Making the Connection Between Water and Land Use Judy Corbett, Executive Director Local Government Commission Smart Growth gets Water-wise

Why Should City and County Officials Be Concerned About Water?

Water and the Local Economy

New Water Quality Regulations

Flood Risks

Where do our precious water resources come from?

Healthy Watersheds A watershed is the area of land that drains into a river, lake, or estuary and/or flows into the groundwater basin.

All land, developed or not, is in a watershed.

“The biggest influence on future water supplies and quality in California is local land use planning.” Celeste Cantu, Executive Director California State Water Resources Control Board

Where and How We Grow are Key

DON’T grow in important natural areas in the watershed. When more that 40% of a watershed is covered in pavement, the costs of making water fit to drink with a water treatment system increases by a factor of 5.

We have been growing to accommodate the car

U.S. Population Growth and Transportation –

Without realizing the consequences, we have been covering over watersheds at a rapid rate!

Development Patterns in the San Francisco Bay region ~1850 Green = Wetlands Red = Urban Area

Development Patterns in the San Francisco Bay region ~1900 Green = Wetlands Red = Urban Area

Development Patterns in the San Francisco Bay region ~1950 Green = Wetlands Red = Urban Area

Development Patterns in the San Francisco Bay region ~1990 Green = Wetlands Red = Urban Area

According to the US EPA, sprawl is one of the greatest threats to our water resources.

We need to grow in ways that pave less land. To reduce flood risks, ensure clean and reliable water supplies, and comply with permits and regulations:

How We Should Grow Growing in the form of compact walkable communities takes up less land, reduces the amount of impervious surfaces.

Downtown instead of a mall:

Narrow streets instead of wide ones:

Parking structures instead of large surface lots:

Mixed use instead of single use:

Walking & transit instead of car:

Sprawling large lot residential versus townhouses or small lot houses:

How to fix what we have

Photo Simulation by Steve Price, Urban Advantage (

Getting Water-wise on a Site Level

Daylight creeks and restore wetlands…

Direct runoff from pavement and buildings to permeable surfaces.

Use Permeable Materials for Paving

Design parks and recreation areas to hold excess runoff

Plant and protect trees - they reduce runoff and encourage infiltration.

Getting Water-wise in Homes, Businesses, and Public Buildings

Implement water conservation by making efficient water use a goal in local land use. “Every time water is wasted, money and a precious resource go down the drain.” California Department of Water Resources

Credit goes to programs that have encouraged the use of conservation technologies -such as low flow toilets- in homes and businesses. Despite significant population growth, residential water use for the city of Los Angeles is the same today as it was 30 years ago.

Water recycling and reuse are widely utilized as cost-effective and reliable sources of water for many appropriate uses. In California alone, communities are using recycled water at over 4,800 sites.

The Ahwahnee Water Principles  An integrated set of nine community planning principles and five implementation measures that address water in land use.  Developed by the Local Government Commission with leading experts in water resources, land use, and community design.  Address concerns about storm water runoff, flood risks, efficient use, and the reliability of local water supplies.  Cost-saving planning and design guidelines that can be implemented by cities and counties to protect water resources.

Fact Sheets Five illustrated fact sheets addressing critical links between local land use and the sustainability of water resources. They provide solutions to critical water resource issues and include case studies, policy language, and additional resources. 1) Land Use and Watersheds 2) Livable Communities and Water 3) Water Conservation 4) Water Recycling and Reuse 5) Urban Stormwater Management

First Stop Shop for Water Resources The newest of the Local Government Commission’s award winning websites. Puts the most relevant, up-to-date, and useful information in one place. The site is easy to navigate so you can find what you need fast. Go to: water.lgc.org

Your community will enjoy: A clean and sustainable water supply Reduced flooding Healthier watersheds Reduced runoff and water pollution And no penalties from the EPA! The Ahwahnee Water Principles - Put them in your General Plan!

For more information and resources: Web:water.lgc.org Phone: