Attachment 4 - Guide for M and I WC Planning.pdf

Table of Contents i

Table of Contents

Section One -- Introduction ................................................................................................................... 1-5

Water Conservation or Water Management........................................................................................ 1-6

Who Should Use This Guidebook? .................................................................................................... 1-6

What is Good Water Management?.................................................................................................... 1-6

Why Do Water Management Planning? ............................................................................................. 1-7

Benefits of Good Water Management Planning .............................................................................. 1-8

Pitfalls Avoided by Good Water Management Planning.............................................................. 1-8

Organization of this Guidebook.................................................................................................... 1-10

Section Two -- The Planning Process..................................................................................................... 2-1 Overview....................................................................................................................................... 2-2 The Importance of Public Involvement........................................................................................... 2-2

Phase 1 - Information Gathering / Problem Definition ........................................................................ 2-4 Overview....................................................................................................................................... 2-4 Checklist of Information Needs...................................................................................................... 2-4 Identifying Problem Areas ............................................................................................................. 2-6 The Water Budget Concept ............................................................................................................ 2-7 Checklist of Typical Problem Areas ............................................................................................... 2-7

Phase 2 -- Setting Goals and Priorities ............................................................................................. 2-10 What Are Goals? ......................................................................................................................... 2-10 Goal-Setting ................................................................................................................................ 2-10 Example Goal Statements ............................................................................................................ 2-12 Setting Priorities .......................................................................................................................... 2-12

Phase 3 -- Evaluating Water Management Options........................................................................... 2-13 Overview..................................................................................................................................... 2-13 Identifying Candidate Water Management Measures .................................................................... 2-13 Describing the Effects of Candidate Measures.............................................................................. 2-14 Displaying and Comparing Your Evaluations ............................................................................... 2-15

Phase 4 -- Define a Plan of Action ................................................................................................... 2-17 Overview..................................................................................................................................... 2-17 Selecting Measures for Implementation........................................................................................ 2-17 Other General Considerations ...................................................................................................... 2-18 Projecting Results of Selected Measures....................................................................................... 2-19

Phase 5 -- Implementation and Monitoring....................................................................................... 2-21 Implementation Schedules and Budgets........................................................................................ 2-21 Monitoring The Plan.................................................................................................................... 2-21 ii

Section Three - Potential Water Management Measures ......................................................................... 3-1

Fundamental Water Management Measures ....................................................................................... 3-2 Water Measurement and Accounting Systems ................................................................................ 3-2 Water Pricing Structure.................................................................................................................. 3-3 Educational Programs.................................................................................................................... 3-5 Water Conservation Coordinator.................................................................................................... 3-6

Additional water conservation measures ............................................................................................ 3-7 Residential and governmental audit program.................................................................................. 3-7 Commercial and industrial audit program....................................................................................... 3-9 Landscape programs .................................................................................................................... 3-10 Distribution system audit program ............................................................................................... 3-12 Water shortage contingency plan.................................................................................................. 3-12 Wastewater reclamation program ................................................................................................. 3-14 Plumbing regulations ................................................................................................................... 3-14 Fixture replacement program ....................................................................................................... 3-15 Conjunctive use ........................................................................................................................... 3-15

Section Four - Assembling a Water Management Plan ........................................................................... 4-1 WHY DO YOU NEED A WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN DOCUMENT? .................................... 4-2 SUGGESTED OUTLINE FOR THE PLAN DOCUMENT................................................................ 4-3

Glossary................................................................................................................................................ 4-1

Resources.......................................................................................................................................... 4-6

Documents .................................................................................................................................... 4-6 Consumptive Use........................................................................................................................... 4-9

Contacts and Agencies..................................................................................................................... 4-13

Arizona....................................................................................................................................... 4-13 USBR Regional and Area Office Water Conservation Program Coordinators................................ 4-13 State Water Conservation Programs ............................................................................................. 4-13 State Office of County Cooperative Extension Programs .............................................................. 4-14 USDA State Conservationist ........................................................................................................ 4-14

California ................................................................................................................................... 4-14 USBR Regional and Area Office Water Conservation Program Coordinators................................ 4-14 State Office of County Cooperative Extension Programs .............................................................. 4-15 State Water Conservation Programs ............................................................................................. 4-16 USDA State Conservationist ........................................................................................................ 4-16

