HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/05/2025 - Water Commission - AGENDA - Regular MeetingWATER COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING June 5, 2025
06/05/2025 Agenda Page 1 of 2
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1. CALL TO ORDER
a. 5:30 PM
2. ROLL CALL
3. AGENDA REVIEW
4. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION (3 minutes per individual)
5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: May 15
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WATER COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING June 5, 2025
06/05/2025 Agenda Page 2 of 2
6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
None
7. NEW BUSINESS
a. Staff Reports
i. Memo: Spring 2025 Water Shortage Response Planning
(No presentation/Meeting packet only/Staff available for questions)
Michael Neale, Water Resources Engineer II
b. Regular Items
i. Water Efficiency Plan (WEP) Update
(Presentation: 15 minutes, Discussion: 15 minutes)
Alice Conovitz, Water Conservation Specialist
Water Conservation staff seek feedback from commissioners to make any
necessary updates to the draft plan. Staff will share planned revisions
based on public comment and Boards and Commissions feedback. This
will reflect the most current version of the goals, efficiency strategies, and
draft document text.
Staff will return on July 17 to request the Water Commission’s
recommendation to City Council for adoption of the updated WEP at
Council’s Sept. 2 meeting.
8. COMMISSIONER REPORTS
(Committees, event attendance, etc.)
9. OTHER BUSINESS
(Commissioner concerns, announcements)
a. Election of Officers
i. Chairperson
ii. Vice Chairperson
10. ADJOURNMENT
a. 7:30 PM
05/15/2025 DRAFT UNAPPROVED MINUTES Page 1 of 4
Water Commission
REGULAR MEETING DRAFT UNAPPROVED MINUTES
May 15, 2025 – 5:30 PM
222 Laporte Ave., 1st Floor, Colorado River Room
1. CALL TO ORDER: 5:32 PM
2. ROLL CALL
a. Board Members Present (in person): Commissioners Paul Herman, Nick
Martin, Nicole Ng and Greg Steed
b. Board Members Present (online): Commissioner Carson Madryga
c. Board Members Absent: Chairperson Jordan Radin; Commissioners James
Bishop, Laura Chartrand and Rick Kahn
d. Staff Members Present: Jill Oropeza, Katherine Martinez, Davina Lau, Julia
Feder, Leslie Hill, Gregg Stonecipher, Nicole Poncelet-Johnson
e. Guests: None
3. AGENDA REVIEW
4. COMMUNITY MEMBER PARTICIPATION
5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: April 17
Commissioner Steed moved to approve the minutes as presented
Commissioner Martin seconded the motion
Vote on the motion: it passed unanimously, 5-0
6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
None
7. NEW BUSINESS
a. Staff Reports
a. Boards and Commissions Update
Public Engagement Specialist and Boards & Commissions
Coordinator Davina Lau summarized the vital role of the Water
Commission, which is the bridge connecting City Council and the
community on water-related issues, and thanked commissioners for
applying for and serving as volunteers on the Water Commission.
Updates included last month’s onboarding for new board members
and commissioners that included the Code of Conduct and Anti-
Harassment and Anti-Discrimination Policy; next month’s training for
staff liaisons and staff support; upcoming Super Issues Meetings,
which were created by Council in 2015 as an opportunity for staff to
present to all boards and commissions at once; an event just for
05/15/2025 DRAFT UNAPPROVED MINUTES Page 2 of 4
Boards and Commissions to express appreciation and give members
an opportunity to discuss the work they’re doing; the next Super
Issues Meeting is Aug. 11 and will focus on Ranked Voting due to
Fort Collins’ first ranked voting election this November (with a
mayoral race that features more than two candidates); other Super
Issues meetings are planned for September and November, with info
on topics coming soon.
b. Regular Items
a. Water Commission Recommendation for City Council to Adopt
Natural Areas Strategic Framework
Conservation and Stewardship Planning Manager Julia Feder
followed up her Feb. 20 presentation by providing an overview of
community engagement and feedback received on the draft Natural
Areas Strategic Framework and changes made to the final draft plan.
