Climate and Energy Action Plan (CEAP)

tionship and tradeoffs between tree density and water availability. NS-2-2. Explore water-efficient technologies on irrigation systems and consider requiring them during the permitting process. Landscaping irrigation uses large quantities of water. Requiring advanced irrigation systems, especially for large commercial or multifam - ily properties, could have a significant impact on the city’s water use. This action could also involve promotion of water-efficient landscape design and maintenance through revision of Site Design and Use Standards in the land use code. NS-2-3. Expand water conservation outreach and incentive programs for residents and businesses. Providing additional education and support to residents and businesses can help reduce water use by identifying easy, cost-effective ways to reduce water use; for example, by installing low-flow fixtures and faucet aerators. The City may consider providing additional financial incentives to encourage widespread adoption of these upgrades or to make more costly water-saving upgrades financially feasible all households, including lower-income families. This action could involve facilitating sustain - ability certifications, such as under the Salmon Safe certification program, at local businesses.Strategy NS-2. Manage and conserve community water resources. While minimizing the City’s water use internally is important, conserving water in the community can have a greater impact due to its scale. Water conservation can have double benefits in the face of a changing climate: it can help the community be more prepared for drought, and also reduce stress to aquatic ecosystems and thereby enhance the resiliency of those ecosystems to a variety of climate and non-climate stressors. Through education, policy, and incentives the City can encourage the community to make meaningful water use reductions. PRIORITY ACTIONS NS-2-1. Evaluate incentives for practices that reduce use of potable water for nonpotable purposes and recharge groundwater. Incentives can be a valuable tool to reduce water use and encourage the installation of rainwater collection and water reuse systems. As a bonus, these systems offer stormwater prevention co-benefits. Similar incentives have been used successfully in a number of other cities. The viability and benefits of these practices are currently being examined as part of Ashland’s Comprehensive Water Master Plan update, including exploration of options to promote and install graywater reuse at community gardens and other local urban agri - cultural areas, or better understand the rela -C Mi AdC Mi Ad C Mi Ad OTHER ACTIONS • Introduce a system whereby when a new building is permitted, a conversation is triggered around the introduction of feasible new technologies that reduce water and wastewater. • Manage upstream flows to minimize downstream flood risk, such as through habitat protection, restoration, or adjusted reservoir management. • Explore new technologies for treating wastewater for use. 86 ASHLAND CLIMATE & ENERGY ACTION PLANNATURAL SYSTEMS