Colorado..................................................................................................................................... 4-16 USBR Regional and Area Office Water Conservation Program Coordinators................................ 4-16 State Water Conservation Programs ............................................................................................. 4-17 State Office of County Cooperative Extension Programs .............................................................. 4-17 USDA State Conservationist ........................................................................................................ 4-17

Idaho .......................................................................................................................................... 4-18 USBR Regional and Area Office Water Conservation Program Coordinators................................ 4-18 State Water Conservation Programs ............................................................................................. 4-18 State Office of County Cooperative Extension Programs .............................................................. 4-18 USDA State Conservationist ........................................................................................................ 4-18 iii

Kansas........................................................................................................................................ 4-18 USBR Regional and Area Office Water Conservation Program Coordinators................................ 4-18 State Water Conservation Programs ............................................................................................. 4-19 State Office of County Cooperative Extension Programs .............................................................. 4-19 USDA State Conservationist ........................................................................................................ 4-19

Montana ..................................................................................................................................... 4-20 USBR Regional and Area Office Water Conservation Program Coordinators................................ 4-20 State Water Conservation Programs ............................................................................................. 4-20 State Office of County Cooperative Extension Programs .............................................................. 4-20 USDA State Conservationist ........................................................................................................ 4-20

Nebraska .................................................................................................................................... 4-21 USBR Regional and Area Office Water Conservation Program Coordinators................................ 4-21 State Water Conservation Programs ............................................................................................. 4-21 State Office of County Cooperative Extension Programs .............................................................. 4-21 USDA State Conservationist ........................................................................................................ 4-21

Nevada ....................................................................................................................................... 4-22 USBR Regional and Area Office Water Conservation Program Coordinators................................ 4-22 State Water Conservation Programs ............................................................................................. 4-23 State Office of County Cooperative Extension Programs .............................................................. 4-23 USDA State Conservationist ........................................................................................................ 4-23

New Mexico................................................................................................................................ 4-23 USBR Regional and Area Office Water Conservation Program Coordinators................................ 4-23 State Water Conservation Programs ............................................................................................. 4-24 State Office of County Cooperative Extension Programs .............................................................. 4-24 USDA State Conservationist ........................................................................................................ 4-24

North Dakota ............................................................................................................................. 4-25 USBR Regional and Area Office Water Conservation Program Coordinators................................ 4-25 State Water Conservation Programs ............................................................................................. 4-25 State Office of County Cooperative Extension Programs .............................................................. 4-25 USDA State Conservationist ........................................................................................................ 4-25

Oklahoma................................................................................................................................... 4-26 USBR Regional and Area Office Water Conservation Program Coordinators................................ 4-26 State Water Conservation Programs ............................................................................................. 4-26 State Office of County Cooperative Extension Programs .............................................................. 4-26 USDA State Conservationist ........................................................................................................ 4-26

Oregon ....................................................................................................................................... 4-27 USBR Regional and Area Office Water Conservation Program Coordinators................................ 4-27 State Water Conservation Programs ............................................................................................. 4-28 State Office of County Cooperative Extension Programs .............................................................. 4-28 USDA State Conservationist ........................................................................................................ 4-28

South Dakota ............................................................................................................................. 4-29 USBR Regional and Area Office Water Conservation Program Coordinators................................ 4-29 State Water Conservation Programs ............................................................................................. 4-29 State Office of County Cooperative Extension Programs .............................................................. 4-29 USDA State Conservationist ........................................................................................................ 4-29 iv

Texas .......................................................................................................................................... 4-30 USBR Regional and Area Office Water Conservation Program Coordinators................................ 4-30 State Water Conservation Programs ............................................................................................. 4-30 State Office of County Cooperative Extension Programs .............................................................. 4-30 USDA State Conservationist ........................................................................................................ 4-30

Utah............................................................................................................................................ 4-31 USBR Regional and Area Office Water Conservation Program Coordinators................................ 4-31 State Water Conservation Programs ............................................................................................. 4-31 State Office of County Cooperative Extension Programs .............................................................. 4-31 USDA State Conservationist ........................................................................................................ 4-31

Washington ................................................................................................................................ 4-32 USBR Regional and Area Office Water Conservation Program Coordinators................................ 4-32 State Water Conservation Programs ............................................................................................. 4-32 State Office of County Cooperative Extension Programs .............................................................. 4-32 USDA State Conservationist ........................................................................................................ 4-32