She requested Water Commission’s support in the form of a
recommendation that Council adopt the plan on July 1.
About 1,2000 people visited the website
(https://ourcity.fcgov.com/natural-areas-strategic-framework); there
were 500 views of the plan as well as 50 detailed comments.
Timeline consists of recommendations from boards and commissions
in May; memo to be included in City Council meeting packet in June;
and Council adoption on July 1.
Discussion Highlights:
Commissioners commented on or inquired about various related
topics including recreation as a concept and tension surrounding it
(Ms. Feder replied that department’s mission is conservation first with
a focus on access); the former Hughes Stadium site and public
discussion about establishing it as a City of Fort Collins natural area
(Ms. Feder indicated that once a final use plan is established by the
City, Natural Areas Department will onboard the portion of the
property that is designated as a natural area and then manage it
through the Foothills Management Zone Updates) metrics for “Goal
1: Conserve and Protect Land & Water” (Ms. Feder replied that
metrics include cumulative acres preserved, per capita acres, water-
based metric based on conserved and protected flows [in-stream
flows] in partnership with Utilities regarding legally-protected flows).
Commissioner Ng moved for the Water Commission to recommend
City Council adopt the 2025 Natural Areas Strategic Framework. The
Water Commission has been engaged multiples times throughout the
Strategic Framework planning process and believes this plan will be
a sound guide to support Natural Areas and citywide planning for the
decade to come.
Commissioner Steed seconded the motion
Vote on the motion: it passed unanimously, 5-0
05/15/2025 DRAFT UNAPPROVED MINUTES Page 3 of 4
c. Staff Reports (Continued)
b. Financial Monthly Report
Discussion Highlights:
A commissioner inquired about the reason for the Stormwater Fund
operating revenues being 20.8% over budget: $8.07 million actual
compared to $6.68 million budget. Staff Liaison Jill Oropeza replied
that she would follow up with Utilities Finance staff to provide an
answer to commissioners. (Finance staff later reported a formula
error in the bar charts, although the table amounts were correct.
Stormwater operating revenues are 3.4% over budget: $6.91 million
actual compared to $6.68 million budget. Staff shared a corrected
report with commissioners.)
c. Water Supply and Snowpack Update
Staff Liaison and Senior Director of Integrated Water Sciences and
Planning Jill Oropeza provided a snapshot of current water supply
conditions including the Cache la Poudre snowpack and how it’s
impacting supplies, as well as state drought conditions. Reservoirs
are expected to be filled this year; good status. The Colorado-Big
Thompson Project (C-BT) quota is 70%, which is typical; full 20%
carryover of C-BT. Staff is no longer seeing post-wildfire impacts to
the degree of previous years and their recommendation is for no
water restrictions; little to no chance of water shortage measures
being enacted for 2025. On the state snowpack map, the South
Platte basin is at 68% of the median snow water equivalent; the
Cache la Poudre basin is at 66% of the median and 47% of median
peak.
Discussion Highlights:
A commissioner commented that the weather is becoming hot
quickly.
d. One Water Action Framework Planning Update
Senior Director of Integrated Water Sciences and Planning Jill
Oropeza summarized Fort Collins Utilities’ approach to becoming a
One Water City and the guiding principles: a One Water approach
manages all water – whether from the tap, a stream, a storm, an
aquifer, or a sewer – in a collaborative, integrated, inclusive, and
holistic manner, as defined by the US Water Alliance.
Why One Water now? Too much or too little water quantity, water
quality and regulation, ecosystem degradation, aging and inadequate
infrastructure, a changing climate, and pricing and affordability.
The action framework aligns strategically with (1) the City’s Strategic
Objective ENV 2: Sustain the health of the Cache la Poudre River
and regional watersheds while delivering a resilient, economically
responsible and high-quality water supply for all Fort Collins
residents, and (2) the Council Priority: Protect community water
systems in an integrated way to ensure resilient water resources and
healthy watersheds.
