San Diego Region Conservation Action Committee
Case Study: The San Diego Region’s Conservation Action Committee
As part of overall regional stakeholder efforts, the Water Authority hosts and supports a
standing stakeholder committee known locally as the Conservation Action Committee (CAC).
This committee serves as a forum for the exchange of ideas, promotion of solutions,
identification of local best management practices, mobilization of public/private water
conservation efforts etc.
In partnership with the Conservation Action Committee, the Water Authority and its agencies
hosted a Water Conservation Summit in the fall of 2006. Feedback obtained from the summit
gave rise to the need for a regional water conservation strategic plan and dedicated work
groups to address future water shortages. Three work groups were created to support the
Conservation Action Committee. Figure 1 shows the relationship of the work groups to the
Conservation Action Committee and the Water Authority.
In 2007, it became very clear to State water officials that California was in a Water crisis. By the
time the water crisis became household news in early 2008, the Water Authority, with the help
of its stakeholder committee and work groups had made great strides to get ahead of the issue.
Following is a list of the groups’ accomplishments.
SDCWA
Figure 1
Conservation
Action
Committee
Model Ordinance
Work Group
Industry Work
Group
Outreach and
Education Work
Group
The Conservation Action Committee assisted Water Authority staff with the development of a
Blueprint for Water Conservation for San Diego County – A Five Year Strategic Plan for the
Region.
The Industry Group played a key role in increasing participation in landscape incentive
programs, by increasing the awareness of its membership to conserve water and innovate or
face future consequences.
The Model Ordinance Group developed a regional model ordinance draft, which established
enforceable water efficiency standards for new and existing homes and served as a basis for the
State Model Ordinance.
The Outreach and Education Group assisted with the development of a long-term behavior
campaign based on a new brand which promised to revolutionize the public perception of water
efficient landscapes.
Timing could not have been better. As seen in the case of San Diego, involvement of
stakeholders via a committee allowed it to take a pro-active versus a reactive approach to the
water crisis.