importance of preserving watersheds. It then explains several venues open to local elected officials for working on a regional level to permanently preserve the availability of local water supplies by protecting the watershed.

Livable Communities and Water. The compact, mixed-use, walkable development that is encouraged by the livable communities/smart growth movement turns out to be a prefect fit when it comes to planning for future water supplies. This fact sheet explains for elected officials the surprising links between livable communities and water – and the many benefits of acting on them.

Water Conservation. Water conservation is a practical strategy for serving the needs of a growing state. This fact sheet outlines conservation as a source of new water supplies, the economic and environmental advantages of conserving water, and the multiple opportunities available for conserving water.

Water Recycling and Reuse. Our precious water supplies can be safely used more than once. This fact sheet addresses California laws that encourage or require the use of recycled water, recycling and reuse techniques, and case studies of communities that are aggressively pursuing these options.

Urban Stormwater Management. Federal requirements now require the clean-up of urban runoff before it reaches receiving waters. This fact sheet provides some least-cost methods for meeting these requirements – by using nature’s systems to handle drainage water.

The principles and the fact sheets are available at the LGC's First Stop Shop for Water Resources (water.lgc.org).

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