05/15/2025 DRAFT UNAPPROVED MINUTES Page 4 of 4
Staff is using the Water Research Foundation’s self-assessment
framework: One Water planning, organizational culture, stakeholder
engagement, informed actions, and One Water monitoring. Phases
include onboarding and self-assessment, visioning, established a
One Water Steering Committee (cross-departmental team), and One
Water Action Framework Report, which was recently completed and
summarizes current performance levels, identifies gaps
opportunities, etc.
Phase 1 was completed in March. Phase 2 will take between 12 and
18 months (Fall 2026). Staff is developing a refined scope of work for
Phase 2 they expect to finish by the end of May. Phase 3 will focus
on performance (2026 and beyond).
Discussion Highlights:
Commissioners commented on or inquired about various related
topics including whether there are any operations or actions not in
alignment with the One Water strategic planning, in other words
vision versus current projects and programs (Ms. Oropeza replied
that there is strong support for the structure, that it’s progressing well,
and deeper planning will follow; One Water Executive Director Nicole
Poncelet-Johnson mentioned refining department structure with the
formation of an infrastructure engineering group consisting of
engineers across various divisions to provide more opportunities to
leverage people and resources into one functioning unit.); perception
that the One Water approach might contend with the state’s
appropriations process to keep water, wastewater, and stormwater
separate as a resource management strategy; infrastructure
engineering group formation as an obvious and easy win; resource
planning, supply and demand; role of green infrastructure in our
system and exploring opportunities for partnerships.
8. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS
None
9. OTHER BUSINESS
None
10. ADJOURNMENT: 6:26 PM
Minutes to be approved by the Chair and a vote of the Water Commission on 06/05/2025
Utilities
700 Wood St.
PO Box 580, Fort Collins, CO 80522
970-416-2100
nponcelet-johnson@fcgov.com
CC:
Jill Oropeza, Senior Director, Integrated Water Sciences and Planning
Jen Dial, Water Resources Division Manager
Mariel Miller, Water Conservation Manager
Jeremy Woolf, Senior Director, Integrated Water Operations
MEMORANDUM
Date: May 5, 2025
To: Kelly DiMartino, City Manager
Through: Tyler Marr, Deputy City Manager
From: Nicole Poncelet-Johnson, One Water Executive Director
Subject: Spring 2025 Water Shortage Response Planning
BOTTOM LINE
Staff evaluated all water shortage indicators, as outlined in the Water Shortage Action Plan, and
anticipate that available supplies are adequate to meet expected demand through October 2025
(the water year). Based on current and projected conditions, we feel it is unnecessary to
implement a voluntary Water Shortage Watch, or mandatory Action Level I-IV restrictions. Staff
will continue monitoring supply and demand conditions throughout the year and provide an
update if conditions change.
CURRENT STATUS
Based on current supply and demand projections (see Figure 1) there is little to no likelihood of
a water shortage in 2025. Even under a high-demand scenario, combined with a below average
intake from the Cache la Poudre River (Poudre River), we expect to meet demands and carry
over1 the full amount allowed by our Colorado-Big Thompson (C-BT) supplies into 2026.
Additionally, no water quality concerns, or infrastructure maintenance projects are expected to
have a long-term or significant impact on supply, treatment, or distribution in 2025.
1 Northern Water allows C-BT account entities to carry over 20% of their quota allocation into the next year if the
amount was unused.
Docusign Envelope ID: F003392D-950F-446C-BB0E-3F19A5E1EEB8
Projected demands are based on a 10-year historical average and the current year’s
population estimate. A low-demand scenario is average demand reduced by 10%. A high-
demand scenario accounts for the highest monthly demands observed in the last 10 years.
Supply inputs include:
Poudre River supply: 7,000 acre-feet (AF) expected intake based on 90% of 10-year
average intake from April 14-Oct. 31.
Horsetooth Reservoir supplies:
o C-BT, 70% quota: 9,700 AF available through Oct 31.
o Windy Gap supply: Additional 1,750 AF in June.
o C-BT carryover: 2,219 AF available from 2024 after 10% shrink and 1,550 AF of
obligations met with carryover capacity.