Wyoming .................................................................................................................................... 4-33 USBR Regional and Area Office Water Conservation Program Coordinators................................ 4-33 State Water Conservation Programs ............................................................................................. 4-33 State Office of County Cooperative Extension Programs .............................................................. 4-33 USDA State Conservationist ........................................................................................................ 4-33

Introduction

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Section One -- Introduction This section provides an overview of what this Guidebook is about, including:

/ Why Reclamation prepared this Guidebook

/ Water conservation versus water management

/ Who should use this Guidebook

/ What is good water management

/ Why do water management planning

/ Organization of the Guidebook

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Why Reclamation Prepared this Guidebook

The Bureau of Reclamation, Lower Colorado Region prepared this Guidebook to help M&I water districts prepare water conservation plans to achieve more efficient water use. The Guidebook is aimed at districts of all sizes and complexities, including non-USBR contractors.

Tools such as this manual support ReclamationÕs overall water management mission. Through tools such as this, Reclamation hopes to cooperatively work with others to improve water resource management and the efficiency of water use throughout the western United States. In particular, this manual supports ReclamationÕs responsibility under the Reclamation Reform Act (Sections 210a and 210b) and other Reclamation law, to encourage more efficient water use by the districts it serves.

WATER CONSERVATION OR WATER MANAGEMENT

One objective of this Guidebook is to help districts prepare water conservation plans called for in Section 210 (b) of the Reclamation Reform Act. However, the methods and measures described in the Guidebook are more broadly aimed at helping districts improve their overall water management. Improved water management will often lead to better water conservation. We encourage you to take this broader view as you use this Guidebook.

WHO SHOULD USE THIS GUIDEBOOK?

This Guidebook is designed to assist managers and staff of M&I water districts, States, and others to improve water management by the individual customer and at the district level. Throughout this Guidebook, the term ÒyouÓ refers to district management and staff members responsible for preparation of water management plans.

WHAT IS GOOD WATER MANAGEMENT?

To the urban user, good water management means using sufficient water to maintain or improve quality of life. If this can be accomplished while reducing the amount of water used, so much the better.

To the water district, good water management means meeting the water needs of its customers as efficiently as possible, with

Bureau of Reclamation Lower Colorado Region M&I Conservation Plan Guidebook 1-7 minimum waste or loss. Good water management is therefore fundamentally important to good overall district management.

To society, good water management means having adequate supplies of good quality water for all municipal, industrial, agricultural, recreational, and environmental needs. Those in charge of operating water supply and delivery systems bear the greatest burden of responsibility for promoting and achieving the good water management demanded by society.

WHY DO WATER MANAGEMENT PLANNING?

Planning is the process of thinking ahead to achieve desired future outcomes and to avoid future problems. It is something we all do at many levels every day of our lives. There are benefits to be gained and risks to be avoided by water management planning.

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Benefits of Good Water Management Planning

Water management planning can benefit the water district and the their customers, as well as third parties and the environment. The range of potential benefits includes:

_ Better water service to customers

_ More effective use of available water supply

_ Reduced operating costs and improved revenues

_ Improved water quality

_ Reduced customer costs

_ Improved aquatic habitat

_ Habitat maintenance for endangered species

_ Better documentation of uses and accomplishments

_ Education of customers and others

_ Improved system and water supply reliability

_ Postponed need for new or expanded water supplies

_ Reduced drought impacts

Pitfalls Avoided by Good Water Management Planning

There are a variety of problems and pitfalls that can be avoided by good water management planning. Some of these could affect the district and its customers immediately and others could pose future threats. Some examples of undesirable situations that might be avoided through good planning are:

_ Daily and seasonal water shortages

_ Excessive losses or spills from water delivery systems

_ Insufficient carry-over supplies in reservoirs

_ Loss of water rights through waste or abandonment

_ Adverse relationships with other water users and publics

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_ Drainage and erosion control problems

_ De-watered streams and wetlands

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Organization of this Guidebook

This Guidebook is divided into four main sections.

Each section begins with a tabbed divider page making it easy to turn to a specific area of the Guidebook.

Section One is this introductory section of the Guidebook.

Section Two describes a step-by-step planning process that will enable you to identify the most effective water management improvements to make first.

Section Three contains brief descriptions of a variety of M&I water management measures. It contains questions and checklists to help you decide which measures might best apply to your situation.

Section Four is a brief guide to preparing a water management plan document for your District. It contains a suggested outline for the document and provides examples of how different types of information might be presented.

At the back of the Guidebook, you will find a Glossary of terms, lists of references and contacts for further information and assistance.

