Plan for Water 2020
The Plan for Water, when complete, it will serve as “A Long Range Decision Tool to Guide NID’s Water Management.” This effort is a comprehensive plan that will address our community’s water future. Our public outreach strategy has the goal of maximizing public input and conducting an update process that is as open and transparent as possible.
NID plans to reengage in the Plan for Water effort in Q3, 2021.
Questions or comments regarding Plan for Water? Write us at info@nidwater.com
Background: NID is moving ahead with Plan for Water
On Jan. 15, 2020 the Board of Directors conducted a workshop to discuss and offer direction on key goals and critical success factors for Plan for Water’s Public Outreach Process design.
The Nevada Irrigation District’s Plan for Water was last updated in 2005 and adopted in 2013. The plan helps guide decisions related to the water system over the next 50 years.
The District is updating the plan to reflect changes in water demand, supply and the potential effects of climate change. The plan is an organizational tool that seeks to align resource decision making with community values and District operational needs, including technical and cost criteria requirements. When complete the plan will show how a variety of future water supply and demand scenarios could be integrated to ensure our community enjoys the same high-quality, reliable water system we have now.
Public Outreach is a Key Component
Including the public through outreach and direct involvement in long-range planning is a best practice. The District’s plan will benefit from a public outreach process that increases public understanding of water resource challenges, considers the community’s long-term plans and priorities, and listens to and learns from the public.
American Water Works Association M50 Manual of Practice
To develop Plan for Water, the District is using a water-industry manual of practice developed by the American Water Works Association (AWWA). The AWWA M50 Water Resources Planning manual includes recommendations for public involvement, which the District has chosen to use in developing a public outreach process to accompany the Plan for Water.
The recommendations include: use of International Association for Public Participation principles; using assessed risk and community impact to determine the level of public involvement and outreach; and determination of the type and extent of public involvement as defined by the Board of Directors.
For public outreach and involvement to be meaningful, it must feed into Plan for Water process at key points and be aligned with the District’s planning schedule and budget.