Figure 1: 2025 Projected Supply & Demand (April 15-Oct. 31, 2025)
Docusign Envelope ID: F003392D-950F-446C-BB0E-3F19A5E1EEB8
Utilities owned North Poudre Irrigation Company (NPIC) multiple use C-BT shares: 2.5
AF/share allocation resulting in 8,900 AF of C-BT. Utilities will rent 8,600 AF of this
supply to NPIC system shareholders for agricultural use.
Maximum C-BT carryover objective of 4,190 AF expected to be met, representing 20%
of City-owned C-BT units. Certain obligations can be met with carryover water as a cost
saving measure, after which between 2,000 - 2,900 AF can become available for use in
2026.
The water shortage indicators are as follows:
C-BT quota is 70%, as announced by the Northern Water Board of Directors on April 10.
This is a common allocation and adequate to meet the needs of Utilities’ customers.
Joe Wright Reservoir is expected to fill this summer and provide adequate operational
supply.
Snowpack as of April 16, 2025:
o Colorado River Headwater Basins: 97% of median.
o Cache la Poudre Basin: 93% of median.
The U.S. Drought Monitor currently indicates abnormally dry to moderate drought
conditions in northeast Larimer County and northeast Colorado.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration three-month climate outlook for
our area predicts temperatures leaning slightly above normal and precipitation leaning
below normal.
Post-fire impacts from the Cameron Peak Fire have subsided and are not expected to
impact Poudre River water quality in 2025.
o The Poudre River source water quality surveillance system is on-line and actively
monitoring water quality in the river upstream of the City’s Poudre River intake.
This real-time monitoring system allows treatment operations ample time to
respond to changes in source water quality.
A key uncertainty identified for 2025 is the potential for worsening drought conditions in
the region that could increase demand. In addition, staff are monitoring Colorado River
interstate and federal negotiations, along with Northern Water.
Docusign Envelope ID: F003392D-950F-446C-BB0E-3F19A5E1EEB8
NEXT STEPS
Staff will continue to monitor water shortage indicators, potentially high demands from hot and
dry conditions, and Poudre River water quality. If indicators worsen and the potential for a
shortage increases, staff will reevaluate the need for a water shortage response – a voluntary
Water Shortage Watch or Action Level I-IV restrictions. Next steps by staff include:
Provide a memo to City Council and Water Commission that announces the City
Manager’s decision and attaches this recommendation as supporting information.
Continue promoting existing water conservation programs, the importance of maintaining
water conservation habits even in normal years and monitoring the influence of both
regional and local climate, regulatory, and political factors on our water supply.
Communicate the information and City Manager’s decision to other staff in the
organization and Utilities customers.
Update the Water Shortage Action Plan in late 2025 (last update was 2020). This will not
impact any decisions made in 2025 related to drought or shortage.
RESOURCES
A comprehensive list of voluntary water-saving actions and frequently asked questions can be
found at fcgov.com/water-restrictions. People can stay updated on the status of our water
quality and supply at fcgov.com/utilities/water-status. During a declared water shortage, an
internal communication tool, such as a SharePoint site, would be updated and include more
internal information.
Acknowledgement of memo received:
____________________________
Kelly DiMartino, City Manager
Docusign Envelope ID: F003392D-950F-446C-BB0E-3F19A5E1EEB8
5/15/2025
Planning and Zoning Commission Agenda Item Summary – City of Fort Collins Page 1
May 28, 2025
Water Commission
STAFF
SUBJECT
2025 Fort Collins Utilities Water Efficiency Plan
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
to provide the draft Water Efficiency Plan (WEP) to Water Commission for
and to summarize changes made following the last WEP update at the March 20, 2025 Water
The draft WEP is posted at ourcity.fcgov.com/wep through June 23 for a 60-day
. During this time staff will meet with multiple City Boards and Commissions to
and the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) will conduct a preliminary
.
to seek City Council’s approval by resolution on Sept. 2, 2025. Prior to that, Staff will request
the Water Commission provide a recommendation to City Council to adopt the updated Water
.
