HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/21/2024 - Water Commission - AGENDA - Regular Meeting
WATER COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING AGENDA
March 21, 2024 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Online via Zoom or in person at 222 Laporte Ave, Colorado River Community Room
03/21/2024 Agenda Page 1
The Water Commission advises City Council regarding water, wastewater, and stormwater
policy issues such as water rights, planning, acquisition and management, conservation and
public education, floodplain regulations, storm drainage, and development criteria. Read more
at https://www.fcgov.com/cityclerk/boards/water.
This hybrid Water Commission meeting is available online via Zoom, phone, or in person in
the Colorado River Community Room of 222 LaPorte Ave. You may join the meeting beginning
at 5 p.m. Participants should join at least 15 minutes prior to 5:30 p.m. start time.
ONLINE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION:
You will need an internet connection on a laptop, computer, or smartphone, and may join the
meeting through Zoom at https://fcgov.zoom.us/j/98568801045 Webinar ID: 985 6880 1045
(Using earphones with microphone will improve the audio). Keep yourself on muted status.
For public comments, the Chairperson will ask participants to click the “Raise Hand” button to
indicate you would like to speak at that time. Staff will moderate the Zoom session to ensure all
participants have an opportunity to comment.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION BY PHONE:
Please dial +1 346 248 7799 and enter Webinar ID 985 6880 1045. Keep yourself on muted
status. For public comments, when the Chair asks participants to click the “Raise Hand” button
if they wish to speak, phone participants will need to press *9 to do this. Staff will be
moderating the Zoom session to ensure all participants have an opportunity to address the
Water Commission. When you are called, press *6 to unmute yourself.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN PERSON:
To participate in person, individuals should come to the Colorado River Community Room of
222 LaPorte Ave and be prepared to follow strict social distancing guidelines. There may be
needs to limit the number of individuals in the meeting room, and thus staging for individuals to
speak may need to occur in the lobby or outside (weather permitting).
Individuals who wish to speak will line up along the northern wall, maintaining physical
distancing. The chairperson will call upon each participant to speak.
(Continued on next page)
WATER COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING AGENDA
March 21, 2024, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Online via Zoom or in person at 222 Laporte Ave, Colorado River Community Room
03/21/2024 Agenda Page 2
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. ROLL CALL
3. AGENDA REVIEW
4. COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION (3 minutes per individual)
5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: month date
6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
None
7. OTHER BUSINESS
(Commissioner concerns, Announcements)
a. Recognition of Outgoing Commissioners Kent Bruxvoort and Jason Tarry
b. City Council appoints new members Nick Martin and Nicole Ng
c. Looking ahead: Water Commission officer elections in April
d. Natural Areas Master Plan Update
8. NEW BUSINESS
a. Staff Reports
i. Financial Monthly Report (meeting packet only, no presentation)
Documents to Share: Any document or presentation a member of the public wishes to
provide to the Water Commission for its consideration must be emailed to jsong@fcgov.com
at least 24 hours before the meeting.
Provide Comments via Email: Individuals who are uncomfortable or unable to access the
Zoom platform or participate by phone are encouraged to participate by emailing comments
to the above email address at least 24 hours prior to the meeting.
If your comments are specific to any of the discussion items on the agenda, please indicate
that in the subject line of your email. Staff will ensure your comments are provided to the
Water Commission.
WATER COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING AGENDA
March 21, 2024, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Online via Zoom or in person at 222 Laporte Ave, Colorado River Community Room
03/21/2024 Agenda Page 3
ii. Natural Areas Mater Plan Update (No presentation, discussion: 10 minutes)
Jeremy Woolf, Sr Director of Integrated Operations
Jeremy Woolf will introduce to Commissioners the Natural Areas
Department’s plan to update its only council adopted planning document, the
2014 Natural Areas Master Plan, to gauge their interest in engaging in the
process
iii. Low Impact Development (LID) Update (Presentation: 15 minutes,
discussion: 10 minutes)
Basil Hamdan, Stormwater Quality Engineer
Kathryne Marko, Environmental Regulatory Affairs Manager
Staff members will update Commissioners on evolving stormwater
regulations, namely the policy regarding Low Impact Development and its
implementation plans
iv. Drinking Water Quality Policy Report (No presentation, staff available for
discussion: 10 minutes)
Erik Monahan, Senior Supervisor, Water Production
This report is designed to fulfill the requirements designated by the City of
Fort Collins Water Quality Policy Resolution 93-144
b. Regular Items
i. Agreement Regarding the Poudre Water Supply Infrastructure Wildfire
Ready Action Plan (Discussion and Action: 20 minutes)
Jared Heath, Senior Specialist, Water Quality Services
The cities of Fort Collins and Greeley and Water Supply and Storage
Company are seeking grant funding through the Colorado Water
Conservation Board’s Wildfire Ready Watersheds Program to develop a
Wildfire Ready Action Plan (WRAP).
9. COMMISSIONER REPORTS
(Committees, Event attendance, etc.)
10. ADJOURNMENT
DRAFT UNAPPROVED MINUTES WATER COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
February 15, 2024, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Hybrid in person at 222 Laporte Ave and online via Zoom
02/15/2024 – DRAFT Unapproved MINUTES Page 1
The Water Commission advises City Council regarding water, wastewater, and stormwater
policy issues such as water rights, planning, acquisition and management, conservation and
public education, floodplain regulations, storm drainage, and development criteria. Read
more at https://www.fcgov.com/cityclerk/boards/water.
1. CALL TO ORDER
5:31 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL
Commissioners Present In Person: Paul Herman (Vice Chairperson), Kent Bruxvoort,
Tyler Eldridge, Rick Kahn, Jason Tarry
Commissioners Present via Zoom: John Primsky, Greg Steed
Commissioners Absent - Excused: Jordan Radin (Chairperson), James Bishop
Staff Members Present In Person: Jeremy Woolf, John Song, Michael Neale, Ralph
Campano, Ken Sampley, Jason Graham, Andrew Gingerich, Ingrid Decker
Staff Members Present via Zoom: Jen Dial, Donnie Dustin, Jill Oropeza, Tracy Oschner
Members of the Public: Robert Graves, James __, Rich __
3. AGENDA REVIEW
Vice Chairperson Paul Herman briefly summarized items on the agenda
4. COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION
None
5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Vice Chairperson Herman asked for comments and revisions on the draft minutes.
Commissioner Kahn moved to approve the December 7 minutes.
Commissioner Tarry seconded the motion.
Vote on the motion: it passed unanimously, 7-0
6. NEW BUSINESS
a. Staff Reports
DRAFT UNAPPROVED MINUTES WATER COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
02/15/2024 – DRAFT Unapproved MINUTES Page 2
i. Financial Monthly Report
(meeting packet only)
ii. One Water Quarterly Update
Jason Graham, Director of Water Utilities
Jason Graham presented several updates for Water Utilities, including the
Utilities Executive Director position, organizational changes, BFO strategic
planning, and the Halligan Project.
Discussion Highlights
Commissioners inquired about the circumstances regarding the Utilities
Executive Director’s departure from the organization, as well as about the
Council decisions and code changes required if the Utilities Executive
Director position is decided not to be filled. Commissioners wondered about
the impact on ongoing Utilities projects. A Commissioner inquired about when
the Halligan Project will break ground, to which Jason Graham responded it
will begin in 2027 with plans to complete by 2029. Commissioners inquired
about any planned restrictions on water use considering it had been the
second driest fall in over 75 years, but Water Resources Engineer Michael
Neale responded that it’s still too early in the year to determine any
restrictions and will have to wait to measure the coming snowmelt.
b. Regular Items
i. Raw Water Rental Rates and Delivery Charges
Michael Neale, Water Resources Engineer
Staff sought Water Commission’s recommendation for approval ahead of
their presentation to Council in March, as the rates require Council approval
every 3 years. There will be a memo detailing the history and process.
Discussion Highlights
A Commissioner inquired about the percentage of water rented compared to
the total water owned by the City, to which Mr. Neale responded that it was
less than ten percent. Commissioners discussed topics such as the end use
of rented water, about the dollar amounts the City incurs from rental
agreements, the difference between rental and delivery charges, the amount
of excess and the City’s ability to rent, as well as expressing concerns
regarding river health and wondered about any plans for mechanisms in the
DRAFT UNAPPROVED MINUTES WATER COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
02/15/2024 – DRAFT Unapproved MINUTES Page 3
agreements to keep water in the river while still renting. A Commissioner
commented that raised rates may affect overall demands, to which Water
Resources Engineer Donnie Dustin responded that rental requests have
always exceeded the ability to meet the demands.
Commissioner Bruxvoort moved that the Water Commission recommend
City Council adopt the proposed formulas for calculating rental rates and
delivery charges for Fort Collins Utilities raw water supplies, as well as the
proposed rental rate and delivery charge for fully consumable water for 2024
through March 2027.
Commissioner Tarry seconded the motion.
Vote on the Motion: it passed unanimously, 7-0
ii. Code Revision Regarding the Definition of a Curb Stop
Jeremy Woolf, Senior Director of Integrated Water Operations
Andrew Gingerich, Director of Water Field Operations
This is regarding the code revision of Chapter 26: Definition of “control valve,”
and replacement of the term “curb stop” with “control valve.”
Discussion Highlights
Commissioners clarified that the term’s confusion comes from the fact that a
control valve is not necessarily next to or near a curb. A Commissioner
commented on language surrounding the fire suppression system and the
necessary pressure required to meet the code.
Commissioners supported the necessitated changes to clarify language in
the code.
iii. Ordinance No. ____, 2023, Authorizing the Conveyance to N College
1311 of a Portion of the City Property Designated as the Future Hickory
Detention Pond in Exchange for Adjoining Property and Other Valuable
Consideration
Jason Graham, Director of Water Utilities
Ken Sampley, Director of Stormwater Engineering and Development Review
Ralph Campano, Manager, Real Estate Services
This land exchange is related to the Fort Collins Rescue Mission project on
DRAFT UNAPPROVED MINUTES WATER COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
02/15/2024 – DRAFT Unapproved MINUTES Page 4
Mason Street that is currently proceeding through the City’s Development
Review Process. Staff is seeking adoption of this Ordinance at the February
20, 2024 City Council Meeting.
Ken Sampley and Ralph Campano presented this item via PowerPoint
presentation.
Discussion Highlights
Commissioners inquired about the right-of-way in front of the property that
will contain Mason Street. Mr. Campano responded that the developers are
required to build their frontage as part of typical development requirements.
Commissioners inquired about and discussed the many complexities of the
land exchange. Mr. Sampley noted that the development will be obligated to
excavate dirt from the new Hickory Detention Pond site in conjunction with
the land exchange. Mr. Sampley noted the development intends on using the
excavated material to construct their site and Mason Street. Commissioners
wondered if Hickory Pond will be available to the public upon completion, to
which Mr. Sampley responded in the affirmative. Another Commissioner
wondered about the beginning of the actual work on the land and expressed
concern whether there would be any complications if the work began prior to
the exchange; Mr. Campano confirmed that the exchange will occur prior to
the work. Commissioners asked several clarifying questions regarding the
pond and outfall, the drainage capabilities, and the timeline for the proposed
North Mason Street project.
Commissioner Bruxvoort moved that the Water Commission recommend
City Council approve on First Reading Ordinance No. ____, 2024, authorizing
the Conveyance to N College 1311, LLC, of a portion of the City property
designated as the future Hickory Detention Pond in exchange for adjoining
property and other valuable consideration.
Commissioner Eldridge seconded the motion.
Vote on the Motion: it passed unanimously, 7-0
7. COMMISSIONER REPORTS
a. Commissioner Eldridge attended the Innovative Water Technology (IWT)
Symposium and shared his experiences with the Commission
8. OTHER BUSINESS
DRAFT UNAPPROVED MINUTES WATER COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
02/15/2024 – DRAFT Unapproved MINUTES Page 5
a. Reminder: New Council Code of Conduct instructs Boards and Commissions
members to identify themselves and clarify whether they are speaking personally or
as a representative when giving public comment to Council.
b. City of Fort Collins Engagement with Larimer County regarding Water Master
Plan Development
c. Chairperson and Vice Chair Roles and Responsibilities in preparation for March
vote
9. ADJOURNMENT
7:13 p.m.
These minutes will be approved by the Water Commission on March 21, 2024.
