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Section 2 Conservation and Efficiency Technical Roundtable All water conservation plans submitted to the CWCB for approval must include a public education and outreach element. This component is a critical piece of each plan since it is the impetus for achieving high market penetration rates for other water conservation plan elements as well as success in achieving the overall water conservation goals. Through the efforts of the state to collect and develop well researched methods and strategies for engaging the public in efforts to promote efficient water use, water providers are able to capitalize on this work and incorporate water conservation education measures that have been successful in other utility service areas or other regions of the state or the west. This bas the potential to free up valuable staff and fiscal resources necessary to successfully implement other components of a water conservation plan. In an effort to accomplish its mission to coordinate with multiple state and local agencies to provide public information, the OWCD will seek opportunities to work closely with these groups to utilize their constituent base as a vehicle to promote water use efficiency around the state. Table 2-10 is a preliminary list of key groups and organizations. As CWCB develops its outreach plan, additional groups and organizations will be identified and contacted. Table 2-10 List of Potential Coordinating Organizations for Conservation Public Information s Local government .. Municipalities and water districts, Colorado Municipal League, International Ciiy Managers Association (Colorado), Colorado Counties, MMC, local and regional councils of government (Northwest Council of Governments [NWCOG], Denver Regional Council of Governments [DRCOG], etc.), water conservancy and conservation districts Chambers of Local and regional chambers of commerce commerce, business and other business groups such as Colorado organizations, Association of Commerce and Industry, economic development Southeast Business Partnership, consulting and firms involved with water conservation and business/governmental water demand planning, Local, county and organizations regional economic development organizations, Club 20, Action 22, Professional Colorado WaterWise Council, Rocky organizations involved Mountain American Water Works Association in water conservation Construction and Home Builders Association of Colorado, development industry Home Builders Association of Metropolitan Landscape design American Society of Landscape Architects, organizations ASLA (national), COASLA (state) Irrigation industry Irrigation Association (national), GreenCO (state) Federal government National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAH), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and USGS State universities and Colorado State University, University of research organizations Colorado, Western Water Assessment, and local colleges and universities Media Environmental and water reporters for local print, radio and television media 2.4.2 Financial Assistance to Facilitate Conservation Planning The Water Conservation Act of 2004, adopted by the 2004 Colorado General Assembly under HB 04-1365, not only expanded the responsibilities of the OWCD to include providing technical assistance for drought planning, but it also added additional plan elements required of all water conservation plans submitted to the state for approval. Following on the heels of the 2002 drought, the legislature recognized the need to provide a strong incentive for water conservation and drought planning. Thus they created a funding mechanismfor the CWCB, through the OWCD, to 2-20 FINAL DRAFT