Agenda Item Summary provides an overview of Utilities’ water demands (Section 1) and a summary
the WEP update process (Section 2). Key new information includes:
• Staff revised the proposed WEP goals in response to City Council’s and Water Commission’s
recent feedback and ongoing analysis of water demand and potential savings. The revisions
include increasing the Goal 1 target from a 3% reduction to a 4% reduction and setting specific
targets that support the broader goals. The revised WEP goals and targets are presented in
Section 3 below.
• Water efficiency strategies prioritized in the WEP are presented in Section 3.
• Examples of strategies to lower treated water demand and build landscape resilience on City
properties and infrastructure are presented in Section 4.
•
Click or tap here to enter text.
1) BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION
Utilities is updating its 2015 WEP 1. The WEP is a state-mandated plan that guides the work of the Water
Conservation Division, One Water Utilities (Utilities), and the greater City of Fort Collins organization as it
pertains to long-term water demand management through efficient and intentional water use. The
updated WEP proposes two new goals intended to lower water demand, minimize the frequency and
1 Available online at fcgov.com/WEP.
Planning and Zoning Commission Agenda Item Summary – City of Fort Collins Page 2
magnitude of future water shortages, and build long-term landscape resilience. These goals reflect
community feedback, staff input, and updated analysis of overall water demand, types of water use, and
potential efficiency savings. The updated WEP also identifies efficiency strategies, including voluntary
incentives, education, standards, and policy, directed at lowering residential and commercial water use,
in addition to identifying opportunities to use less water at City facilities and improve landscape resilience
on the City’s public parks, streetscapes, and open spaces.
Water is an essential resource for all of us and the City and Utilities have a strong commitment to ensure
its efficient use as a key tool to minimize risk of future shortages 2. Utilities applies a multi-faceted
approach to balance supply and demand to ensure a reliable water supply now and in the future,
including storage, a diverse portfolio of water rights, and efficiency. The efficiency goals and strategies
outlined in the WEP are critical tools to manage variable water demands for diverse water uses.
Historically, during average and wet precipitation years, Utilities’ water rights provide more water than
customers use. During extended hot and dry periods, current supplies may not meet demands while also
maintaining a stored reserve of water for emergencies. Furthermore, we anticipate a future where climate
impacts and population growth increase demands and put pressure on Utilities to restrict water use.
The WEP applies mainly to treated water use in Utilities’ water service area (Attachment 1), which
encompasses about 60% of the city geographic area and about 80% of the population. By updating our
water efficiency 3 goals and strategies, we aim to continue long-term reductions in overall water demand
through a variety of methods available to manage water uses: behavioral, regulatory, infrastructure, and
economic. Successful demand management and increased landscape resiliency reduces risk and gives
customers the opportunity to benefit from less water use that leads to lower water bills. Developing more
equitable opportunities for program participation and support provides greater community outcomes while
improving overall resilience.
The 2025 WEP update will outline a new roadmap for increased water demand management that
considers equitable outcomes, integrates land use planning, and is based on quantitative analysis of
potential water savings from individual strategies. The WEP sets a 15-year planning horizon with 2040
goals. However, the CWCB requires WEP updates every seven years, which is an opportunity to
evaluate efficiency goals and strategies, demand and climate conditions, and community values.
Alignment and Connection to Overall Water Supply Planning
Water efficiency is a key component of the City’s One Water approach to collaborative and holistic water
resource management that promotes healthy watersheds, resilient communities, and water equity. This is
reflected in our mission statement, “We are a One Water Utility, providing exceptional water services for
our community through integrated, resilient, and equitable practices and systems.” The WEP update
aligns with community values and the following strategies outlined in City Plan and Our Climate Future:
City of Fort Collins’ Strategic Objective ENV 2: “Sustain the health of the Cache la Poudre River
and regional watersheds while delivering a resilient, economically responsible and high-quality water
supply for all Fort Collins residents.”
2 The Water Supply Vulnerability Study identified high water demands as a significant vulnerability, noting that it is
important to implement efficiency efforts and track demand trends.