1
Water
Wastewater
Stormwater
$32,785,000
$31,505,219
Budget
Actual
Operating Revenues
$28,482,505
$26,595,966
Budget
Actual
Operating Expenses
$23,910,000
$24,633,054
Budget
Actual
Operating Revenues
$17,526,434
$16,187,105
Budget
Actual
Operating Expenses
$18,600,000
$21,046,032
Budget
Actual
Operating Revenues
$11,013,346
$9,423,375
Budget
Actual
Operating Expenses
2
Water Fund Revenue
in thousands Percent of Year 100.0%
December Year to Date
Actual
Over/
(Under)Budget Actual
Over/
(Under) Inc/(Dec)
% Bud
Recvd % Act Recvd
2023 2023 Bud 2023 2023 2023 Bud 2022 2023 2022
Residential Water Sales $ 1,159 * $ 31 $ 17,860 $ 16,449 $ (1,411)
(A)$ (1,034) 92%94%
Com/Indl Water Sales 569 * (46) 9,770 9,401 (369)
(B)(714) 96%93%
Excess Water Use Surcharge 112 * (114)630 941 311 (801) 149%54%
District Water Sales 332 * 194 2,020 2,462 442 (88) 122%97%
Other Water Sales 14 * (17)725 543 (182)
(C)(9) 75%98%
PILOTs 124 8 1,780 1,709 (71)(93) 96%95%
Operating Revenue 2,310 56 32,785 31,505 (1,280)(2,738) 96%92%
Interest Revenue 126 123 1,056 1,835 778 712 174%163%
Development Fees/PIFs/Contributions 543 429 1,365 1,308 (57)(D)(462) 96%74%
Financing Sources 156 156 0 156 156 5 103%
Other Misc 93 22 295 334 39 (46) 113%88%
Total Lapsing Revenue**3,228 786 35,501 35,138 (364)(2,529)99%93%
Non-lapsing Revenue 45 45 42
TOTAL**$ 3,273 $ 35,183 $ (2,488)
Variance Analysis:
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
(F)
*
**
Commercial/Industrial Water sales were 3.8% under budget and 7.1% less than YTD 2022.
December billed revenue is for November and early December.
Excludes transfers and unrealized gain/loss on value.
Plant Investment Fees $236 (recognized $449 from unearned revenue related to 2019 FCLWD loan prepayment), Water Rights ($90).
Plant Investment Fees ($8) (recognized $472 from unearned revenue related to 2019 FCLWD loan prepayment), Metering Program ($9), and Water Rights ($40).
Irrigation Sales ($416) (water supply didn't yield as much due to fire impacts, so rented out less water) offset by Standpipe Sales $26.
Due to a lack of requests for water rentals.
Residential Water Sales were 7.9% under budget and 5.9% less than YTD 2022.
Note: Water rate increase of 4.0% for 2023, as budgeted.
3
Water Fund 2023 Department Expense
In thousands `Percent of Year 100.0%
Excludes depreciation and transfers
December Year to Date
Actual
(Over)/
Under YTD Bdgt Actual
(Over)/
Under (Inc)/Dec
Actual +
PO's
Spent &
Committed
2023 2023 Bud 2023 2023 2023 Bud 2022 2023 by PO's
Water Treatment $ 725 $ (3)$ 7,231 $ 6,182 $ 1,049
(A)$ 123 $ 6,177 85%
Water Resources 165 171 3,385 3,308 78 (667) $ 3,308 98%
Water Quality Lab 196 (23)1,245 1,223 22 (52) $ 1,223 98%
Subtotal WR&T $ 1,086 $ 145 $ 11,861 $ 10,712 $ 1,149 $ (595) $ 10,707 90%
Transmission & Distribution 629 (81)3,684 4,011 (327)
(B)(551) $ 3,986 108%
Water Meters O&M 136 (19)1,068 905 164 (89) $ 905 85%
Engineering 62 77 1,077 585 492 (C)72 $ 585 54%
Subtotal WEFS 827 (23)5,829 5,500 329 (567) $ 5,476 94%
Water Conservation 132 105 1,315 1,087 228 (110) $ 1,087 83%
PILOTs 108 8 1,780 1,693 87 109 $ 1,693 95%
Admin Services - CS&A 422 (0)5,060 5,060 (0)(888) $ 5,060 100%
Other Payments & Transfers 592 93 2,637 2,544 93 (151) $ 2,564 97%
Subtotal Operating Expenses $ 3,166 $ 327 $ 28,483 $ 26,596 0 $ 1,887 $ (2,202) $ 26,587 93%
Debt Service 0 (0)0 0 (0)(1)$ 0
Minor Capital 144 148 2,162 817 1,345
(D)97 $ 752 35%
Total Lapsing $ 3,311 $ 475 $ 30,644 $ 27,413 $ 3,231 $ (2,106) $ 27,339 89%
Non-lapsing Expenses 1,984 12,264 668
TOTAL $ 5,295 $ 39,677 $ (1,438)
Variance Analysis:
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)Transmission & Distribution $350 (encumbered $65 for F150 Lightning; tandem dump truck purchase delayed due to CNG dialogue and grant); Water Treatment: Consulting $310 (new management
hasn't seen need for this level of consulting), Filter Material $175 (not using as much due to filter rehab projects), Construction Contracts $151 (difficulty and delays during transition to new purchasing
policy combined with less need than anticipated), Vehicles/Equipment $120 (waiting delivery of $50 Ford Lightning), Other Capital Outlay $73 (less needed, partially due to new director learning the job),
and Building Maint. $50 (anticipated expenses more appropriately charged elsewhere).
Contract Payment to Gov't $502 (Cameron Peak Fire - Watershed), Chemicals $191 (cooler, rainier Spring), Electricity $79 (lower demands), Computer Hardware $53 (BFO Enh. 4.33 - regulatory
requirements withdrawn), Consulting $68 (one reservoir inspection not completed until January), Maintenance Contracts $32 (saved ~$13 on UPS unit maint., HVAC maint. still under negotiation),
Construction Services $30 (less need than anticipated, combined with greater difficulty in securing services due to changes in project delivery policies), Other Prof. & Tech. $31 (unneeded),
Conference/Travel $26 (due to staff transitions), Electrical Parts $20 (unneeded), Other Repair & Maint. $16 (fewer repairs needed than anticipated), Solid Waste Svcs $15 (less solids hauled this year),
Contractual Labor $14 (less solids needed to be hauled = in-house this year), Health & Safety Supplies $13 and Shop Supplies $12 (less need than anticipated), Software Maint. $13, and Paint $11
(backlog of needs, hourly hired to help but only part of year), offset by Water Assessments ($53) (payments to Pleasant Valley pipeline higher than what was budgeted for and paid later than usual due to
manager transition), Parking Lot Maint. ($31) (unbudgeted repair), Personnel ($23) (Termination pay ($29) Standby Pay ($27), Overtime ($21) offset by filling positions at lower steps and vacancies),
Natural Gas ($19) (extended cold weather last winter and larger than expected price increase), and Security Services ($16) (unexpected issues related to access control and a termination).
Consulting $334 ($455 due to Large Valve Maint (PM departure) - revisiting plan moving forward), Personnel $106 (vacancy), Other Prof.& Tech. $18 (none needed), and Software Maint. & Support $15.
Street & Bridge Maint. ($297) and Traffic Control ($23) (increased costs for asphalt patching (up 30%) and concrete repairs from Streets (Streets labor up 8-10%, equipment costs up, etc.), slightly more
than average number of breaks), Vehicle Repairs ($34) (excavator track replacement expensive, the Vac truck and yard loader needed unforeseen repairs), Sand & Gravel ($31) (aggregate prices
inflating and using more aggregate to fix the increase in leaks), Other Repair & Maint. ($22), Water Pipe ($21) (increase in pipe costs, materials, and parts), Copy & Reproduction ($16), Postage & Freight
($10) (customer letters for backflow violation), Meals - Business, Non Travel ($12) (a few additional all department meals including some celebration meals for milestone anniversary), and Tools &
Related Supplies ($10) (annual restocking and replacement and increased prices), offset by Personnel $49 (vacancies, offset by $60 overage in Hourlies to balance workload and standby, and $24
overage in OT driven by main break response and after hour emergencies), Other Prof. & Tech. $24 (used as needed), Solid Waste Services $34 (less dirt hauling due to increased efforts to recycle dirt
and coordination with Hoffman Mill and Larimer County), Motor Fuel, Oil, and Grease $20 (conservative budget by Ops Svc), Education & Training $16 (in-house training instead of sending out), and
Concrete & Asphalt $10.
4
Wastewater Fund Revenue
in thousands Percent of Year 100.0%
December Year to Date
Actual
Over/
(Under)Budget Actual
Over/
(Under) Inc/(Dec)
% Bud
Recvd % Act Recvd
2023 2023 Bud 2023 2023 2023 Bud 2022 2023 2022
Residential WW Sales $ 1,467 * $ 112 $ 16,340 $ 16,562 $ 222
(A)$ 758 101%105%
Com/Indl WW Sales 462 * 61 5,620 5,875 255 (B)(105) 105%98%
District WW Sales 36 * 2 410 427 17 20 104%105%
Other WW Sales 34 * 23 200 396 196 (C)66 198%120%
PILOTs 118 12 1,340 1,373 33 41 102%103%
Operating Revenue 2,116 210 23,910 24,633 723 781 103%103%
Interest Revenue 68 67 556 1,049 492 458 188%177%
Development Fees/PIFs/Contributions 14 (60)885 657 (228)
(D)(1,136) 74%37%
Financing Sources 0 0 0 0 0 (4)
Other Misc 40 (1)120 151 31 4 126%102%
Total Lapsing Revenue**2,239 216 25,471 26,490 1,018 102 104%100%
Non-lapsing Revenue 0 0 0
TOTAL**$ 2,239 $ 26,490 $ 102
Variance Analysis:
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)Bad Debt Recovery $23, Lab Services $16, and House Rental $12, offset by Ranch Income ($35).
*
**
Plant Investment Fees $13.
December billed revenue is for November and early December.
Note: Wastewater rate increase of 4.0% for 2023, as budgeted.
Residential sales were 1.4% over budget and 4.8% more than YTD 2022.
Septage Treatment Charge $33.
Commercial/Industrial sales were 4.5% over budget and 1.8% less than YTD 2022.
Excludes transfers and unrealized gain/loss on value.
5
Wastewater Fund 2023 Department Expense
In thousands Percent of Year 100.0%
Excludes depreciation and transfers
December Year to Date
Actual
(Over)/
Under YTD Bdgt Actual
(Over)/
Under YTD (Inc)/Dec
Actual +
PO's
% Bud Spent &
Committed
2023 2023 Bud 2023 2023 2023 Bud 2022 2023 by PO's
Water Reclamation & Biosolids $ 801 $ 191 $ 6,935 $ 6,423 $ 513 (A)$ (461) $ 6,423 93%
Pollution Control Lab 173 30 1,313 1,204 108 (20)1,204 92%
Subtotal WR&T 974 221 8,248 7,627 621 (481)7,627 92%
Trunk & Collection 265 45 1,987 1,809 178 (97)1,809 91%
Engineering 63 31 736 478 259 (B)148 546 74%
Subtotal WEFS 328 76 2,723 2,287 436 51 2,355 86%
PILOTs 110 (3)1,340 1,365 (25)(33)1,365 102%
Admin Services - CS&A 247 0 2,965 2,965 0 (516)2,965 100%
Other Payments & Transfers 377 306 2,250 1,944 306 (300)1,954 87%
Subtotal Operating Expenses $ 2,036 $ 599 $ 17,526 $ 16,187 $ 1,339 $ (1,278) $ 16,266 93%
Debt Service (143)143 2,265 2,121 143 $ (26)2,121 94%
Minor Capital 174 (16)1,549 1,085 464 (C)$ (154)910 59%
Total Lapsing $ 2,067 $ 726 $ 21,340 $ 19,393 $ 1,947 $ (1,458) $ 19,297 60%
Non-lapsing Expenses 1,829 5,954 (514)
TOTAL $ 3,896 $ 25,347 $ (1,972)
-$ 0
Variance Analysis:
(A)
(B)
(C)
Personnel $266 (Vacancies), Consulting $205 and Other Professional & Technical $85 (Historically underspent. May be used for WQ Trading Credit Study or offset Chemical Supplies in 2024) ,
Computer Hardware - Capital $77 (MDT Autosave Software (BFO Enhancement 4.33: was not completed and not to be reappropriated), Land Maintenance Services $25 (May still be waiting on
invoices) , Software Maint & Support Serv $23, Machinery & Equipment Parts $20 (Short staffing caused projects to not be completed), Dues & Subscriptions $18 (Received dues/memberships at year
end. Checking for outstanding invoices), Plumbing and Irrigation Supplies $15 (Wet weather has limited sprinkler audit and need.), Electrical Parts $15 (Long lead times and limited availability in 2023).
