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About our Programs

Center for Water and Land Use

The Center for Water and Land Use's mission is to increase awareness and understanding of the relationships between water resources and land use policies and practices through education, training, applied research, collaboration and dissemination of information.

Areas of concern include:

  • source water protection
  • the quality of water in our steams, rivers, lakes and wetlands
  • the impact development can have on water quantity
  • wise use of this precious resource through water conservation
  • protection of the habitat and ecology of our aquatic resources

Focus

Due to the rapid expansion of development in California the center will focus its attention on commercial and residential development issues. Many new federal and state regulations require local jurisdictions to limit the impact of development on water quality and quantity. The center will work to identify resources that will provide jurisdictions with information needed to address and comply with these regulations.

Resources

The center will also develop key resources for local communities, neighborhoods, jurisdictions, stakeholders and watershed organizations interested in low impact development (LID). LID is far more than just high density development and LID principles can be incorporated into many development types. Not all LID principles are suitable or appropriate in all locations or under all circumstances. No one practice or series of practices will provide the level of protection mandated by federal and state regulations. Using a natural resource-based comprehensive land use planning approach that incorporates site and regional LID, best management practices as well as natural systems such as wetlands, riparian areas and floodplains, communities can meet their development needs while protecting the environment.

Outcome

Through incorporation of a systematic approach that includes a site, regional and natural systems approach for achieving water discharge requirements, water quality and quantity objectives can achieve a measure of maximum practicability.