AWWA ACE71058

The San Diego County Water Authority's public affairs staff, with assistance from its public affairs consultant Katz & Associates, has implemented tour programs for a variety of projects. Project site tours give the Water Authority an opportunity to vividly describe the project's purpose and benefits, share project information, and give interested parties an opportunity to ask questions and voice their concerns. During tours, community leaders gain a greater understanding of the project, which they share with other community members. This face-to-face, personal exchange can build stronger community support for a project. This paper highlights tour activities of four projects and includes lessons learned and strategies for creating a successful tour program. Two highlighted projects, the Olivenhain Dam and the San Vicente Dam Raise, are pivotal components of the agency's 13-year effort to construct the Emergency Storage Project, with a total project cost of over $1 billion.