Offset by Chemical Supplies ($115) (Spend on chemicals that do not have a budget. Needed for treatment and meeting regulatory permit requirements. Chemical pricing has been affected by market
conditions and supply chain. Will likely be over budget in 2024. Exploring areas to offset.), Electricity ($92) (Equipment needs to be replaced to meet process needs and be energy efficient with blowers
at MWRF, awaiting decision on MWRF. MWRF has increased flow due to construction at DWRF and NPT Final Clarifier project. Project scheduled to be completed in Fall of 2024.), Legal Services
($50) (Increased legal services needed for the Lazy D Water Rights case. An appeal is with the CAO, but unlikely to require as many legal fees in 2024), Motor Fuel, Oil & Grease ($16) (Increased truck
trips due to dewatering frequency, equipment maintenance, and increased material cost.), Natural Gas ($13) (Boilers were serviced. Expecting overspend in 2024)
Consulting $186 ($133 related to DWRF Utility Mapping – partially carried forward into 2024.), Personnel $34 (Vacancies and PM’s time being billed to projects), Other Professional & Technical $23.
Offset by Construction Services ($24) (Consulting Services to offset)
Trunk & Collection $255 (~$190 was carried into 2024 for a new crew truck.), Water Reclamation & Biosolids: Plant & Garage Equipment $153 ($53 invoice unexpectedly accrued to 2022. $31 carried
into 2024. Waiting for an invoice for the mixing compressors.), Security Equipment $20 (Not Spent. Old PO that was closed in 2023), Motor Vehicles $15 (Partially carried into 2024), Other Equipment
$15 (Not Spent), ICE Wastewater Minor Capital $25 (Not Spent).
6
Stormwater Fund Revenue
in thousands Percent of Year 100.0%
December Year to Date
Actual
Over/
(Under)Budget Actual
Over/
(Under) Inc/(Dec)
% Bud
Recvd % Act Recvd
2023 2023 Bud 2023 2023 2023 Bud 2022 2023 2022
Single Family Residential SW Services $ 796 * $ 96 $ 8,400 $ 8,582 $ 182
(A)$ 478 102%106%
Non-single Family SW Services 971 * 121 10,200 10,460 260 (B)541 103%105%
Operating Revenue 1,767 217 18,600 19,042 442 1,020 102%106%
Interest Revenue 109 108 358 913 555 493 255%217%
Development Fees/PIFs/Contributions 179 106 875 998 123 (C)162 114%119%
Financing Sources 0 0 0 0 0 (10)
Other Misc 29 28 15 93 78 (D)51 619%225%
Total Lapsing Revenue**2,084 460 19,848 21,046 1,198 1,716 106%109%
Non-lapsing Revenue 0 0 0
TOTAL**$ 2,084 $ 21,046 $ 1,716
Variance Analysis:
Note: Stormwater rate increase of 3.0% for 2023, as budgeted.
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
*
**
December billed revenue is for November and early December.
Auction Sales $37, Flood Plain Permits $6 and Bad Debt Recovery $5.
Development Review $12, Stormwater Development Fees $63, and Erosion Control $51.
Non-Single Family fees are 2.5% greater than 2022.
Single Family Residential fees are 2.2% greater than 2022.
Excludes transfers and unrealized gain/loss on value.
7
Stormwater Fund 2023 Department Expense
In thousands Percent of Year 100.0%
Excludes depreciation and transfers
December Year to Date
Actual
(Over)/
Under Budget Actual (Over)/ Under (Inc)/Dec Actual + PO's
% Bud Spent &
Committed
2023 2023 Bud 2023 2023 2023 Bud 2022 2023 by PO's
Drainage and Detention $ 298 $ 6 $ 2,626 $ 2,463 $ 163 (A)$ (198)$ 2,463 94%
Engineering 202 75 2,121 1,595 526 (B)(118)1,595 75%
Stormwater Quality Programs 55 158 680 523 157 (C)(41)523 77%
Admin Services - CS&A 296 (234) 3,550 3,550 0 (634)3,550 100%
Other Payments & Transfers 156 891 2,037 1,293 744 (D)214 1,303 64%
Subtotal Operating Expenses $ 1,006 $ 896 $ 11,013 $ 9,423 $ 1,590 $ (776)$ 9,433 86%
Debt Service 292 84 376 665 (289)298 665 177%
Payment to Escrow Agent 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Minor Capital 0 0 1,065 231 834 (E)647 231 22%
Total Lapsing $ 1,298 $ 980 $ 12,454 $ 10,319 $ 2,135 $ 169 $ 10,329 83%
Non-lapsing Expenses 475 4,470 129
TOTAL $ 1,773 $ 14,789 $ 299
Variance Analysis:
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
Personnel $141 (fully staffed as of 12/5/23), Other Prof & Tech $59 (used as needed), Solid Waste Disposal $46 (lower-cost methods of dirt disposal avail. in 2023), and Street & Bridge
Maintenance $30 (emergency and maintenance repairs not needed in 2023), offset by Maintenance Contracts ($52), Land Maintenance ($52) (both reactionary) and Tools ($30)(prices
have increased).
Vehicles $94 (awaiting delivery of CNG vehicle, perhaps Q1 2024) and Heavy Equipment $740 (expect delivery Q3 2024).
Personnel $263 (vacancies throughout the year), and Consulting $223 (outside services contracts double-budgeted by PO Carryforward), offset by Easements (($15) work done by CFC
Real Estate Services.
Gov't Services $803 (BBRSA annual invoice not yet accrued. Expect to accrue $440), offset by Legal Services (($180) (expenses related to OASIS/Open International lawsuit).
Consulting $67 (State has not made expected progress on MS4 and TMDL permitting), Hazmat Disposal $39 (HHW event came in under budget), and Educational Programs $29 (staffing
issues in Customer Connections).
8
Fort Collins LID Program Update:
From Policy to Implementation
Basil Hamdan P.E., Stormwater Quality Engineer
Overview
• LID Policy Inception and Rationale
• Terminology and Definitions
• LID Implementation
• Key Takeaways and Lessons Learned
• Future Policy Updates
2
A History of
Fort Collins Stormwater Regulations
1864
3
Fort Collins founded
as a military fort.
1980
1984
MS4 Permit
Issued
1998
Adoption of Stormwater
Criteria Manual
2003
Water Quality Standards
2007
LID Ordinance Adoption
2013
Stormwater Utility Created
2016
LID Ordinance Update
Post Construction
Program
How did we get there
4
Heat Island EffectUrbanization
Increased Flooding
Channelization
Nuisance Flooding
Extreme flooding events
Channel Instability
and Erosion
Water Quality Impacts
Sedimentation
Water Quality Impacts
Algal Blooms
E. Coli
Trash
Results
5
Water Pollution
Flood Hazards
Eroded Streams
Loss of Habitat
Solutions
6
Protect and Restore our watersheds and streams,
to improve resiliency, public safety, water quality, habitat
protection, and public welfare
Stream Restoration Program
7
McClelland’s Creek - 2009McClelland’s Creek - 1999
Multi-Purpose Stream Rehabilitation/Restoration
Stream Health Assessment and Prioritization
Stream Restoration Program
8
Spring Creek at DrakeBurns Tributary
Purpose Statement
9
The City Council hereby finds, determines and declares the
City’s integrated stormwater management program is for the
mutual economic, social and environmental benefits of public
safety, flood mitigation, water quality and public welfare while
protecting natural areas and their features, protecting and
restoring the City’s watersheds, its tributaries and the Cache la
Poudre River.
Triple Bottom Line
10
Terminology
11
Terminology- Low Impact Development (LID)
Approach to land development (or re-development) that
works with nature to manage stormwater as close to its
sources as possible.
LID principles include:
Preserving and re-
creating naturaI
landscape features
Decreasing Impervious
Surfaces
Treating stormwater
as a resource not a
waste product
12
Terminology
Green Infrastructure, as defined by the EPA, refers to
systems and practices that use or mimic natural
processes to:
Evapo-Transpirate
Infiltrate
Reuse stormwater runoff
where it is generated
NATURE BASED
SOLUTIONS
Fort Collins LID Policy:
A minimum of 75% of new impervious surface area must be treated by an
LID‐type device or technology (i.e. bio‐retention cell, bio‐swale)
OR
At least 25% of new pavement areas must be designed to be pervious
OR
Implementation of a design alternative that provides equal or better
treatment than the previous requirements
Ci
t
y
of
Fo
r
t
Co
l
l
i
n
s
Adopted March 2013-Updated January 2016
Ci
t
y
of
Fo
r
t
Co
l
l
i
n
s
Common Green Infrastructure/ LID Practices in Fort Collins
1. Permeable Pavement
Vegetated Buffer
Sand Filters
5. Rain Garden
Underground Infiltration
7. Tree Filter
Constructed Wetland Ponds
1
3
5
6
4
Bioretention/Bioswales Rain Gardens
Constructed Wetland Channel
Tree Filters
National Green Infrastructure Practices
15
Rain Garden/
Bioswale/
Biortention
Grass Buffers
& Vegetated Swale
Constructed Wetlands Green Roofs
Tree Box Permeable Pavement
GI Implementation Manual
A Triple Bottom Line Approach to Sustainability
16
Select planting to match
vegetation management
practices for the property.
use diverse landscape
forms to add interest.
What strategies can I use to make GI attractive and welcoming ?
Low Impact Development/Green Infrastructure Manual :
A Triple Bottom Line Approach
Select planting to match
vegetation management
practices for the property.
Select planting to match
vegetation management
practices for the property.
Implementing GI in the Right of Way
17
RAIN GARDEN
PERMEABLE PAVEMENT
HIGH QUALITY
SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPING
BIKE LANE
ON‐STREET PARKING
BULB‐OUT
TRANSIT
ORIENTED
A Complete Street Design
Ci
t
y
of
Fo
r
t
Co
l
l
i
n
s
LID in the Public Space
19
Mitchell Block
GI/LID Retrofits
21
Udall Ponds
Natural Area
Remington
Street Rain
Garden
Public Spaces
22
• Partner with other Public Entities
• Art In Public Spaces
• Educational Signage
Employing LID Practices in
Private Development
Enhanced Landscape FeaturesDisconnected Impervious Areas Effective Use of Space
24
LID/GI in Capital Projects
Howes Street Rain Garden
Washington Street Rain Garden
Targeted Pollutants of Concern: E. Coli
Spring Canyon Dog park Project
Civil Design Credit: Wilson & Company
Dog Pond
Pump
2” Discharge
Pipe
Discharge to
Spring Creek
100 ft cobble trickle
channel (lined)
130 ft bioswale
6 ft wide
18-30” deep
Treatment Media Amendments
Biochar and Zeolite
26
% of TotalMedia Component
45Sand
25Loamy Sand (Topsoil)
5Leaf Compost
5Cedar Mulch
10Zeolite
10Biochar
Targeted Pollutants of Concern: Phosphorus
Water Treatment Residuals Project
A Challenging Problem in Stormwater Management
Beneficial Use of Waste Products
28
When trying to receive a Certificate of Occupancy builders must get their features
certification accepted based off of approved plans.
If issues are discovered, then inspectors meet on-site to discuss requirements for city
acceptance.
Inspection Program
Construction Inspection:
• Temporary Measures
• Permanent Measures
• SOPs and Inspection Protocols
Challenges:
A Commitment to the Long-Term Maintenance
Ci
t
y
of
Fo
r
t
Co
l
l
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n
s
Initial Costs v/s
Life-Cycle Costs
• Initial Investment
• Maintenance Cost
• Added Value
• Replacement Cost
• Reduced Infrastructure
• Increased Land Value
Initial Installation Cost: $128,000 vs. $50,000
Life Cycle Costs
31
Lessons Learned
• Design for Maintenance
• Inspection Program
• Continuous Improvement
- Technology
-Design
• Partnership Opportunities
• Integration into One Water Program
Future Policy
Updates
• Integration into One Water
Policies
• Master Plan alignment
• Recommended
Technologies Update
• Payment In Lieu Option
• Implementation in Right of
Way
32
Questions?
33
The EPA'S new LEAD AND COPPER rule
continues to be implemented throughout Colorado.
Water Quality Lab sta provide state-certified REGULATORY
COMPLIANCE TESTING AND REPORTING
for Utilities and 10 other regional water agencies.
The EPA issued Health Advisories for PFAS
(per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). Utilities monitored
source and treated water and detected no PFAS.
UPDATES:
Utilites completed Water Supply and Demand Management Planning
& Water Supply Requirements and fees were updated
Monitoring includes more than 25 chemical, physical
and microbiological contaminants at 35 locations
throughout our source watersheds. City’s source
watersheds continue to provide high-quality water.
8.5B GALLONS
PRODUCED
OF DRINKING WATER.
PERFORMED 153 BACKFLOW AND
CROSS-CONNECTION SURVEYS, to ensure that
contaminants cannot flow back into the water supply.
Fire Hydrants
Fire Hydrants
23.7
To read the full 2022 update, visit: FCGOV.COM/DRINKING-WATER-UPDATE
Available treated water storage would
meet 17.6 hours of peak demand,
exceeding the benchmark of storage
capacity for 12 hours of peak demand.