The Planning Process

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Section Two -- The Planning Process This section of the Guidebook will introduce you to the planning process. It will:

? Outline a systematic but flexible planning process

? Help you identify water management problems and goals

? Help you evaluate potential ways to solve problems and achieve goals

? Help you decide what water management improvements should become part of your action plan

GATH ER IN FORMATION

IDEN TIFY PROBLEMS

SET GOALS

PRIORITIE

S

EVALUATE

OPTION S

DEFIN E A

PLAN OF

ACTION

IMPLEMEN T

MON ITOR

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Overview

Planning is a logical sequence of decision-making phases or activities that include:

1. Gathering Information & Defining Problems

2. Setting Goals & Priorities

3. Evaluating Options

4. Defining a Plan of Action

5. Implementing & Monitoring

There is nothing unusual or complicated about this sequence of activities.

You use this thought process for almost every decision you make. In the context of water management, it is simply used as a framework to ensure a systematic and thorough decision-making process.

The five planning phases described above are shown in sequential, step-by-step order. However, the planning process often requires going back and forth between steps. For example, it is very common to determine, while evaluating options, that further information gathering is needed.

It is this back-and-forth approach that makes planning a process, rather than a product. The product (in this case a water management plan) should be viewed as a “snapshot” of an ongoing process, taken at a specific point in time for the purpose of implementing particular management measures.

Water management planning should be viewed as an ongoing activity and not as a one-time effort. Situations change, new technologies arise, and problems and opportunities may be seen in a new light. As a result, plans become outdated. Water management planning must become a routine part of district management to be effective in the long run

Each of the five planning phases shown in the figure above is discussed in detail in this section. By the time you have read through the section, you will have a good understanding of the planning process and how it could be applied to your situation.

The Importance of Public Involvement

A basic principle of planning is that it cannot be done effectively in a vacuum. It would be foolhardy to develop new policies, procedures, or requirements and attempt to implement them without involving the people affected by them. In many cases, district or state laws would prohibit such actions.

For plans to be credible and effective, it is important to obtain consensus and support the district board of directors and from potentially affected

Bureau of Reclamation Lower Colorado Region M&I Conservation Plan Guidebook 2-3 parties. The parties that are most obviously affected by water management measures are District customers. Involving your customers in all phases of the planning process is more likely to produce a management plan that addresses real problems in practical ways.

But there are other important “publics” that can also make significant contributions to plan development. Involve community leaders, state and federal agency staff, and representatives of various interest groups in the planning process. Two heads are better than one in providing broader perspectives on issues and thus heading off later obstacles to plan implementation.

For these reasons, it is very important to consider public involvement as an integral part of the water management planning process. The goals of public involvement are:

To build credibility by establishing an open and accessible planning and decision-making process

To identify and understand the diverse concerns and values of the parties potentially affected by your decisions

To develop a consensus among these divergent interests in support of your water management plan

Some methods to provide public involvement opportunities include mail questionnaires and information sheets, public meetings and workshops, focus groups and advisory committees, and the use of local media.

Reclamation has a substantial amount of experience in developing public involvement programs and has produced a Public Involvement Manual to assist water resource planners in this area (USDI, 1980). Additional assistance in developing a public involvement program can be obtained from the Water Conservation Coordinator at Reclamation’s Area or Regional office nearest you.

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PHASE 1 - INFORMATION GATHERING / PROBLEM DEFINITION

Overview

The first phase of the planning process includes problem definition and information gathering activities. You probably have already identified some water management problems in your district, but having more or better information will help you define those problems more clearly, and possibly uncover others. You also probably already have quite a bit of information about water use in your district, but it may be incomplete or not organized in a way that is helpful in problem-solving.

This first phase of the planning process is meant to identify information gaps and uncertainties about problems and to develop a solid foundation for subsequent planning activities. Before you can effectively set goals and evaluate options, you must have a clear definition of the problem you are trying to solve.

Input from customers and others affected by your district’s water use will help you identify important issues. You will want to involve a wide range of people at the onset, perhaps at a public meeting.

Checklist of Information Needs

Part of the first phase of the planning process is gathering the information you need to identify and analyze water management problems. You also will need some other descriptive information about the district to include in your water management plan so that people who read it have a clear understanding of the district. The checklist below is provided to help you assemble the information you need.

