The integration of water and land use planning is one crucial action to close the gap between future water supplies and demands. Communities across the West are taking that action. How do we know if those actions are meeting their goals?
Step beyond siloed roles and jurisdictional boundaries to collaborate with different members of your community and nearby communities. It is time to lead the way in collaboration and data-driven decision-making.
The Growing Water Smart Metrics Project empowers local governments with tools and opportunities to help them measure progress, evaluate impacts of their policies and programs, and communicate their goals among stakeholders. The Metrics Project is led by Sonoran Institute and supported by consulting partner, the Brendle Group.
“What defines a water-saving community is not always clear, and yet the goal of achieving increased water savings is imperative. Cities and towns need to better understand what is feasible to conserve and for what they should be aiming. This can be achieved in part by identifying targets for achieving savings through…integrating with land use planning….”
—Colorado Water Plan 2023, Agency Action 1.1 “Define, benchmark, and institutionalize water-saving communities.
Metrics Guidebook
Data and information are essential
Water and planning professionals can use the metrics presented in the Growing Water Smart Metrics: Tracking the Integration of Water and Land Use Planning Guidebook (2020) to establish baseline values, set targets, and inform decision-making at local, regional, and State levels. This Guidebook was developed in response to the objectives, goals, and actions set out in the 2015 Colorado Water Plan.
“Sonoran Institute and Brendle Group have evaluated meaningful metrics that communities and the State can use to measure progress of water-land use planning integration and the impacts of those efforts.”
—Christy Wiseman, AICP | Former Land Use and Water Planner, Colorado Department of Local Affairs
Metrics Project Cycles
The Sonoran Institute invites Colorado communities interested in measuring the progress and impact of strategies that integrate water and land use to apply to future cycles of the Growing Water Smart Metrics Project. This opportunity operationalizes the guidance found in the Growing Water Smart Metrics Guidebook linked above.
Applications can be submitted by land use planners, water providers and utilities, or other leaders representing a local government entity. Two neighboring communities or a county-municipality partnership may submit a joint application to participate.
Sonoran Institute and Brendle Group are working with the Little Thompson Water District and City of Thornton, CO for the 2024-2025 project cycle. Stay tuned for future project cycles!
Participants in the Metrics Project will receive 6-8 months of custom assistance (up to 150 hours) from Sonoran Institute and Brendle Group, consisting of:
- Project Management and stakeholder engagement across four key project phases
- “Anchor” in a common understanding of the what, why, and how
- “Explore” the data and a unique approach for calculated selected metrics
- “Activate” methodology
- “Assess” results and consider the next steps
- Technical Assistance, such as:
- Improving data acquisition, management, and analysis processes
- Calculating metric values
- Providing best practices for codes, policies, and other integration actions
- Benchmarking against other communities
Participating communities are expected to contribute the following to Metrics Project engagements:
- Lead the identification and invitation of individuals to the Metrics Project stakeholder group.
- Actively participate in the stakeholder meetings and conduct preparatory and follow-up tasks between them.
- Have water and land use data available for use in the project.
- Dedicate up to 15 hours per month of staff time for the duration of the project.
- Be motivated to utilize metrics collected through this process to establish water targets and determine additional strategies to reach those targets.
More information is available in the flyer below.
GWS Metrics Flyer
APPLICATION
To apply to participate in the Water and Land Use Metrics Program, communities are asked to please review the metrics identified in the Metrics Guidebook, select 2-3 metrics that are best suited to your community’s needs, and submit responses to the application questionnaire.
Please note, in the questionnaire, communities are asked to upload letters of support from relevant planning department(s) and the water provider(s) that describe a commitment of participation in the project and implementation of the outcomes.
The application form for the 2024-2025 cycle has now closed, however, the Request for Applications is included below for reference. Stay tuned for additional cycles of the Metrics Project, or reach out to nkaiser@sonoraninstitute.org directly with any questions.
GWS Metrics_Request for Applications_Round 3Partners and Funders
This project is generously supported and funded by the following:
The Brendle Group – Consulting partner
The Babbitt Center for Land and Water Policy, a Center of the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy
Colorado Water Conservation Board through the Colorado Water Plan Grant Program
The Gates Family Foundation
The Mighty Arrow Family Foundation