Utilities received 0.23 water quality
complaints per 1,000 customers. The best
quartile rate observed by other utilities
was 1.1 per 1,000, making the City
“BETTER THAN THE BEST.”
Auxiliary aids and services are available for persons with disabilities. 970-212-2900, V/TDD 711 23-25304
ServiceLeaks
Plant energy eciency was less than
the American Water Works Association
energy benchmark.
Replaced 11 gas-powered
heaters with electric units
to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions.
Including the solar field, 22% of the
plant’s electrical demand was met by
on-site renewable generation.
ADEQUATELY MAINTAINING OUR ASSETS ENSURES RELIABLE SERVICE.
907
CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS
during regular hours
AND 142
after hours.
MILES OF WATER DISTRIBUTION PIPES CHECKED FOR LEAKS
PEAK DAY
PRODUCTION
WAS 45.72M GAL
45.72 M
(53%)
Capacity 87M
OPERATE AND MAINTAIN 1,729
Valves
31 6
4 1 5
REPLACED
0.94 INSTA
L
LED V ALVES
&
410574.5 MILES OF WATER MAINS Cathodic
Protection
Test
Station
Readings
EVALUATED
41
Valves Fire Hydrants
3 8
80
S
er
vice Lines and
Hydrant flushing
was postponed due
to the Water
Shortage Watch.
R
EPAIRED
114 WATER MAIN BREAKS WERE REPAIRED
20Miles of Water Mains
SOURCE WATERPROTECTION PLAN IN PLACE
Watershed Program sta collaborated with
regional stakeholders to improve the health
and resiliency of the Poudre River.18% of the Water Treatment Plant's power demand was
generated by an on-site hydroelectric generator.
Since 2008, the Utilities’ Watershed Program has led the collaborative
upper Cache la Poudre Water Quality Monitoring Program.
Permitting processes continued for the
Halligan Water Supply Project.
Despite the impacts of fires in 2020, water quality
conditions in the Cache la Poudre River have
continued to improve. Large scale wildfires remain the
biggest threat to the City’s water supplies.
In the past two years, 9,244
high-priority acres of burn area have
been mulched to prevent erosion as
part of post-wildfire
watershed restoration.
2022 update on activities and results related to the Fort Collins Utilities Drinking Water Quality Policy.
THE DRINKING WATERQUALITY POLICY
was adopted in October 1993 to ensure
the continuous delivery of high-quality
drinking water to customers.
HORSETOOTH RESERVOIR CACHE LA POUDRE RIVER
Find out more at
The treatment facility and distribution system operators are certified
by the Colorado Water and Wastewater Facility Operators Certification
Board as CERTIFIED WATER PROFESSIONALS.
The Water Treatment Facility is ISO 14001:2015 certified.
The distribution system maintained its DIRECTOR’S
AWARD status for the seventh year in a row.
The Water Treatment Facility maintained it’s
PRESIDENT’S AWARD for the sixth year in a row.
Our water treatment facility is ONE OF ONLY 44 throughout the nation to achieve this level of recognition.
20
2
2
DRINKING WATER QUALITY POLICY UPDATE
OPEN HERE
Page | 1 2022 Fort Collins Drinking Water Quality Policy Annual Report
2022 Fort Collins
Drinking Water Quality Policy
Annual Report
Fort Collins Water Treatment Facility
In October 1993, Fort Collins City Council Resolution 93-144 adopted the Drinking Water
Quality Policy (Attachment A) to ensure the continuous delivery of high-quality drinking water to
Fort Collins Utilities’ (Utilities) customers. This 29th annual report is a requirement of the
Drinking Water Quality Policy and summarizes the actions taken in support of policy goals
during 2022.
Page | 2 2022 Fort Collins Drinking Water Quality Policy Annual Report
The City will provide water services that meet or exceed customer expectations for
quality, quantity and reliability.
Reliability, Capacity, and Redundancy
City of Fort Collins Utilities owns an 87-
million gallon per day capacity water
treatment facility that operates 24 hours a
day, seven days a week to ensure that a
continuous supply of high-quality drinking
water is delivered to our customers. Staff is
available at all times to respond to
customer complaints and concerns
regarding drinking water quality and
reliability of service.
In 2022, the plant produced 8.5 billion
gallons of drinking water. Peak day
production occurred on July 18th, and was
45.72 million gallons/day, or 53 percent of
plant capacity. At this rate, available
treated water storage would meet 17.6
hours of peak demand, exceeding the
benchmark of storage capacity for 12
hours of peak demand.
The treatment plant has multiple systems
and processes in place to provide high
reliability with low risk of failure. For
example, Utilities has two water sources,
three raw water pipelines, multiple chemical
storage tanks, delivery systems, treatment
trains, filters and storage reservoirs.
Systems integral to the treatment process
have redundant backups.
Figure 1 – Dual Raw Water Sources, Cache La
Poudre River (top) and Horsetooth Reservoir
(bottom)
Utilities also has a robust asset
management and preventative maintenance
program that helps ensure the provision of
safe drinking water to the community and
that standards are met for community
firefighting and emergency needs.
The Microhydro unit, commissioned in 2019,
uses the pressure of the incoming
Horsetooth raw water source to generate
electrical energy. The generator has
performed well and met 18% of the plant’s
electrical energy demand in 2022. The unit
has lower output when water levels in
Horsetooth Reservoir are lower, which they
were for significant periods in 2022.
GOAL 1
Page | 3 2022 Fort Collins Drinking Water Quality Policy Annual Report
Including the solar field, 22% of the plant’s
electrical demand was met by on-site
renewable generation.
Plant energy efficiency was 3,943 kBTU per
million gallons produced for total energy
consumption and 3,628 kBTU per million
gallons produced for non-renewable energy.
This meets the American Water Works
Association energy benchmark of 4,427
kBTU/ million gallons. These values include
both electrical energy and natural gas.
Regulatory Changes
In 2022, EPA issued Health Advisories for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a group
of 1,000+ man-made chemicals including PFOA, PFOS, PFBS and GenX. There is evidence
that exposure to PFAS can lead to adverse human health effects. These chemicals are
widespread and very persistent in the environment and the human body. Even though health
advisories are not enforceable, Fort Collins Utilities monitored both source waters as well as the
finished water in 2022; no PFAS was detected.
PFAS Health Advisory Levels (parts per trillion) Over Time
PFAS Chemical 2022 2016 2009
PFOA 0.004 70 400,000
PFOS 0.02 70 200,000
Combined PFOA & PFOS No Advisory 70 No Advisory
PFBS 2,000 No Advisory “
HFPO/GenX 10 No Advisory “
CDPHE finalized the groundbreaking Direct Potable Reuse (DPR) regulation, prescribing the
production of finished drinking water from a source of treated wastewater that has not passed
through an environmental buffer (ie-an aquifer or a surface water body). The regulation ensures
a water quality that is no less stringent than the Safe Drinking Water Act, enabling water
providers to utilize DPR at their discretion. This regulation will not impact Fort Collins Utilities at
this point in time in part because our water portfolio contains limited reusable water sources that
are needed for DPR.
Staff participated in stakeholder work related to Colorado’s adoption of the revised lead and
copper rule, (expected to be finalized in August of 2023). This rule is complex and includes
requirements for water providers to monitor schools and daycares, investigate high sample
results, distribute public education, and develop a service line inventory. Additionally, EPA is
already working on another revision of the rule.
Staff also participated in a stakeholder group focused on the revision of Backflow Prevention
and Cross-Connection Control section of Colorado Regulation 11. The changes aim to improve
the implementation of the section and are expected to be finalized in August of 2023.
Page | 4 2022 Fort Collins Drinking Water Quality Policy Annual Report
Water Quality Complaints
In 2022, Fort Collins Utilities received 43 drinking water quality complaints, equating to a rate of
0.23 per 1,000 customers. This was similar to the 44 complaints received in 2021 and remains
well under benchmark goals. Based on the 2017 Benchmarking Manual from the American
Water Works Association, 23 other participating utilities had a median number of technical water
complaints of 5.4 per 1,000 customer accounts. The “best” quartile rate observed by other
participating utilities was 1.1 per 1,000. At 0.23 per 1,000, the City of Fort Collins was “better
than the best.”
In 2022, the Water Quality Laboratory (WQL) implemented a modified practice for in-home
customer sampling to protect the health and safety of laboratory staff. Under this new practice,
WQL staff do not collect samples from inside a resident’s home. Instead, a test kit with
instructions is provided so samples can safely be collected by the homeowner or resident. For
bacteriological testing requests (e.g. E.coli, total coliforms), samples are either collected at an
outdoor spigot by WQL staff or customers are referred to the Larimer County Health Department
so they can be collected by a trained sampler from the interior of the home.
Also in 2022, a new system was brought online to support customer complaint tracking,
resolution, and reporting. This system is designed to route calls more effectively for issue
resolution and coordinate complaint call tracking across multiple Utilities departments. Figure 2
was generated from this new system.
It is notable that nearly half of the 43 complaints received in 2022 were requests for lead testing.
This increase in Lead Inquiry tests is likely in response to outreach and education about the Fort
Collins Utilities Safe Water Action Plan (SWAP), which is designed to find and replace a limited
number of lead connectors called “goosenecks” that are commonly associated with older
galvanized service lines in the drinking water distribution system. Communications for the
SWAP project specifically highlighted the availability of free lead testing services for Utilities
water customers, which resulted in a higher than usual number of requests for this service.
Figure 2. Summary of 2022 Fort Collins Utilities Water Quality Customer Complaint Calls
Page | 5 2022 Fort Collins Drinking Water Quality Policy Annual Report
The City will protect and maintain high water quality in the development of all codes,
policies, plans and specifications related to the acquisition, production and delivery of
water services to its customers.
The quality of Fort Collins drinking water remains very high. During 2022, the plant produced an
average filtered water turbidity of 0.02 NTU, which is far below our maximum goal of 0.10 NTU.
Turbidity management is a crucial aspect of our process, and effective removal of turbidity will
allow for ample disinfection. The system maintained disinfectant levels well above the minimum
0.2 mg/L level, required by regulation, at all times.
Partnership for Safe Water (PSW)
The Water Treatment Facility maintained its President’s Award
status for 2022, for the sixth year in a row. The President’s Award
is the first tier of Phase IV of the PSW. The Award is bestowed
upon top-tier water plants that have demonstrated commitment to
providing superior quality water to their customers, beyond the
requirements of regulations. While the Director’s Award, which
has been maintained by the Water Treatment Facility for the last
22 years, requires higher performance of the overall filtered water
quality, the President’s Award requires the performance of each
individual filter to be evaluated. Most recent report data shows
that only 44 treatment facilities throughout the nation have achieved this level of recognition.
The staff at the Water Treatment Facility developed a plan and began efforts to achieve the
Excellence in Water Treatment Award, which is the second tier of Phase IV and the highest
level of recognition in the Partnership.
The PSW is an alliance of six drinking water organizations including the EPA, and more than
250 water treatment utilities. This voluntary program strives to enhance water quality by
implementing preventative measures that promote continuous optimization of treatment
processes. Operators, managers, and administrators are provided self-assessment and
optimization tools to improve performance above and beyond current and proposed regulatory
levels.
The PSW was originally designed with a focus on the treatment of drinking water but has
expanded to inspire and recognize excellence in distribution systems. The City’s distribution
system was awarded the Partnership’s Director’s Award for distribution excellence in 2015 and
has maintained that status in 2016 – 2022, making seven years in a row.
GOAL 2
Page | 6 2022 Fort Collins Drinking Water Quality Policy Annual Report
Environmental Management System
The Water Treatment Facility has established a formal
Environmental Management System (EMS) that is certified to
conform to the ISO 14001:2015 standard.
One continued objective of our EMS is to manage energy
consumption sustainably by utilizing renewable sources. In
2022, Fort Collins Water Treatment sustained our goal of
generating 22% of our energy through renewable sources.
The Water Treatment Facility maintenance crew finished the
plant-wide LED project and successfully converted up to 99%
of planned fixtures in 2022. The fixtures that remain will be converted as they are found
throughout the facility. The maintenance crew has also been experimenting with turning off fans
and heaters over the last 10 years in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save
energy. Their ingenuity has also pushed them to experiment with discharging heat from one of
the plant’s air compressors into the surrounding basement area, showing great success thus
far.
With many energy project goals achieved, future EMS objectives will focus more on maintaining
the improvements that have been made. Continual improvement will likely see gains from other
EMS objectives such as waste and landscape management. In 2022, the EMS team continued
conversation with the Low Impact Design program to provide usable material for testing for
treatment media. This treatment media would serve as a removal of phosphorus from
stormwater runoff. With the initial testing and approval being completed in 2021, the next step
would be to gain momentum to get the necessary permitting through CDPHE. Goals have been
set to get this necessary momentum back in 2023.