3 The Utilities Water Conservation Division conducts water demand management to extend water supplies through
conservation and efficiency activities that reduce water demands and lower losses and inefficiencies. For simplicity
and consistency with CWCB guidance, the term “efficiency” is used throughout this document to refer to both
behavioral and technology-based water demand management; however, in practice, efficiency generally refers to
technology-based solutions (e.g., a high-efficiency showerhead), while conservation focuses on the water savings
through behavior (e.g., choosing to take a shorter shower).
Planning and Zoning Commission Agenda Item Summary – City of Fort Collins Page 3
Our Climate Future: BIG MOVE 3 Climate Resilient Community: People, buildings, watersheds
and ecosystems are prepared for the threats of climate change.
• Expand and enhance water efficiency programs and incentives
• Integrate climate resilience considerations into city strategic and operational plans
The updated WEP also aligns with other City and state policies and plans including City Council Priority
7, the Water Supply and Demand Management Policy, and the Colorado Water Plan.
Collaboration with Other Water Providers
Certain areas within city limits are served by neighboring water providers (Attachment 1). The largest
adjacent water providers, East Larimer County and Fort Collins-Loveland Water Districts, have their own
WEPs 4 that describe goals and strategies for their service areas. Utilities staff met with both
organizations to discuss the WEP. Utilities values these partnerships and continues to look for ways to
collaborate through information-sharing, planning, messaging, and efficiency strategies.
Overview of Water Demand and Efficiency
Utilities currently provides water to approximately 32,900 residential and 2,900 commercial customer
accounts. The 2024 estimated residential population served was 139,300. On average, residential
customers use about 60% of the treated water delivered each year and commercial customers use about
40%. Commercial customers include large irrigation-only accounts and landscapes maintained by
homeowner associations. Each year, indoor water use accounts for about 57% of total treated water
used, while outdoor and seasonal uses are about 43% of the annual total on average. The 2023 Water
Conservation Annual Report (Attachment 3) summarizes treated water demands by sector and savings
from efficiency programs for that year.
Since 2000, population has grown by 28% while overall water demand for Utilities’ water service area has
decreased by 42% per capita. However, that rate has slowed in recent years. From 2020 to 2023,
average per-person water use was 135 gallons per capita per day (GPCD), 4% above the current 2015
WEP goal of 130 GPCD by 2030. Utilities met this goal once, during the high-precipitation year of 2023,
with 122 GPCD. In 2024, average per-person demand was 135 GPCD (draft value), similar to pre-2023
levels.
Utilities water efficiency programs lowered overall annual water demand by 155 million gallons (475 acre-
feet) on average from 2020 to 2024 (Figure 1). This is about 2.3% of Utilities’ average treated water
demand for the same five-year period (6.63 billion gallons or 20,350 acre-feet). A portion of estimated
annual savings will persist, such as savings from efficient toilet and landscape installations. Many other
efficiency strategies, such as educational campaigns and external influences, like weather, also generate
water savings but are challenging to quantify and not included in annual water savings totals.
4 The East Larimer County Water District WEP was updated in 2024 and is available online here:
elcowater.org/water-efficiency-plan. The Fort Collins-Loveland Water District WEP was updated in 2023 and is
available online here: fclwd.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2023-FCLWD-Water-Efficiency-Plan-Update-Final-6-
4-2024.pdf
Planning and Zoning Commission Agenda Item Summary – City of Fort Collins Page 4
Figure 1. Annual Utilities treated water demand and tracked Water Conservation Division program savings (excludes wholesale
and unique large contractual deliveries)
Overall water demand for the Utilities service area is expected to increase due to rising temperatures and
residential and commercial growth. Figure 2 presents historical residential and commercial customer
demand, including non-revenue losses from treatment and distribution, with a range of projected future
demands based on modeled growth and climate scenarios. Although a specific future demand cannot be
predicted with certainty, implementing active water efficiency strategies can lower the projected future
demands.