Physical Setting

Understanding the local hydrology and climate will help you identify the factors which affect district water supplies and landscape irrigation demands. Data that might be useful include:

Hydrology of source streams, district reservoirs, area wetlands and groundwater

Water quality of sources Climate information such as precipitation and temperature

Sources of hydrologic, climatic, and water quality data include local universities, the National Climatic Data Center, the US Geological Survey, the EPA, Reclamation, and private data publishers.

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Water Rights, Permits, and Contracts

The legal and institutional constraints under which your district operates will be a factor in your water management plan. Therefore, it would be useful to understand:

Rights or permits held by the district Contracts with Reclamation or others Instream flow requirements Restrictions on water use Endangered Species Act compliance needs

Sources of information include district bylaws, articles of incorporation, decrees, contracts, and state water legislation.

Customer and Water use Information

Understanding the water use needs of your customers is key to developing a sound management plan. Data that should be collected include:

Number of each type of customer (i.e., single family) Type and size of landscapes Uses of water by each customer type

District Operations and Operating Policies

Your water management plan may involve modifying existing operating policies. Sources of this information include district bylaws, written policies, district rules and regulations, and standard practices. Gather information on

Water ordering and delivery procedures Water shortage allocation policy Inter-district agreements and operations Staffing and training of operators

Examples include reservoir operations, timing of use of different sources, groundwater pumping policies, flood control policies, facilities maintenance, and hydropower operations. Many operating policies may not be written; describing your operations in writing will help you and others better understand how the district works.

Water Pricing and Accounting

To understand relationships between water use and revenues, you will want to compile descriptions of:

Water accounting procedures Water user billing procedures Date and last rate review

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These procedures may be gleaned from standard practices or they may be codified in bylaws and contracts.

Water Resources Inventory

The infrastructure and water supplies currently in place in your district will be important factors in determining where water use efficiencies can be improved. Records of deliveries and sales will be key to estimating losses and potential savings. The types of data needed include:

Diversion capacities and diversion records Groundwater pumping capacities and pumping data Storage capacities, storage and release records, and evaporation data Delivery records and data, including peak period deliveries

Reclamation’s Monthly Water Distribution sheets contain monthly data for your district, though the accuracy and reliability of these data should be verified. Information from drought years will be particularly useful.

Other Water Uses

There may be opportunities and constraints presented to your district by other water uses. Some of these include:

Recreational and environmental uses Special needs or operations (e.g., sediment flushing)

Existing Water Management and Conservation Programs

You will want to understand what management measures or programs have already been implemented in your district. These could range from system leak detection to education programs to variable rate pricing.

Understanding the cost and impact of each measure will help you make informed decisions about future measures. Lessons from programs that have not succeeded are as valuable as from programs that have succeeded.

Identifying Problem Areas

There are a variety of ways to learn about water management problems in your district. The most common way is day-to-day observation and experience. District management and staff members often observe operational problems directly. Customers complain of water quality or pressure problems. Holding informal “brainstorming sessions” with district staff, customers, and others will help increase the exchange.

Another important way to learn about water management problems is to analyze data. For example, by comparing records of District supply with customer sales you can estimate the amount of water lost to leaks, breaks and slow meters. This type of quantitative analysis can provide quite

Bureau of Reclamation Lower Colorado Region M&I Conservation Plan Guidebook 2-7 specific information about problem areas, provided it is based on accurate data. One very useful method of analysis is the water budget.

The Water Budget Concept

The water budget is a convenient tool for analyzing water management problems and opportunities, provided that you have adequate and reliable data. It is also a useful way to organize quantitative information you have collected.

The water budget concept, simply stated, is that the sum of system inflows has to equal the sum of system outflows. Inflows consist of all the sources of water supply to the district. Outflows consist of all the ways that water is removed from the district. The components of inflow and outflow are best presented in the tables provided in the Plan-on-Disk.

However, a useful water budget is possible only if the records or estimates for all the accounted-for inflows and outflows are accurate and reliable. If any of the records or estimates is unreliable or inaccurate, the water budget will also be unreliable or inaccurate. Thus it is very important that the data used in water budget analysis be verified.

The water budget approach is very flexible and can be applied at different scales. For example, it can encompass the entire district or focus on a specific area. By focusing on smaller areas, it is sometimes possible to identify the specific locations of problems such as leaking pipes.

The water budget can also be prepared on an annual basis or a daily basis.