Page | 7 2022 Fort Collins Drinking Water Quality Policy Annual Report
The City’s water supply, treatment, storage, delivery, and laboratory facilities will be
planned, designed, constructed, maintained, staffed and operated to assure safe, reliable
and cost-effective service to the residents of Fort Collins and all those served by the
City’s water utility.
Staffing Reorganization
In 2022, based on a study conducted by a consultant, as well as other feedback, the Water
Utility implemented a major staffing reorganization. One primary goal in the reorganization was
to unify operations throughout various disciplines – drinking water treatment, drinking water
distribution, wastewater collection, wastewater treatment, and stormwater operation – under a
“One Water” framework. The “One Water” concept is an industry – wide movement to recognize
that all water has value and that the various systems listed above interact with each other in an
integrated fashion.
GOAL 3
Utilites Executive
Director
Kendall Minor
Director of Water
Jason Graham
Sr. Director Operations
Jeremy Woolf
Director of Plant
Operations (WR&B)
Christina Schroeder
Director of Plant
Operations (WPD)
Gregg Stonecipher
Director of Water Field
Operations
Andrew Gingerich
Manager Process
Control SCADA
Ben Alexenberg
Sr. Director Sciences &
Planning
Jill Oropeza
Director of Water
Quality and Watershed
TBD
Manager ERA
Kathryne Marko
Water Resources
Manager
Jen Dial
Director Civil
Engineering
Ken Sampley
Sr. Director Engineering
TBD
Director of Civil
Engineering
Matt Fater
Additional Positions
TBD
Business Support III
Katherine Martinez
Halligan PM
Darren Parkin
Page | 8 2022 Fort Collins Drinking Water Quality Policy Annual Report
Source Water Quality Monitoring
The City of Fort Collins’ drinking water supply comes from two primary sources: the upper
Cache la Poudre River (Poudre River) and Horsetooth Reservoir. Poudre River water originates
as rain and snow in the mountains on the eastern slope of the Continental Divide, northwest of
Fort Collins. Horsetooth water is delivered from the Colorado River Basin on the western slope
via the Colorado-Big Thompson Water Project.
Utilities collaborates with other regional drinking water providers and watershed stakeholders to
monitor water quality trends in the Poudre River and Horsetooth Reservoir. Monitoring includes
measurement of a variety of chemical, physical and biological parameters at more than 20 study
locations throughout both source watersheds.
Upper Cache la Poudre River
Since 2008, the Utilities’ Watershed Program has led the collaborative upper Cache la Poudre
Water Quality Monitoring Program. Partner utilities include the City of Greeley, City of Thornton,
and Soldier Canyon Water Authority. This monitoring program assists partners in meeting
current and future drinking water treatment goals by reporting short and long-term water quality
trends in source water quality. Spring, summer and fall seasonal updates as well as annual and
five-year water quality trend reports are available on the Watershed Program’s webpage:
fcgov.com/upper-poudre-monitoring. The next five-year trend report is scheduled to be
completed in spring of 2023.
The Cameron Peak Wildfire ignited west of
Chambers Lake in the Rawah Wilderness
on August 13, 2020 and was not
considered fully contained until December
2, 2020. The fire is the largest in Colorado
history and burned nearly 209,000 acres of
forest types ranging from high elevation
spruce fire communities near the Medicine
Bow and Mummy Ranges to low elevation
Ponderosa Pine forests and scrublands in
the foothills of the lower Poudre River and
Big Thompson River Watersheds.
Fig. 4. Photos showing Jared Heath, Watershed Specialist conducting maintenance on a water quality meter
(left) and collecting a black water sample from the Poudre River (right).
The Cameron Peak Wildfire has resulted in significant post-fire water quality pollution from ash
and hillslope erosion.
The Watershed Program developed a Cameron Peak Wildfire response plan which outlined the
City’s strategy for monitoring water quality of our raw water supplies while the fire was still
active. The Watershed Program also developed a water quality monitoring recovery plan, which
outlines how the City will monitor water quality during the recovery phase of the fire, which is
Page | 9 2022 Fort Collins Drinking Water Quality Policy Annual Report
ongoing. The recovery plan utilizes long-term monitoring and reporting as part of the Upper
Cache la Poudre Monitoring
Program to better understand the fire’s short-and long-term impacts on water quality and the
timeline for recovery.
The watershed program also continues to utilize two water quality meters installed in the Poudre
River approximately two miles and 20 miles upstream of the City’s Poudre River Drinking Water
intake to provide real-time data to Utilities’ staff as well as our regional partner utilities. These
meters are maintained by Watershed and Stormwater staff and provide early-warning alerts to
water treatment staff when a post-fire pollution event is occurring on the river.
Figure 3. Map showing the locations of Upper Cache la Poudre River Monitoring Program study sites within
the Poudre River Watershed in relation to the Cameron Peak Wildfire burn scar.
Page | 10 2022 Fort Collins Drinking Water Quality Policy Annual Report
These events are often tied to localized, intense precipitation events and subsequent erosion
and water quality pollution. In 2021, Watershed Program staff also collected several water
quality samples associated with ‘black water’ pollution events, which were analyzed by the
City’s Water Quality Laboratory. And lastly, Watershed Program staff have been leading
regional cost-share collaborative science and monitoring efforts to address several post-fire
recovery questions.
Fig. 4. Photo showing a stand of lodgepole pine near Chambers Lake that was burned at high intensity
during the Cameron Peak Wildfire.
These targeted studies are intended to address how ash impacts water quality; the degree to
which high mountain reservoirs have been impacted by post-fire runoff and water quality
implications to our Poudre River raw water supply; and whether smoke-related taste and odor
compounds are present in raw and finished water.
Horsetooth Reservoir
Fort Collins Utilities has actively monitored the water quality in Horsetooth Reservoir since the
mid-1980s. In 2015, Utilities’ Watershed Program began a cost-share partnership with Northern
Water to monitor water quality in Horsetooth Reservoir. Data from this program are available on
Northern Water’s website: northernwater.org/WaterQuality/MonitoringPrograms.aspx.
Page | 11 2022 Fort Collins Drinking Water Quality Policy Annual Report
Watershed Program staff use data from this program to create seasonal internal updates to help
inform water treatment operations.
Fort Collins’ Water Quality Laboratory provides Northern Water with water quality analyses as
an in-kind contribution to the program. These analyses support Northern Water’s water quality
network, including streams, canals, lakes, and reservoirs throughout the Colorado Big-
Thompson (C-BT) and Windy Gap projects.
The East Troublesome Wildfire ignited on October 30, 2020 near Kremmling, CO, burning
nearly 194,000 acres and wasn’t considered fully contained until November 30, 2020. The fire
rapidly advanced across the landscape as a crown fire and ultimately burned a substantial
portion of the watersheds contributing to the C-BT west slope collection system in the upper
Colorado River Basin. The potential impacts of the East Troublesome fire on C-BT water quality,
including Horsetooth Reservoir, are a concern. Watershed Program staff have developed a
Horsetooth Reservoir Water Quality Monitoring Recovery Plan. The plan utilizes the Horsetooth
Reservoir Water Quality Monitoring Program to understand short-and-long term water quality
trends; real-time and additional weekly sample collection at the inlet to the reservoir; monitoring
for algae blooms; and possible future water quality modelling to better anticipate changes in
water quality.
Source Water Protection
In 2016, Watershed Program staff, with assistance from the Colorado Rural Water Association,
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) and a local steering
committee completed a Source Water Protection Plan (SWPP) for the Poudre River and
Horsetooth Reservoir. This document guides the City’s water quality monitoring and water
supply protection priorities and addresses the City’s Drinking Water Quality Policy:
“The City will protect raw water sources from contamination or any other activities that
would diminish the quality of water provided to customers, or that would result in
increased treatment costs.”
The SWPP (fcgov.com/source-water-monitoring) identifies and ranks (i.e. high, medium or low)
threats to the City’s source water supplies. Threats include those that could impact the City’s
drinking water infrastructure, those that could impact source water quality and in some cases
both. The plan also identifies a range of best management practices to mitigate threats.
The Watershed Program is currently developing a regional collaborative SWPP for the Poudre
River Watershed, including Horsetooth Reservoir with regional partners, including Northern
Water, City of Greeley, City of Thornton and Soldier Canyon Water Authority. Benefits of
developing a collaborative SWPP include reducing costs; improving communications,
prioritization and alignment; and shared implementation of best practices in priority areas. The
project team has completed a project scope of work and is seeking grant funding for the project.
It is anticipated that plan development will kick off in early 2024.
Page | 12 2022 Fort Collins Drinking Water Quality Policy Annual Report
High Priority Threat - Forest Health/Wildfires
The City’s Poudre and Horsetooth drinking water supplies have been heavily impacted by
several large wildfires over the last decade, including the High Park, Cameron Peak and East
Troublesome Wildfires. Large scale catastrophic wildfires remain the biggest threat to the City’s
water supplies due to the risk of water quality pollution and damage to the City’s drinking water
infrastructure from future wildfires is the highest priority threat to the City’s source water
supplies.
Utilities has worked collaboratively with the Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed (CPRW),
Larimer Conservation District (LCD) and Big Thomson Watershed Coalition (BTWC) and other
watershed stakeholders to improve the health and resiliency of the Poudre River. The
Watershed Program continues to provide sustaining funding and retains a reserved seat on
CPRW’s Board of Directors alongside other partner utilities and watershed stakeholders.
Watershed also provides funding for regional cost-share collaborative wildfire restoration
mitigation and restoration projects lead by these organizations.
In 2016, CPRW worked with Watershed Program staff and other community stakeholders to
complete the Poudre River Watershed Resiliency Plan (poudrewatershed.org). The plan has
been used by stakeholders to prioritize forest treatment/wildfire mitigation projects in the Poudre
and Horsetooth watersheds. CPRW intends to begin developing a new Resiliency Plan in 2023.
Figure 5. Map showing the forest health and wildfire risk reduction priority watersheds that were identified as
part of the Upper Poudre Watershed Recovery and Resiliency Plan.
Cameron Peak Wildfire post-fire watershed restoration efforts have been managed by CPRW
and JW Associates with partners including Utilities, City of Greeley, Larimer County and others.
Watershed restoration has largely focused on applying wood mulch to stabilize erosive
hillslopes. As of 2022, 9,244 priority acres have been mulched. Additional point mitigation efforts
Page | 13 2022 Fort Collins Drinking Water Quality Policy Annual Report
have also been implemented, including culvert upgrades/replacements; straw wattles to lessen
erosion to waterways; sandbagging and other protections structures; and other best
management practices.
Figure 7. Photos of a post-fire stream degradation and damaged road crossing and culvert (left) and
Watershed Program and contractor field staff preparing to board a helicopter to conduct aerial inspections of
mulch applications (right).
In addition to post-fire restoration, several forest thinning projects have successfully been
completed outside of the Cameron Peak burn area to reduce fuel loads and mitigate the risk of
future large, high-severity wildfires that could impact our source water. The 2017 Elkhorn Creek
Forest Health Initiative is a great example of a collaborative project that successfully reduced
fuels in a priority area of the Poudre River. The project was completed using funding, labor, and
equipment from more than a dozen partners, including Utilities. Wildfire risk was significantly
reduced with treatments that included hand thinning, piling, and burning; mechanical treatment;
and prescribed fire. The successes of this project provided a project implementation template
that was used at a larger scale on additional wildfire mitigation projects within the Elkhorn Creek
Watershed and Lory State Park on the west side Horsetooth Reservoir in 2019.
Figure 7. Forest fuels reduction efforts within the Elkhorn Creek drainage
Page | 14 2022 Fort Collins Drinking Water Quality Policy Annual Report
The Lory State Park Project was another successful cost-share collaborative wildfire mitigation
project that was completed in 2019. Partners included the Colorado State Forest Service,
Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Peaks to People Water Fund, Northern Water Conservancy District
and City of Fort Collins Utilities. Approximately 146 priority acres were treated, primarily by
mastication, with some areas of hand thinning, slash piling and pile burning. Fort Collins Utilities
contributed $20,000 to this project.
The 2019 North Rim Road wildfire mitigation project was located to the south of Elkhorn Creek.
This project was funded by City of Fort Collins Utilities, the Colorado State Forest Service, and
the Colorado Department of Local Affairs. Approximately 85 acres were treated at the project
site, on two private properties adjacent to US Forest Service lands. The majority of the treated
area was masticated, with the remainder treated by hand thinning and slash piling. Slash piles
were burned during late spring 2020 by the Forest Stewards Guild.
Figure 8. Forest treatment crews build (left) and burn (right) slash piles created as part of the North Rim Road
Project.
