AWWA ACE93059

The Conservation Master Plan for Denver Water (DW) would not have succeeded without the Citizen's Advisory Committee (CAC). Although the CAC had been in place for over a decade, its most comprehensive involvement began in early spring 1991. Working with DW staff, committee member and volunteer facilitator Sue Lawson convened a water conservation sub-committee which then solicited other participants from diverse areas of the community. The 45 other participants were invited to select an issue group in which to give feedback on the existing Conservation Plan and to make policy recommendations for the new one. After many months of very hard work by volunteers and staff, the new Master Plan was brought before the Board of Water Commissioners for their consideration. Because of the extensive citizen participation, the Plan was approved by the Board on first presentation, December 1, 1992. Denver Water has learned that the success of any future plan depends upon the support and involvement of customers. There are some methods of public involvement which work well and others which don't work at all. This paper outlines those methods and answers other questions about public involvement as part of integrated resource planning (IRP).