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Protecting Our Water and Environmental Resources

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Protecting Our Water and Environmental Resources ID-255 IISG-01-4 Protecting Our Water and Environmental Resources A Model for Incorporating Natural Resources Protection into Local Land Use Decisions Brian K. Miller Land use, water quality, and natural planning issues, and the Conservation Assistant Director, resource stability are inseparable. In Partnership, composed of the Natural Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant College fact, nonpoint source water pollution, Resources Conservation Service Program caused by polluted runoff from the land, (NRCS), Soil and Water Conservation is the number one water quality problem Districts (SWCD), the Indiana Robert McCormick in the United States. Efforts to combat Department of Natural Resources Coordinator, this threat are focusing primarily on Planning with POWER (IDNR), and Cooperative Extension changing the individual behaviors of Service (CES) staff who assist local land users, but few programs address the Leslie Dorworth communities with natural resource Aquatic Ecology Specialist, Illinois- impact of land use policies, which are management education and watershed Indiana Sea Grant College Program created and enforced at the town, city, planning. and county levels. Ultimately, protection of the nations water and natural resources will depend upon educating Planning with POWER local land use officials about the links 765-494-3627 between land use and water quality, and www.planningwithpower.org providing them with ideas and tools to take action at the local level. The Planning with POWER (Protecting Our Water and Environmental Resources) Project is a statewide Photo courtesy of Bob McCormick, Purdue University educational program that links land use planning with watershed planning at the Planning with POWER is a model local level. Planning with POWER is program demonstrating that education of coordinated by Illinois-Indiana Sea local officials, supported by scientific Grant College Program (IISG) and the technology, can become a catalyst for Purdue Cooperative Extension Service natural resource protection at the local (CES). The project capitalizes on two level. This program empowers land use successful, ongoing statewide education decision-makers and citizens to identify and technical assistance projects: water and environmental resource risks Purdues Extension Land Use Team, their communities face and to develop made up of Extension educators who strategies and policies that will protect assist local communities on land use those resources while accommodating Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service West Lafayette, IN 47907 Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant College Program Purdue University 1 Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant College Program Purdue University growth in their communities. New Plan commissions and local land use technologies and scientific data are used decision-makers can address water to identify a communitys water and resource protection in comprehensive other natural resource assets and to plans by: weigh land use change and policy options that will allow for growth but Utilizing best management practices protect vital environmental resources. (BMPs) to prevent, reduce, and slow storm water runoff. Planning with POWER helps decision- Encouraging use of detention and makers look holistically at all of a retention basins in subdivision design Plan commissions and local communitys environmental assets. to slow and hold storm water. land use decision-makers can Indicators of urbanization are used in a Preserving and utilizing natural or address water resource zoning-based build-out analysis to created wetlands for increased protection. identify future environmental problem infiltration and storing excess storm areas and land use planning actions that water runoff. will reduce the potential for water Slowing down the expressway of pollution and natural resources polluted runoff by utilizing grass degradation. swales, filter strips, or vegetated buffers in place of curbing and piped The Planning with POWER message is drainage whenever possible. simple. Through a three-tiered strategy Ensuring regular maintenance such as of 1) natural resource-based planning, 2) sweeping streets, cleaning storm improving site design and using best drains, and removing sediment from management practices, and 3) detention/ retention ponds. remediation and maintenance, water and Enforcing follow through on agreed other natural resources can be protected upon site design with contractors. while allowing for compatible economic Enforcing proper on-site septic growth. regulations for design and installation Encouraging proper maintenance and Once armed with this knowledge, local use of on-site septic systems by officials are better able to incorporate homeowners. natural resource protection into their Encouraging development in areas everyday decisions. In addition, water serviced by sewage treatment quality concerns become a part of local infrastructures. Open space is composed of debates on topics as different as road Encouraging common on-site waste farm lands, managed green width and curbing, landscape and disposal for a group of homes or space (parks, golf courses, neighborhood design, and open space development. etc.,) and wild lands. planning. Open space (land without permanent structures) is composed of farm lands, managed green space (parks, golf courses, etc.) and wild lands. Plan commissions and local land use decision-makers can protect natural resources, and the lands that provide them by: Photo courtesy of Brian Miller, Purdue University Utilizing agricultural BMPs such as Here are some examples of decisions riparian buffers and targeting open local officials face and natural resource space as buffers between agricultural protection measures they might employ. land and water resources. 2 Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service West Lafayette, IN 47907 Targeting open space to protect Local officials can promote watershed critical wildlife habitat and travel management protection through: corridors Protecting key forest lands for recreation, environmental Education that increases citizen benefits, and future timber awareness about protecting water and production. the environment. Protecting prime farm land for future Storm drain stenciling programs and agriculture, food production, and hazardous waste disposal days. wildlife habitat. Targeting open space in areas needed to collect and treat storm runoff. Targeting open space to protect ground water and surface water supplies. Planning with POWER Plan commissions and local land use Project Partners decision-makers addressing runoff can: Purdue Cooperative Incorporate improved site designs. Extension Service Minimize impervious surfaces. Minimize the disruption of natural Photo courtesy of NEMO, University of Connecticut Illinois-Indiana Sea drainage and vegetation. Grant College Program Use cluster development when feasible Local officials can encourage citizen Indiana Department of which reduces the total area of paved participation by: Environmental Management surfaces and increases open space. (IDEM) Recommend improved design of Helping groups organize local citizen sidewalks, roads, and parking lots that water quality monitoring programs. Indiana Land reduces total surface area. Helping school teachers design student Resources Council Use brick, crushed stone or pervious projects on local watershed (ILRC) pavement in low traffic areas. management and land use planning Indiana Department Direct drainage to vegetated swales issues. of Natural Resources instead of traditional curbing and Promoting spin-off research projects (IDNR) piping. targeting water quality and impacts of Encourage designs which reduce local land use decisions. Natural Resources grading and filling and retain the Conservation Service natural features of the landscape. Collaborative Efforts (NRCS) Planning with POWER was developed Soil and Water Conservation to create an adaptable model for Districts (SWCD) combining Extension education and high technology to educate the critical target audience - local land use officials. Through a number of collaborations with other agencies and organizations, Planning with POWER will be involved in a wide range of education, research, and technical assistance projects that continue to test and expand the model in Indiana. Planning with POWER is coordinated Photo courtesy of NEMO, University of Connecticut by Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant College Program and Purdue Cooperative Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant College Program Purdue University 3 Extension Service. The Indiana (LTHIA), provides estimates of Department of Environmental changes in surface runoff, recharge, Management has provided critical and nonpoint source pollution resulting funding needed to initiate this statewide from past or proposed land use (Planning with POWER) project. An changes. Additional advisory committee provides direction GIS models and mapping are being on the development of this project and developed by the department. includes representatives from the <http://danpatch.ecn.purdue.edu.runoff > following organizations: Purdue University Cooperative Extension Purdue Residential Onsite Wastewater Service; the Natural Resource Disposal (PROWD): An extensive set Conservation Service; IDNR, Division of publications and resources can Agricultural & Biological of Soil Conservation; the Soil and Water guide homeowners and communities in Engineering Conservation Districts; Illinois-Indiana selecting septic or alternative treatment Sea Grant College Program; Indiana options
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