The Watershed Program also continues to participate in the Northern Colorado Fireshed
Collaborative (NCFC), which consists of local federal natural resource agencies, state agencies,
local government, researchers, community groups and non-profits. NCFC partners work closely
together to prioritize and align their wildfire mitigation projects to achieve broader landscape
level watershed protection and further leverage project funding.
The Watershed Program committed $17,250 in 2020 to another cost-share collaborative project
on the South Fork of the Poudre River near Jack’s Gulch. This project is being led by CPRW
with partners including Colorado State Forest Service, City of Greeley, and private landowners.
The project will include forest treatments on more than 160 acres of high-priority acres. This
project will be aligned through the Northern Colorado Fireshed Collaborative to achieve a
greater broader wildfire mitigation effect. The project has been delayed due to the Cameron
Peak Wildfire and challenges with acquiring pile burning insurance but has been rescheduled
for 2023.
The Watershed Program also contributed $20,000 in 2021 to help fund a cost-share
collaborative wildfire mitigation project in the Cedar Park drainage of the Big Thompson
Page | 15 2022 Fort Collins Drinking Water Quality Policy Annual Report
Watershed. The project was managed by the Big Thompson Watershed Coalition and included
partners Colorado State Forest Service and Northern Water. The project treated more than 100
acres on the Sylvan Dale Ranch, which shares a boundary with planned USFS Cedar Park
treatments as part of the Northern Colorado Fireshed Collaborative. The targeted treatments
have been identified as high risk to the City’s Horsetooth source water supply.
Utilities’ Watershed Program completed a Drinking Water Infrastructure Wildfire Risk
Assessment for the Cache la Poudre River in 2019. The study combined site visits and desktop
analyses to determine a range of best management practices designed to reduce the risk
damage from future wildfires to key infrastructure, such as intakes, diversions, pipelines,
reservoirs, ditches, and diversions. The study also identified additional wildfire mitigation
priorities near key infrastructure such as Joe Wright Reservoir and Halligan Reservoir. The
Watershed Program is currently pursuing cost-share collaborative wildfire mitigation projects to
address these concerns.
Figure 9. Photos show a diversion tunnel, reservoir and section of pipe that were evaluated as part of the
Drinking Water Infrastructure Wildfire Risk Assessment.
In 2021, the Watershed Program began developing a cost-share regional collaborative project
with the Colorado State Forest and Colorado Parks and Wildlife. The goals of the project are to
work collaboratively to identify, assess and implement mitigation measures to protect the
Michigan Ditch water supply and infrastructure from the effects of catastrophic wildfire. In order
of importance, priorities for treatment in the Michigan Ditch area are to mitigate risk to hillslopes
above the ditch from the risk of fire; mitigate risk to the ditch from the risk of fire moving upslope
from the west; and mitigate risk to cabins, ditch, and other built infrastructure. The project is
currently in the assessment and data analyses and a treatment plan is anticipated for Michigan
Ditch in summer of 2023.
Moderate Priority Threat – State Highways
State highways have been identified as a moderate source water quality threat, due to chemical
spills from vehicle accidents. To address this threat, the Watershed Program completed a
Source Water Spill Response Plan in 2019 to reduce the risk of spills to the City’s Horsetooth
and Poudre River drinking water supplies. The Source Water Spill Response Plan includes
procedures, methods, equipment, and other necessary information to help Utilities prepare for
and respond to water contamination from chemical spills within their source water protection
areas (SWPAs). The plan was implemented in January 2020 and is revised as necessary
annually.
Page | 16 2022 Fort Collins Drinking Water Quality Policy Annual Report
Figure 10. Photos show a truck accident in 2009 on the banks of the Poudre River (left) that resulted in an
asphalt spill and spill contaminant booms (right) being deployed to contain the spill.
Water Resources and Storage
Purpose
The Water Resources Division provides administrative support to Utilities primarily in the areas
of raw water operations, water resources planning, and protection and development of water
rights. Duties include monitoring water accounts and use, managing the City’s raw water supply
and planning for future water supply needs.
Accomplishments and Updates
Water Supply and Demand Management Planning:
o Water Supply and Demand Management Planning: Staff completed the Water
Resources Matters in the GMA Study, which focuses on identifying the challenges
and opportunities to the City organization of having multiple water providers in the
GMA. This Study was discussed with Council in January and there were several
items identified to pursue. This study will help with future elements of the Water
Supply and Demand Management Policy which will be updated in the coming years.
o Water Supply Requirements (WSR): On January 1, 2022, Council adopted significant
changes to the Utilities’ WSR. The major change was commercial requirements
being based on business type (instead of tap size). In addition, significant updates to
the WSR fee (formerly known as the cash-in-lieu fee) were also made. After
implementing this new code, a few issues arose that required some revisions to
code. These changes were discussed with Council and adopted on November 1,
2022.
o Despite the impacts of the Cameron Peak and East Troublesome fires of 2020, water
quality conditions in the Cache la Poudre River improved in 2022. In combination
with Horsetooth Reservoir supplies, water treatment was able to treat sufficient
Poudre River water to meet total demands.
Water Supply Modeling:
o Continued to maintain and enhance the City’s Water Allocation Model, user
interfaces, and associated data management system.
Page | 17 2022 Fort Collins Drinking Water Quality Policy Annual Report
o Performed modeling analyses of several scenarios to evaluate impacts to Utilities of
potential changes to water rights portfolio and agreements with surrounding water
providers.
Halligan Water Supply Project:
o The federal permitting process continues for the project. The main focus by the
Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) is preparing a final environmental impact
statement (EIS) responding to the 60 public comments received on the project in
early 2020. The final EIS is expected to be released in late summer 2023.
o Work continued for two required State permitting processes: 1) a Fish and Wildlife
Mitigation and Enhancement Plan (FWMEP), led by Colorado Parks and Wildlife
(CPW) and 2) a 401 Water Quality certification, led by the Colorado Department of
Public Health and Environment. In each process the State takes a more detailed look
at the project. The draft FWMEP will be presented to the CPW Commission on May
4th or 5th, 2023. The 401 certification will take another 2 to 3 years due to additional
water quality analyses required.
o Significant progress was made by the design and construction team for the project.
The team is working toward a 30 percent design, which will help better define project
costs. A significant decision in this process was to pursue a realignment of the
existing dam just downstream.
o Significant work continued with landowners and others that will be affected by the
project to secure easements for the construction and operations of the project and
associated facilities.
Page | 18 2022 Fort Collins Drinking Water Quality Policy Annual Report
Certified Laboratory
The City is required to comply with state and federal drinking water standards. These standards
mandate that a certified laboratory performs all regulatory compliance testing. The City’s Water
Quality Laboratory staff provides state-certified regulatory compliance and other testing and
reporting for Utilities as well as 13 other regional water agencies.
The Water Quality Lab first achieved certification in bacteriology testing in 1978. Since that time,
the lab has gained certified status for a large array of water quality tests. Certified status is
achieved through a multistep process shown in Figure 12.
Figure 12 – Certified Status Achievement Process
The Water Quality Services Division completed a master plan in 2017, which included a
condition assessment of the Water Quality Lab and evaluated different alternatives for
renovation or replacement. Opportunities for constructing a new combined laboratory or other
replacement options are currently being explored.
CERTIFIED
STATUS
Application
The application process
includes documentation
regarding the
qualifications of lab
staff, training,
equipment, quality
assurance
documentation,
facilities and budget, as
well as proof of
successful analysis of
“unknown"
performance audit
samples each year.
Audits
Annual audits involve
analysis of samples from
certified providers that
contain unknown quantities
of unknown
constituents. This rigorous
approach covers an array of
parameters and weeds out
possible reporting of false
positive and false negative
results.
Inspections
Evaluation of lab staff
includes review and
verification of their formal
educational qualifications,
lab training and lab-related
work experience, as well as
hands-on demonstration of
laboratory skills. In addition,
details of written and actual
test methods and
procedures are audited to
ensure “to-the-letter”
compliance with
required EPA specifications.
Certification inspections also
include review of the lab’s
budget, equipment, facilities
and work processes.
Page | 19 2022 Fort Collins Drinking Water Quality Policy Annual Report
In addition to the State certified laboratory, the Water Treatment Facility performs chemical and
physical analyses at key process control points in order to optimize treatment processes. In
2022, process analysts:
Performed 21,962 laboratory analyses for process control.
Performed 15 jar tests to optimize plant performance.
Performed 36 chlorine dioxide demand curves to optimize pre-oxidation.
Performed 60 routine Odor Profile Tests to identify/ monitor taste and odor producing
compounds in raw and finished waters, particularly during the spring-run- off season in
the after mass of the Cameron Peak fire.
Provided other additional analyses beyond normal workload in order to monitor effects of
runoff from the Cameron Peak burn scar.
Performed 20+ FlowCam analyses and 24 Microcystin tests on raw water and 12
finished water Microscopic Particulate Analysis (MPA) tests.
Collected approximately 40 samples from groundwater monitoring wells around the site
in our ongoing program to monitor any impacts our operations have on groundwater.
Page | 20 2022 Fort Collins Drinking Water Quality Policy Annual Report
Asset Management
Utilities continued risk-forecasting efforts within its water production and distribution asset base
throughout 2022. The asset management risk forecast is a process to evaluate the condition of
the equipment, piping and facilities, the types of risks associated with the system, and
determinations as to timeline for replacement.
Some 2022 highlights
Water Production
Successfully navigated another fire
run off season with no problems with
the intake, pre-sed, or pipelines.
Washed Foothills Reservoirs and
passed inspection by engineers.
Improved filter entries with new fall
protection for filters 9 – 23. This
entails protection that can be
reassembled where needed
throughout the filter bay to help
minimize the fall risk for those filters.
Fall protection may see greater use
beyond filter entries.
Received 112 chemical deliveries.
PLC upgrades/replacements and
testing for 30, 31, 32, 34, 36, and 37.
Replacement flowmeters for filters 9
– 23.
Replaced 11 gas unit heaters with
electric units to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions.
New SCM for Train 5.
New TOC analyzers (2) installed that
can be serviced in-house.
Meter and Distribution System
Maintenance
The Water Distribution crews are
responsible for the operation and
maintenance of the City’s water distribution
system. Some of the main responsibilities of
the group are to manage, implement, and
set annual goals for defined maintenance
programs.
System Statistics
574.5 miles of water mains
828 water main locator stations
411 cathodic protection test stations
13,223 valves
3,853 fire hydrants
36,718 service lines
23.71 miles of water mains leak
surveyed
Page | 21 2022 Fort Collins Drinking Water Quality Policy Annual Report
Figure 13 – Repairing a main leak.
In 2022, the group was responsible for
responding to 907 customer complaints
during regular hours and 142 after hours.
They repaired 41 valves, 38 fire hydrants,
80 service lines and 20 service leaks.
Additionally, 114 water main breaks were
repaired: 77 - electrolysis, 27 - beam
breaks, 6 -longitudinal breaks and 4 -
miscellaneous repairs to the water mains.
Figure 14 – Repairing a main leak.
Figure 15 – Annual Main Breaks
Crews performed maintenance checks
on 1,729 valves and 415 fire hydrants.
2022 Watermain flushing was a limited
area which included from Taft Hill Rd.
between Laporte Ave. and Mulberry St.
to Shields St. and then to College Ave.
between Laporte Ave. and Laurel St.
Old Town from College Ave. to Peterson
St. between Jefferson St. and Mulberry
St, operating 139 fire hydrants during
that program.
Leak detection operations were
performed on 23.71 miles of water main
and 410 cathodic protection test station
readings were collected.
Figure 16 – Water Main Surveyed for Leaks
Page | 22 2022 Fort Collins Drinking Water Quality Policy Annual Report
Cross Connection Control performed
153 backflow surveys and inspections.
Construction crews replaced a total of
4,965 feet of water main and installed
31 new valves and 6 fire hydrants during
our annual water distribution system
replacement program.
Additional distribution maintenance
information is available in the asset
management section on the previous two
pages.
Following is a list of replacement
projects:
2100 Blk. Sweetwater Creek Dr. –
Timberline Rd. into Sweetwater Creek
Dr, 117 LF
900 - 1000 Blk. Main St. – Martinez St.
to Lemay Ave, 1,191 LF
300 – 600 Blk. E. Pitkin St – Mathews
St. to Stover St, 2,477 LF
1400 Blk. W. Mulberry St. – City Park
Ave. to Sheldon St, 352.5 LF
Castle Rock Dr. and Springfield Dr.