Figure 2. Historical and projected treated water demand for Utilities customers (excludes wholesale and unique large contractual
deliveries)
1.9%*2.3%2.5%
2.1%
2.5%
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Treated Water Demand Measured Efficiency Savings
______________________________________________________________________________________
* This chart shows the 2020 efficiency program savings of 130 MG. In that year, an additional 105 MG reduction
resulted from 30 days of mandatory restrictions due to an infrastructure project and wildfire.
(Draft)
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Planning and Zoning Commission Agenda Item Summary – City of Fort Collins Page 5
2) WEP UPDATE PROCESS
The updated WEP includes elements required by Colorado’s Water Conservation Action and follows
CWCB guidance. The Water Conservation Division began work in January 2023 and targets completion
in summer 2025.
WEP Engagement
Community and staff input were vital to shaping the updated WEP and associated efficiency goals and
strategies. Our engagement strategy drew on the One Water integrated and collaborative planning
approach, with tactics to both broadly engage the whole community while focusing resources on
connecting with disproportionally impacted communities 5. It all culminated to develop inclusive and
community-driven water efficiency goals and strategies.
From 2023 through June 2024, engagement captured over 5,000 touchpoints via: a survey (1,319
responses), Our City web page, advertisements, in-person meetings hosted by compensated community
consultants, focus groups and meetings with targeted water users including City departments, HOAs, and
small businesses, meetings with community members who identify with one or more disproportionately
impacted groups, consultant-led one-on-one interviews, and input from the City’s Climate Equity
Committee 6. Staff sought to reduce barriers to participation in engagement through collaborating with
community consultants, providing Spanish translations, hard copies of the survey, tabling in public
spaces, hosting meetings outside typical working hours, and providing food, childcare, and efficiency
giveaways at meetings.
The overarching community and staff engagement themes that guided efficiency goal and strategy
development were:
• Community values that inform efficiency goals
o Concerns about water scarcity and providing for future generations
o Willingness to take action
o A desire for all community members to take responsibility and action
o Support for landscape change away from turf grass
• Characteristics of efficiency strategies that are generally supported by the community
o Strategies should show impact by lowering demand at multiple levels: individuals, highest
users, and municipal
o Support upgrades to water-efficient fixtures for both indoor (e.g., plumbing) and outdoor
(e.g., irrigation) uses by making them free or inexpensive, and providing installation
support
o Reduce existing turf and encourage water-efficient landscapes
o Support customers with leak issues
o Use regulations to manage some water uses, including new growth, non-functional turf,
commercial users, and the highest water users
o Provide inexpensive actions that save money
o Provide more education for everyone, specifically:
Target HOAs, landscapers, homeowners, and disproportionately impacted
communities with resources specific to them
Remove barriers by coming to people in places and ways where they are already
gathering and comfortable
Successful implementation of water efficiency strategies will benefit from ongoing alignment with the
5 The WEP update identified disproportionately impacted community groups based on the 14 historically
underrepresented groups identified in Our Climate Future, as well as additional groups, like renters, who face many
barriers to both participating in and benefitting from water efficiency programs and strategies.
6 The Climate Equity Committee (CEC) was formed to support the equitable implementation of Our Climate Future.
Planning and Zoning Commission Agenda Item Summary – City of Fort Collins Page 6
engagement themes and from maintaining the community and staff relationships that were fostered
during WEP engagement. This will facilitate water efficiency understanding and opportunities between
Utilities and our community, especially City departments and disproportionately impacted community
members.
Equity Evaluation
Equity is integrated into the WEP update process, through (1) the engagement activities described
above, (2) selection of efficiency strategies, and (3) implementation of efficiency strategies.
Consultants developed a custom equity evaluation process focused on water uses and efficiency and
refined it based on input from one-on-one community interviews, WEP engagement, the Climate Equity
Committee, and the City’s Equity Office. The two-step equity evaluation process involves first examining
each current and potential efficiency strategy for barriers to participation, burdens of compliance, or
negative unintended consequences. In the second step, each potential strategy was evaluated through a
series of questions designed to identify opportunities to increase equitable outcomes strategies; those
that are likely to support positive equitable outcomes were elevated as higher priority for implementation.