A shorter time step sometimes helps identify specific problems. For instance, it might be helpful to prepare a water budget for a wet year and for a dry year to see how usage and losses change with hydrologic conditions. An analyzing of several years will increase your confidence in the results

Checklist of Typical Problem Areas

A “checklist” is provided below to help you start thinking about where there might be opportunities to improve water management in your district. This checklist is organized into problem areas that are common to M&I water purveyors. It may be that your district has unique water management problems and opportunities that could be added to this list.

Adequacy of Data

Good information is fundamental to making good decisions. Informed decisions about water management are based on good water measurement and accounting. Without accurate and reliable information about when, Bureau of Reclamation Lower Colorado Region M&I Conservation Plan Guidebook 2-8 where, and how much water is used, it is difficult to correctly assess the locations and magnitudes of problems. These assessments, in turn, are key to deciding how to allocate scarce district resources.

? Do you meter all customers?

? Are all meters in good operating condition and checked regularly?

? Do you bill customers for the quantity of water they actually use?

? Do you think you might benefit from improved water measurement?

Adequacy of Supply

The adequacy of the district water supply should be considered at several levels. In some situations it will be clear that water demand chronically exceeds available supply. However, it is more common that supply is adequate on the average, but there are shortages in dry years, in the late season, or in certain locations.

? Do you regularly have difficulties meeting overall district water demands?

? Are there certain areas of the district that are always a problem?

? Do you supplemental drought water supplies?

Efficiency of Application

Landscape irrigation water is one of the largest single users of water for most M&I purveyors. The challenge is to deliver the appropriate amount of water to the root zone at the correct time. Evidence of poor landscape management includes dry patches or ponding on turf areas, water running in the streets and excessive peak demand.

? Is Evaporation data easily available and widely used?

? Does the district provide demonstration gardens and workshops for gardeners?

? Does the district have programs to make improved irrigation equipment (low volume emitters, controllers, etc.) accessible to customers?

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Environmental Considerations

The development of cites in the dry western states has had impacts on the environment of the region. Construction and operation of water storage and diversion projects have modified and depleted natural flow regimes, created wetlands in areas where they did not exist naturally, and degraded water quality by adding sediments, salts, and chemical residues from industry, fertilizers and pesticides.

? Are wetlands or critical habitats affected by water use in your district?

? Are there endangered species affected by your district water diversion or use?

? How do your operations affect environmental values?

? How could district operations be modified to improve conditions?

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PHASE 2 -- SETTING GOALS AND PRIORITIES

What Are Goals?

The objective of this second phase of the planning process is to define the goals of your water management planning effort. These goals will help you decide which water management measures make the most sense to implement. They will become the “yardsticks” by which you measure the success of your efforts. They need to state where you are going and why.

Goal-Setting

In addition to addressing specific problems within the district, some other areas where you should consider developing specific planning goals include the following:

Providing leadership in solving regional water problems Improving coordination with neighboring water supply entities Enhancing the value of the water resource within and outside the district

There are some basic principles to follow when it comes to defining the goal statements that will drive your water management planning effort.

These principles are derived from strategies for businesses but they are applicable to any directed activity. The principles are that goals should be:

Relevant

Goal statements need to address actual problems and opportunities faced by the district. The objective of the planning process is to identify and take appropriate actions to address potential water management problems and opportunities. Hopefully, the information-gathering and problem-definition activity of Phase 1 will have illustrated for you where some water management problems and opportunities exist. Your goals should build on these findings.

Consistent with Values

District goals will be more readily achieved if they are consistent with the values of district customers, staff and directors. Their values are the basis of their motivation to support your management efforts.

Specific and Clearly Stated

Goals need to be expressed in clear terms and directed at specific activities. This principle is necessary in order to choose between management options and to gauge your progress. Vaguely stated goals

Bureau of Reclamation Lower Colorado Region M&I Conservation Plan Guidebook 2-11 will leave people uncertain about what they should do. If possible, goals should be stated in quantitative terms.

Written Down

It is essential to write down goal statements in order to communicate them consistently to others. It also makes a commitment that is not present when you just think about them. Use simple, concise, common language when writing goal statements.

Minimal in Number

Having too many goals will diffuse the resources your district can direct toward achieving any one of them. Don’t include all the goal statements that you think of -- some probably aren’t important.

Challenging but Realistic

Motivated people generally respond well to challenges, but unrealistic goals will cause everyone involved to become frustrated and disillusioned.

Goal statements should reflect the practical ability of your district to direct money and staff resources at the problem to be solved.