Intersection build out. 127 LF
5100 Blk. Sawgrass Ct. – High Castle
Sr. to North end of Cul-de-sac, 700.5 LF
Figure 17 – Water Main Replaced
The following capital projects were undertaken in support of goal three:
Northeast Loop Water Line Cathodic
Protection Project
• Funding Source: Water
• Estimated Project Budget: $1,610,000
• Final Cost: Estimated $1,500,000
• Status: Complete - on-line
• Project Details: This project included the
design and construction of five rectifiers
along the Northeast Loop Water Line that
supply an impressed current along the pre-
tensioned concrete cylinder water line to
cathodically protect the line from further
corrosion. Five 10-inch diameter well bores
were drilled approximately 300–400 feet
deep at each location, six anodes were
hung on electrical wires within each well
bore column and wires were connected to
rectifiers that apply an electrical current to
the pipe. Installation of antennas allowed
the transmission of the electrical monitoring
information back to the SCADA system.
This system helps protect the water main
that supplies water to Fort Collins and a
major brewery.
Page | 23 2022 Fort Collins Drinking Water Quality Policy Annual Report
Westside Water Line Cathodic Protection
Project
• Funding Source: Water
• Estimated Project Budget: $521,000
• Final Cost: TBD
• Status: under construction
• Project Details: This project includes the
design and construction of one rectifier on
the Westside Water Line to supply an
impressed current on the 60” pre-tensioned
concrete cylinder water line and cathodically
protect the line from further corrosion. One
10-inch diameter well bore is to be drilled
approximately 300–400 feet deep, with six
anodes hung on electrical wires within the
well bore column and wires connected to a
rectifier to apply an electrical current to the
pipe. Installation of antennas will provide for
the transmission of the electrical monitoring
information back to the SCADA system at
the WTF. This system will help protect the
water main that supplies water to west and
south areas of Fort Collins and surrounding
water districts.
Horsetooth Alternative Water Supply
Project
• Funding Source: Water
• Estimated Project Budget: $3.2 million
• Final Cost: approximately $1,300,000
(including design of two preliminary
alternative water supply locations, final
design of water supply location,
procurement, construction, and
demobilization)
• Status: completed and demobilized from
temporary site
• Project Details: Northern Water shutdown
the Horsetooth Reservoir Outlet at the
Soldier Canyon Dam starting Oct. 15-Nov.
5, 2020 to repair an inline valve under the
dam and replace the inlet trash racks.
During this period, the Cache la Poudre
River was Fort Collins’ only water source.
Fort Collins Utilities worked and cost-shared
with the Tri-Districts and Platte River Power
Authority on this project to supply
Horsetooth water via an alternative location
– the Hansen Feeder Canal off the north
end of Horsetooth Reservoir. The project
included construction of a permanent
connection on the Pleasant Valley Pipeline
and a temporary pump station connected
between the Hansen Canal and the
Pleasant Valley Pipeline. All remnants of
surficial equipment and materials have been
removed and demobilized from the
temporary easement site.
Anheuser Busch Brewery Meter
Replacements
• Funding Source: Water
• Estimated Project Budget: $200,000
• Final Cost: $172,170
• Status: Completed February 2019
• Project Details: Design and construction
as required to replace two 10-inch turbo
meters, four 10-inch gate valves, SCADA
system, strainers, and all piping in the water
metering vault at the brewery
27-inch Poudre Canyon Raw Waterline
Project
• Funding Source: Water
• Estimated Project Budget: $3.2 M
• Status: Final Design to be done in 2021
and Construction to begin Fall 2022
• Estimated Completion Date: August 2023
• Project Details: The goal of this project is
to ensure the structural integrity and
operational longevity of the City’s 27” raw
waterline in the Poudre Canyon. An
existing, exposed section of the pipeline in
the river near Gateway Natural Area will be
replaced to eliminate the risk of failure
which ensures the continued delivery and
reliability of raw water from the Poudre
River to the Water Treatment Facility. The
design will develop a long-term solution
which may require pipe alignment
modifications, deeper burial depths of the
pipeline, consolidation of both pipelines
and/or localized river channel stabilization.
Page | 24 2022 Fort Collins Drinking Water Quality Policy Annual Report
Mitigating the existing situation provides an
opportunity to modify the pipe alignment to
provide increased integrity to the system.
Belt Press Building Project (Solids
Handling Facility)
• Funding Source: Water
• Estimated Project Budget: $575,000
• Status: In Design
• Estimated Completion Date: June 2021
• Project Details: This project will develop a
50% set of design documents for the Water
Treatment Facility’s solids handling
improvements project (known as the Belt
Press Building Project). The improvements
will reduce the liquid loading of the existing
lagoons by mechanically separating the
solids from the sediment basin sludge
stream by applying pressure with a belt filter
press. This system will prevent violation of
water quality and solid waste regulations.
The project scope and resulting documents
are intended to provide a level of design
that can be used to develop and advance
the Opinion of Probable Cost and be used
in a future solicitation for a Construction
Manager at Risk (CMAR) project delivery
method. The City will pick up the design of
the system at a future date and advance it
to 100% with the selected contractor on the
team.
Page | 25 2022 Fort Collins Drinking Water Quality Policy Annual Report
Certified Operators
The Treatment Facility and Distribution
System operators are certified by the
Colorado Water and Wastewater Facility
Operators Certification Board as certified
water professionals. As of 2022, the
Director of Plant Operations (operator in
responsible charge, or ORC), Manager of
Plant Operations, and both Lead Plant
Operators, had earned ‘A’ certification, the
highest level of Water Treatment Plant
Operator certification, which also carries the
professional credential, “Certified Water
Professional.” Due to a high level of
turnover in operations staff in recent years,
only two of the Plant Operators currently
hold ‘A’ certification. Of the other four
operators, one carries their ‘C’, and the
remaining 3 carry their ‘D’. All are
progressing on schedule toward certification
at the ‘A’ level. All staff in the operations on-
call rotation are certified ‘A’ operators.
Operation of the Water Treatment Facility
requires supervision by a certified Water
Treatment Plant Operator A, and all
supervisory staff in the operations chain of
command meet this qualification.
Operation of our pump stations and storage
reservoirs requires supervision by a certified
Water System Operator 3. The Director of
Plant Operations (ORC) holds a level 1
distribution system Operator Certification,
and the Manager of Plant Operations holds
a level 4. Several plant operators and other
staff also are certified distribution system
operators, varying from level 1 to level 4.
Additionally, several non-operations
personnel hold operator certifications. Other
plant personnel are encouraged to pursue
certification as plant operators, as well as
other professional certifications that
increase their skills. Three maintenance
staff hold level D certifications, and one of
the process chemists holds a C level
certification. The Director of Plant
Operations holds a Professional Operator
(PO) certification through the Certification
Council for Environmental Professionals.
Other certifications held by plant staff
include:
Certified Control Systems
Technician
Certified Water Quality Analyst
Hazardous Materials Technician
Occupational Health and Safety
Technician
Journeyman Electrician
DOT/CDL Certification
The Water Field Operations Manager
(ORC) holds a level 4 Water System
Operator certification. All crew chiefs are
certified to at least level 2, many to level 4,
and most crew members hold certification
varying from level 1 to level 4. Operation of
our distribution system requires supervision
by a certified Water System Operator 4. All
operators in the distribution system hold a
Class A CDL.
Page | 26 2022 Fort Collins Drinking Water Quality Policy Annual Report
This report was compiled by the Water Production Division in collaboration with:
Water Quality Services Division
Environmental Regulatory Affairs Division
Water Field Operations Service Unit
Page 1 of 10
AGREEMENT REGARDING A WILDFIRE READY WATERSHED ACTION PLAN
FOR THE JOE WRIGHT CREEK, PETERSON LAKE, AND
UPPER MICHIGAN RIVER WATERSHEDS
This Agreement (“Agreement”) is entered into by and between the following Parties:
• City of Fort Collins, a municipal corporation (“Fort Collins”);
• City of Greeley, a municipal corporation (“Greeley”); and
• Water Supply and Storage Company, a Colorado mutual ditch and reservoir company
(“WSSC”).
RECITALS
A. The Joe Wright Creek Watershed comprises the lands drained by Joe Wright Creek and its
tributaries. The Joe Wright Creek Watershed has Fort Collins’ Joe Wright Reservoir, Greeley’s
Barnes Meadows Reservoir, and WSSC’s Chambers Lake Reservoir.
B. The Peterson Lake Watershed is located just southeast of the Joe Wright Creek Watershed
and comprises the lands drained by a small, unnamed tributary to the Cache la Poudre River that
flows through Peterson Lake Reservoir. The Peterson Lake Watershed includes Greeley’s
Peterson Lake Reservoir.
C. The Upper Michigan River Watershed comprises the lands drained by the Michigan River
and its tributaries above Gould. At Cameron Pass, water from the Michigan River and its
tributaries is delivered into the Joe Wright Creek Watershed via Fort Collins’ Michigan Ditch and
WSSC’s Cameron Pass Ditch.
D. The Joe Wright Creek, Peterson Lake, and Upper Michigan River Watersheds (together,
“Watersheds”) are and have historically been a source of raw water for Fort Collins, Greeley, and
WSSC. By way of example, water from the Watersheds flows down the Cache a Poudre River to
the Parties’ other various points of diversion.
E. Water supplies and infrastructure in the Watersheds face various challenges, including0F
1
risks associated with wildfires. Protecting water supplies and infrastructure within the Watersheds
is a high priority for the Parties to, among other things, ensure all current and future water demands
are met, and to continue providing their communities, customers, and shareholders with reliable,
safe, and high-quality water.
F. The State of Colorado, through the Colorado Water Conservation Board (“CWCB”), has a
program to assist in the development of wildfire ready watershed action plans, including via grant
funding. Such plans are generally intended to help stakeholders develop actionable plans to
address the impacts from wildfires through actions that may be taken both before and after
wildfires.
1 In this Agreement, “include” signifies a list that is not necessarily exhaustive. E.g., Lyman v. Town of Bow Mar,
188 Colo. 216, 222, 533 P.2d 1129, 1133 (1975).
Page 2 of 10
G. The Parties desire to develop a wildfire ready watershed action plan for the Watersheds
(“Plan”), pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall
be interpreted to impose any obligation on the Parties to implement any portions of the Plan to be
developed hereunder.
H. The purpose of this Agreement is to coordinate the Parties’ joint efforts related to
developing the Plan, including funding a consultant to assist with the development of the Plan.
I. As governmental entities, Fort Collins and Greeley are authorized to enter into the
following intergovernmental agreement pursuant to their respective home rule charters, municipal
codes, and C.R.S. §29-1-203.
AGREEMENT
1. Incorporation of Recitals. The foregoing recitals are hereby incorporated as if fully
restated in their entirety.
2. Meetings and Schedule.
2.1. Meetings. The Parties will meet at least quarterly at an agreed upon time and place.
Each Party will designate at least one representative who will attend the meetings, either
in person or by teleconference when available. Should the representative(s) be changed, a
Party shall provide fourteen (14) calendar days written notice of the change to the other
Parties. Party representatives will, when possible, be staff members and not members of
the governing body of a Party. Persons associated with the Parties other than the
representative may attend the meetings upon invitation by the appropriate Party. If a Party
desires to not participate in a meeting and has no objection to the other Parties meeting
under this Agreement, the non-attending Party may do so by notifying the other Parties of
the same.
2.2. Schedule. The Parties currently intend to follow the schedule set forth in the Scope
of Work, attached as Exhibit A. The Parties may modify the schedule of tasks as
appropriate to effectuate the purposes of this Agreement.
2.3. Consensus Decision-Making. The Parties shall operate by consensus in making
decisions for the purposes of this Agreement. To this end, the Parties shall make a good
faith effort to reach consensus, propose alternative solutions, and otherwise work to resolve
any issues that prevent consensus.
3. Funding. The Parties intend to budget $200,000 for the retention of a consultant to assist
with the development of the Plan.
3.1. CWCB Grant. Fort Collins will seek a grant from the CWCB for $171,875 of the
budgeted amount, which would be held by Fort Collins for the purposes of this Agreement.
If such a grant is not acquired on or before December 30, 2024, any Party may terminate
this Agreement and Fort Collins will return Greeley’s and WSSC’s monetary contributions
Page 3 of 10
identified in Paragraph 3.2.2. The Parties may, in writing, extend the deadline included in
this subparagraph.
3.2. Matching Contributions. The CWCB grant will require a match of 25% of the
project cost from the Parties. The Parties will provide this match with monetary (12.5%)
and in-kind (12.5%) contributions as stated below.
3.2.1. Monetary Contributions. On or before February 1st, 2025, Greeley and
WSSC will contribute the following dollar amounts to Fort Collins for the purposes
of Paragraph 3.2: Greeley, $9,062.50; and WSSC, $10,000. Fort Collins will
contribute $9,062.50 for purposes of Paragraph 3.2.
3.2.2. In-Kind Contributions. Fort Collins will provide in-kind contributions
towards the CWCB grant of a total value of $28,125 for purposes of Paragraph 3.2.
Fort Collins will track and account the in-kind contributions.
