Waterwise Landscape Initiative: Community Education, Feedback & Policy Development

Building a Waterwise Buena Vista

The Town of Buena Vista is advancing sound water management practices through implementation of its Water Conservation and Efficiency Plan (adopted December 2025). As Buena Vista grows and water demands evolve, the Town is working to balance community needs, responsible development, quality of life, and the long-term sustainability of its water resources.

In September 2026, Buena Vista partnered with the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Colorado Water Wise Initiative for a two-day Water Wise Convening. The process brought together community members, Town leadership, developers, water professionals, landscape experts, and other partners to explore practical approaches to water conservation and water-smart land use. The discussion focused on three interconnected areas: implementing the Water Conservation & Efficiency Plan through development practices, advancing water-wise landscaping, and identifying effective conservation-oriented water management tools.

The next phase of Building a Waterwise Buena Vista turns those conversations and recommendations into an ongoing community-centered effort focused on education, practical resources, demonstration projects, policy development, and partnerships.

Priorities for a Sustainable Water Future

• Build a shared understanding of Buena Vista's water system, including where our water comes from, what affects supply and demand, and why conservation matters.
• Advance water-wise landscaping that reduces irrigation demand while supporting beauty, habitat, pollinators, healthy trees and resilient landscapes. BV Water Wise Roundtable
• Develop a regionally appropriate plant palette and landscaping resources with local nurseries, growers, CSU Extension and other regional partners. BV Water Wise Roundtable
• Explore a locally focused “BVScapes” framework to help residents, property owners, developers and land managers design, install and maintain resilient landscapes suited to Buena Vista. BV Water Wise Roundtable
• Provide developers with clear, transparent and flexible expectations, while exploring incentives that encourage projects to exceed minimum conservation requirements.
• Use education, demonstration and incentives alongside regulation to make conservation practical and achievable.
• Support implementation of the Town's Water Conservation & Efficiency Plan, applicable state requirements, and future updates to local development and landscaping standards.

How This Work Comes Together

Education & Communication

A key recommendation from the Water Wise Convening was to establish a common understanding of water conservation in Buena Vista. That starts with helping the community understand our water supply, demand, storage and infrastructure, and connecting individual conservation choices to the larger system. BV Water Wise Roundtable

This work may include a dedicated water resource page, MyBV updates, social media, educational videos, landscaping guidance, irrigation and maintenance resources, and information tailored to different audiences.

Water-Wise Landscaping & BVScapes

The project will explore a distinctly Buena Vista approach to resilient landscaping. Rather than simply removing turf or reducing irrigation, the goal is to create landscapes that use water efficiently while remaining beautiful, functional and ecologically valuable.

Potential strategies include an updated Plant Guide, demonstration gardens, locally appropriate plant recommendations, irrigation best practices, workforce training, and opportunities to demonstrate successful BVScapes on publicly managed properties. The ULI panel also encouraged partnerships and creative use of grant resources to help move this work forward. BV Water Wise Roundtable

Development Standards & Incentives

The Water Wise Convening emphasized that successful conservation policy should provide the development community with facts, choices and incentives. Clear standards can establish baseline expectations, while flexible approaches and incentives can encourage projects to go beyond minimum requirements.

The Town will use these recommendations as it evaluates future landscaping, irrigation and development standards and considers tools that can align new development with Buena Vista's long-term water conservation goals.

Community Engagement

Water conservation is ultimately a community effort. Residents, businesses, developers, HOAs, landscape professionals and other stakeholders will continue to have opportunities to help shape how recommendations are translated into practical programs and policies.

Community engagement will also help the Town identify barriers, understand priorities and communicate how public input influences future decisions.

What You'll See Along the Way

As this work moves from recommendations toward implementation, the community can expect to see:

• Expanded water education and resources explaining Buena Vista's water system, conservation goals and individual actions.
• BVScapes and water-wise landscaping resources, including locally appropriate plant and maintenance guidance.
• Demonstration projects showing what attractive, functional and water-efficient landscapes can look like in Buena Vista.
• Development and policy recommendations addressing landscaping, irrigation, conservation incentives and other implementation tools.
• Continued community engagement to test ideas and gather feedback before major policy decisions.
• Updates to the Board of Trustees and community as recommendations are evaluated and implementation priorities are established.

Who's Involved

Building a Waterwise Buena Vista is a collaborative effort involving the Town of Buena Vista Board of Trustees, Public Works and Planning, along with residents and property owners; developers, builders and HOAs; landscape and irrigation professionals; ULI Colorado and its Water Wise Initiative; CSU Extension and regional plant experts; water conservation professionals; and other state and regional partners.

The goal is not simply to use less water. It is to build a shared approach to water stewardship that supports Buena Vista's landscapes, community character, responsible growth and water future.