BOARD01670

• Board Meeting Date: 7/28/2003
• Description: CDP Section - Technical Assistance to Covered Entities
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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· Reduce impacts on the environment;

· Comply with regulations;

· Improve public credibility by demonstrating stewardship of natural and financial resources.

Given that water conservation should be considered in the larger context of sound water
management generally, and sound water supply planning in particular, water conservation
planning needs to be a well-organized effort.

THE NEED FOR POLICY CHANGE

The main Strategy document [I] summarizes ways in which Colorado's existing water
conservation planning statute and existing CWCB policies lag behind the state of the science and
the policies of other states in a number of conservation planning areas. A policy white paper [2]
developed during preparation ofthe Strategy details the status of Colorado's policies.

Based on the evaluations presented in these documents, Colorado's conservation planning
policies could do more to assure local conservation plans are of good and consistent quality and
that they are effective in achieving meaningful water conservation. Policy change would help
improve the quality of conservation plans prepared under state law and thereby "improve the
nature and breadth of conservation practices at the local level," a stated goal of the Colorado
Water Conservation Board.

POLICY DEVELOPMENT OPTIONS

While the need for policy change is apparent, the breadth and depth of policy change remains to
be determined. Therefore, the attached "Policy Development Matrix" outlines three potential
"levels" of change to policies that affect the development of local water conservation plans in the
state of Colorado. It is meant to spark discussion of the intent and desire of the State to address
conservation planning policy.

The matrix addresses the following potential components of policy change, organized into two
categories of policy:

"Framework" policies that set the general terms of conservation planning:

. Threshold: the definition of "covered entity."

. Application: variation of requirements based on water provider characteristics or local
conditions.

. Approval criteria: basis for plan review and approval by the state.

. Accountability: approaches to assuring plan implementation.

Policies that address the content of conservation plans:

. Planning steps: content related to the steps of a logical, comprehensive planning
process.

. Measures and programs: specific conservation practices to be considered in plans
and/or required for implementation.

For each policy component and each level of change, the matrix summarizes:

. What the policy might include;

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