4. Fort Collins’ Role.
4.1. Funds. Fort Collins will hold the budgeted funds described in Paragraph 3 for
purposes of this Agreement. If there are any unused funds, they will be returned to the
Parties in amounts proportionate to their contributions (Fort Collins 30%, Greeley 30%,
WSSC 40%).
4.2. Consultant. Fort Collins will retain the consultant to assist with the development
of the Plan. The Parties will jointly select which consultant will be retained and managed
the same, pursuant to Paragraph 2.3. The Parties acknowledge that Fort Collins will
contract with and have sole responsibility for directing the selected consultant, consistent
with the determination of the Parties pursuant to Paragraph 2.3 and the objectives of this
Agreement.
4.3. Sharing Consultant Work Product. Fort Collins will provide to the other
Parties copies of all reports, data, drawings, computer programs, or other reproducible,
tangible things developed by the consultant in connection with this Agreement
(“Consultant Work Product”). Each Party will be entitled to review and provide feedback
on the Consultant Work Product, which Fort Collins will communicate to the consultant.
Fort Collins will obtain the consultant’s agreement for each Party to use Consultant Work
Product for purposes connected to this Agreement.
5. Term, Withdrawal, and Termination.
5.1. Term and Termination. This Agreement will be in effect on the last date it is
signed by the Parties until:
(1) December 30, 2026;
(2) Fort Collins withdraws;
(3) all but one of the Parties withdraws;
(4) the Parties otherwise agree in writing to terminate this Agreement; or
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(5) The Plan is completed.
5.2. Withdrawal. Any Party may withdraw from this Agreement by providing written
notice to the other Parties. Any Party may also withdraw from this Agreement for failure
to appropriate funds pursuant to Paragraph 7. Withdrawal from this Agreement shall not:
entitle the withdrawing Party to reimbursement for previously contributed funds; or relieve
the withdrawing Party from any obligations resulting from the Party’s previous
participation, including responsibilities for costs, and shall not waive the withdrawing
Party’s right to the receipt of documents resulting from the Party’s previous participation.
6. Claimed Confidential Information.
6.1. CORA. The Parties acknowledge that the majority of documents and
communications created under this Agreement will be subject to the Colorado Open
Records Act, C.R.S. §§24-72-101 et seq. (“CORA”).
6.2. Confidential Information Procedures. If a Party (“Providing Party”) desires to
provide documents or information to the other Parties (“Receiving Parties”) that the
Providing Party claims to be confidential (“Confidential Information”), the Providing Party
may invoke the terms and conditions of this Paragraph 6.2.
6.2.1. If the Providing Party intends to claim that certain information is
confidential under this Paragraph 6.2 and desires to have the Receiving Parties take
certain precautions under this Agreement with such claimed Confidential
Information, then within three calendar days of when the Providing Party provides
the claimed Confidential Information to the Receiving Parties, the Providing Party
shall provide written notice to the Receiving Parties containing the following:
(i) an identification of each piece of information that is claimed to be
Confidential Information;
(ii) for each piece of such information, an identification of the
documents, files, or other forms of communication provided to the
Receiving Parties in which the claimed Confidential Information is
located; and
(iii) for each piece of such information, a brief statement identifying the
basis for which the Providing Party may claim the information to be
confidential.
6.2.2. With respect to the claimed Confidential Information identified pursuant to
Paragraph 6.2.1, the Receiving Parties hereby agree:
(i) to hold the claimed Confidential Information in confidence and to
take all reasonable precautions to protect such Confidential
Information from inadvertent or accidental disclosure; and
(ii) to not disclose any such claimed Confidential Information to any
third person, except pursuant to Paragraph 6.2.4.
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In the normal course of business, the Receiving Parties may also dispose of any
documents containing claimed Confidential Information.
6.2.3. The obligations of the Receiving Parties with respect to claimed
Confidential Information under this Paragraph 6.2 shall not apply to:
(i) claimed Confidential Information that remains in the possession of
a Receiving Party six months after the termination of this Agreement
pursuant to Paragraph 5.1;
(ii) claimed Confidential Information that the Receiving Party can
document:
(A) is or has become (through no improper action or inaction by
the Receiving Party or any affiliate, agent, consultant or
employee) generally available to the public;
(B) was in its possession prior to receipt from the Providing
Party under Paragraph 6.2.1, except to the extent that such
information was unlawfully appropriated by the Receiving
Party;
(C) was independently developed by the Receiving Party
without use of any claimed Confidential Information of the
Providing Party under Paragraph 6.2.1; or
(D) was disclosed pursuant to the requirements of law, subject to
Paragraph 6.2.4.
6.2.4. Nothing herein shall affect the obligations of a Receiving Party to either
make disclosures or preserve the confidentiality of claimed Confidential
Information to the extent required by law or court order, including, but not limited
to, requirements under the Colorado Open Records Act, CRS §24-72-201 et seq.,
and other Colorado and federal statutes, court rules, and administrative rules and
regulations. If a Receiving Party receives a request under law for the Providing
Party’s claimed Confidential Information, or if a Receiving Party would otherwise
be required to disclose the Providing Party’s claimed Confidential Information
pursuant to law, the Receiving Party shall notify the Providing Party as soon as
practicable of the request or pending disclosure, and in such event, upon the request
of the Receiving Party, the Providing Party may take such timely action as may be
required to obtain a declaratory judgment as to the confidential status of the
Confidential Information, and, if the Providing Party elects not to do so, then the
Receiving Party’s obligation to preserve that Confidential Information shall have
been waived hereunder, except as otherwise provided by law.
6.2.5. The Providing Party shall have the right to require the return and destruction
of claimed Confidential Information in the possession of a Receiving Party as set
forth in this paragraph. Such right shall exist from the effective date of this
Agreement through six months after the date of termination of this Agreement
pursuant to Paragraph 5.1 If claimed Confidential Information has been copied or
transcribed into another document, such documents will be destroyed, erased, or
modified to remove the claimed Confidential Information.
Page 6 of 10
7. Fiscal Contingency. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement to the
contrary, the obligations of Fort Collins and Greeley in fiscal years after the initial fiscal year of
this Agreement shall be subject to appropriation of funds sufficient and intended therefor, with the
Party having the sole discretion to determine whether the subject funds are sufficient and intended
for use under this Agreement. The failure of a Party to appropriate such funds shall be grounds
for termination of this Agreement as to such Party upon written notice pursuant to Paragraph 11.
8. No Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement is entered into between the Parties for the
purposes set forth herein. It is the intent of the Parties that they are the only beneficiaries of this
Agreement and that the Parties are benefitted only to the extent provided under the express terms
and conditions of this Agreement.
9. Governing Law and Enforceability. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance
with the laws of the State of Colorado. The Parties recognize that the constitutions, statutes, and
rules and regulations of the State of Colorado and of the United States, as well as the Parties’
respective bylaws, city charters and codes, and rules and regulations, impose certain legal
constraints on each Party and that the Parties intend to carry out the terms and conditions of this
Agreement subject to those constraints. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement
shall be interpreted in such a manner so as to be effective and valid under applicable law.
10. Waiver. A waiver of a breach of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall not
constitute a waiver of any subsequent breach of the same or another provision of this Agreement.
Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as any waiver of governmental immunity of the
Parties who are governments or any other governmental provisions of State law. Specifically, by
entering into this Agreement, no Party waives the monetary limitations on liability or any other
rights, immunities, or protections provided by the Colorado Government Immunity Act, C.R.S. §
24-10-101, et seq., or any successor or similar statutes of the State of Colorado.
11. Notices. All notices or other communications hereunder shall be sufficiently given and
shall be deemed given (i) when personally delivered; (ii) on the date and at the time of delivery or
refusal of acceptance of delivery if delivered or attempted to be delivered by an overnight courier
service to the party to whom notice is given at the address specified below; (iii) on the date and at
the time shown on the electronic mail if sent by electronic transmission at the email addresses set
forth below and receipt of such electronic mail is acknowledged by the intended recipient thereof;
or (iv) after the lapse of five business days following mailing by certified mail-return receipt
requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:
To Fort Collins: City Manager
City Hall West
300 LaPorte Avenue; P.O. Box 580
Fort Collins, Colorado 80522-0580
With copy to: Fort Collins City Attorney
300 LaPorte Avenue; P.O. Box 580
Fort Collins, Colorado 80522-0580
Page 7 of 10
epotyondy@fcgov.com
and: Fort Collins Utilities
Attn: Sr. Director of Water Planning and Sciences
4316 LaPorte Ave.
Fort Collins, Colorado 80521
To Greeley: City of Greeley
Attn: Director of Water & Sewer
1001 11th Ave, 2nd Floor,
Greeley, Colorado 80631
With a copy to:
City Attorney
1100 10th Street, Suite 401
Greeley, Colorado 80631
daniel.biwer@greeleygov.com
To WSSC: 2319 E Mulberry Street (P.O. Box 2017)
Fort Collins, CO 80524 (80524)
12. Construction. This Agreement shall be construed according to its fair meaning as it was
prepared by the Parties. Headings in this Agreement are for convenience and reference only and
shall in no way define, limit, or prescribe the scope or intent of any provision of this Agreement.
13. Representations. Each Party represents to the other parties that it has the power and
authority to enter into this Agreement and the individual signing below on behalf of that Party has
the authority to execute this Agreement on its behalf and legally bind that Party.
14. Assignment. No Party may assign any rights or delegate any duties under this Agreement
without the written consent of all other Parties.
15. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is found by a court of competent
jurisdiction to be illegal, invalid, unenforceable or impossible of performance, the remainder of
this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.
[Remainder of Page Left Blank Intentionally]
Page 8 of 10
CITY OF FORT COLLINS, a municipal corporation
By: Date:
Kelly DiMartino, City Manager
ATTEST:
By:
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
By:
City Attorney’s Office
Page 9 of 10
CITY OF GREELEY, a municipal corporation
APPROVED AS TO SUBSTANCE:
By:_________________________________ Date:_____________________________
City Manager
AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS:
By:_________________________________ Date:_____________________________
Director of Finance
APPROVED AS TO LEGAL FORM
By:_________________________________ Date:_____________________________
City Attorney’s Office
Page 10 of 10
WATER SUPPLY AND STORAGE COMPANY, a Colorado mutual ditch and reservoir
company
By: Date:
Don Frick, General Manager
1
March 21st, 2024
Water Commission Regular Meeting
Agreement Regarding the
Poudre Water Supply Infrastructure
Wildfire Ready Action Plan
Jared Heath, Senior Watershed Specialist
Water Quality Services Division
City of Fort Collins Utilities
2
Seeking Recommendation
Seeking a recommendation from Water Commission that City Council formally
approve of Utilities’ Watershed Program entering into the Agreement Regarding
the Poudre Water Supply Infrastructure Wildfire Ready Action Plan
3
Fort Collins’ Source Watersheds
•Cache la Poudre River
•Horsetooth Reservoir
4
Monitoring and protecting the City’s
source water supplies and the health of
the Cache la Poudre Watershed
Watershed Program
Guidance for watershed protection
5
Fort Collins’ Source Water Protection Plan
Potential Contaminant Source or Issue of Concern Priority Ranking
Forest Health: Wildfires High
Algal Blooms High
Flooding Moderate
State Highways Moderate
County & Forest Roads Moderate
Septic Systems Moderate
Forest Health: Insect Mortality /Disease Low
Recreation Low
Grazing/Agriculture Low
Storage Tanks Low
Water Wells Low Cameron Peak Wildfire
6
Wildfire Ready Action Plan
WRAP:
•Target Area
•Post-Fire Susceptibility Evaluation
•Wildfire Mitigation Actions
Collaborative Partners:
•CWCB
•City of Greeley
•Water Supply & Storage Company
7
Strategic Alignment and Budget
COUNCIL PRIORITY
Protect community water systems in an
integrated way to ensure resilient water
resources and healthy watersheds
BUDGET – $200K
•CWCB WRW grant – $171,875
•WSSC cash match – $ 10,000
•Greeley’s cash match – $9,063
•Fort Collins’ cash match – $9,063
•Fort Collins in-kind match – $28,125
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
Initial Project Scoping & Partnership Development
Scope of Work & Agreements
CWCB WRW Program Grant Application
Procure Consultant
Develop Wildfire Ready Watershed Action Plan
Implement Wildfire Ready Watershed Action Plan
2027Task2023202420252026
8
Project Update
•Develop WRAP: 2023 –2026
•Implement WRAP actions/projects: 2026 –ongoing
9
Suggested Motion
‘I move that the Water Commission recommend that City Council formally
approve of Utilities’ Watershed Program entering into the Agreement Regarding
the Poudre Water Supply Infrastructure Wildfire Ready Action Plan’
Thank you
Upper Cache la Poudre River
Jared Heath
Sr. Watershed Specialist
970-416-2287
jheath@fcgov.com
fcgov.com/source-water-monitoring