Visualized

Painting mental pictures of your goals is a very powerful technique. It helps you see them as more realistic and achievable. To the degree possible, you should try to share your vision with others on whom you will rely for help.

Long-term

Many water management improvements take time to develop and will not be realized immediately. Attitudes change slowly and voluntary adoption of new practices occurs incrementally. The district must maintain a long-term leadership role.

Achievement-oriented

If people don’t see results from their efforts, they eventually lose interest.

When developing goal statements, try to think of ways in which progress toward those goals might be recognized and publicized. This is especially important for goals that take a long time to achieve.

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Example Goal Statements

Here are a few example goal statements that reflect the principles stated above:

“Implement a water measurement improvement program by the end of 1998 to support future studies of district water use and management.”

“Reduce system losses to less than 8% by the year 2000.”

“Develop, through improved water management, sufficient surplus supply to provide 2,000 acre-feet of water for new construction.”

“Implement water pricing that increases district revenue by $100,000 per year to support a toilet rebate program.”

Setting Priorities

Chances are that you will identify several, perhaps many, goals for water management improvement. There may be more things you want to do than you have the resources to accomplish. If this is the case, you will have to decide which goals are the most important.

There are a variety of ways to set priorities among competing goals.

Priorities might emphasize goals that are perceived to be important to the greatest number of people. Priorities might emphasize goals that have the least cost or the greatest financial return. Priorities might emphasize goals that enhance the physical performance of your supply system. Priorities might emphasize goals that are most in harmony with existing rules and regulations and with neighboring water management agencies. Priorities might emphasize goals that contribute more to improved water quality or habitat.

One way to assess the relative importance of problems and goals is to hold workshops or discussion groups with staff and customers. After describing the water management problems you have identified and the possible goals you have defined, you can ask for a “straw vote.” You might list all the possible goals or problems on large sheets of paper, hang them on the wall, and ask participants to “vote” on the five most important ones.

Your Board of Directors will obviously play an important role in assigning priorities to the goals of your water management plan.

Given the importance of good information to good decision-making, it is probably safe to say that having good water measurement and accounting should be a top priority in every district. Without good water measurement it is difficult to quantify and evaluate water management problems and opportunities. It is also impossible to base accounting or pricing on actual water delivery unless those deliveries are measured.

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Accordingly, every district should consider adopting planning goals that include improved water measurement and accounting.

PHASE 3 -- EVALUATING WATER MANAGEMENT OPTIONS

Overview

This phase of planning activity involves identifying candidate measures for water management improvement and investigating how well each option might contribute to achieving the goals you defined in Phase 2.

Usually this means that you will need to make rough assessments of costs, water savings, political acceptability, etc., of each of the measures being considered.

The evaluation process involves going back and forth between evaluation steps. You may decide, for example, that certain effects of a candidate measure are unacceptable but that the measure could be re-defined to avoid those effects. You would then go through the evaluation process for the modified measure. Hopefully, each time you go through this exercise you get more precise and confident in your evaluation.

Later in the planning process (in Phase 4) you will select from the most promising options to define an action plan. The basic objective of Phase 3 is to develop enough information about potential water management improvements to support later decisions.

Identifying Candidate Water Management Measures

District staff are probably the people best qualified to identify potential water management improvements for the district. It is important to take a little time, think about the “big picture,” and involve some other people to make sure there aren’t measures that would solve the important problems a little bit better.

The main focus in defining potential water management measures for consideration should be the goals you defined in Phase 2. If your goal statements are specific enough, they will “suggest” certain types of measures. Brainstorming in workshops and focus groups of staff members or customers is also a good way to generate ideas about potential water management improvements. Thinking of possibilities is a very creative process. But you should always come back to your goal statements as the guiding principles.

In order to help you get the creative juices flowing, Section Three of this Guidebook contains descriptions and discussions of a variety of potential water management measures (there are many other potential measures).

The general areas covered in these descriptions include:

Improvements to water measurement and accounting

Bureau of Reclamation Lower Colorado Region M&I Conservation Plan Guidebook 2-14

Changes in water pricing and billing methods Education and training programs Operational and facility improvements to reduce water losses Incentives for improved customer water use Development of contingency plans for shortage periods

Describing the Effects of Candidate Measures

Once you have identified some specific measures you think could help achieve your water management goals, the next step is to describe the effects of those measures. A wide variety of effects should be considered.

Some of the more important ones include: cost to the district and customers, changes in…