The equity evaluation tool is designed for ongoing use, including before, during or after a water efficiency
activity is in place. Staff will continue to apply the equity evaluation following WEP adoption during
strategy planning and implementation. Staff are also considering how to incorporate the efficiency
evaluation into annual project planning and reviews to continue efforts to improve access, participation,
and efficiency benefits across our water service area.
Water Demand and Savings Analysis
The WEP update involves estimating potential water savings associated with efficiency strategies and
evaluation of their impact on overall demand. Utilities’ future water demands are largely dependent on
population change and growth patterns, the rate of commercial and industrial development, and climate
influences. System losses from treatment and distribution also influence overall demand. A range of
projected future demands based on possible growth and climate scenarios is shown above in Figure 2.
Utilities worked with consultants to develop a customized model, called the Water Efficiency Tool (WET),
to evaluate the complex interactions between climate impacts, growth and estimated water savings. This
tool helps us estimate the effectiveness of various strategies to achieve goals.7
Water savings potential was estimated for efficiency strategies using WET results, paired with historical
program participation data and estimates from industry resources like the Colorado WaterWise Best
Practices Guidebook 8. Staff conducted a preliminary analysis of savings estimates and believe Goal 1 is
achievable. Additional modeling analysis will further refine estimations and strategy implementation over
time. In addition to measurable savings from efficiency strategies, Utilities might experience further
demand reduction driven by educational programs, passive savings related to potential technological
efficiency improvements, or water rate changes.
Efficiency Strategy Selection
Utilities’ Water Conservation Division already has a robust portfolio of water efficiency programs with
activities that touch on many different water uses and affect the entire service area. The Water
Conservation Division aims to continue to build on effective existing programs, incentives, and policies,
as well as develop new strategies for efficiency. Staff evaluated current and potential new efficiency
strategies using several criteria, including water savings, cost, ease of implementation, community
acceptance, customer reach, and co-benefits such as equitable and environmental outcomes.
A set of strategies associated with lowering the City’s water uses and advancing efficiency and resilience
on City-owned landscapes was developed through collaborative meetings and engagement with cross-
7 The WET was developed specifically to evaluate how water conservation strategies impact residential and
commercial customer demands in a variety of scenarios through 2040.
8 Available online at: indd.adobe.com/view/a66fdb02-50c6-4ec3-8fea-4db473212faf.
Planning and Zoning Commission Agenda Item Summary – City of Fort Collins Page 7
departmental staff, and by identifying efficiency and resilience actions that align with their existing plans,
policies, practices, and available funding.
The efficiency strategies prioritized in the 2025 WEP update fall within the following general approaches
to lowering water use:
• Behavioral (e.g., education, technical assistance, voluntary actions)
• Regulatory (e.g., water restrictions, policies, land use and plumbing code changes)
• Economic (e.g., incentives, utility rate structure, development fees)
• Infrastructure (e.g., metering, leak detection, maintenance, graywater)
Integration of Water and Land Use Planning
The state mandate requires a WEP to evaluate water demand best management practices that may be
implemented through land use planning efforts. In planning for future scenarios, it is critical to consider
the relationship between land use and water efficiency, so we may better manage the risk of future water
shortages. Integrated water and land use planning also supports our community’s economy and values,
which include social and ecological health. Looking ahead, it is anticipated that Utilities’ water service
area will reach build-out near 2040, while adjacent areas will continue to develop. Changes in housing
density, landscapes, and conversion of commercial spaces to mixed use or multi-unit residential are all
variables that could influence future water demands but are hard to predict.
Planning, Development, and Transportation (PDT) and Utilities have prioritized the integration of water
and land use through strategies primarily focused on collaborative planning and actions. Current
examples include cross-departmental participation in Sonoran Institute’s Growing Water Smart
workshops, water supply requirements for new water service based on property and landscape features,
and incorporating landscape, irrigation, and soil ordinances into the City’s land use codes.
In addition to the specific strategies identified in the WEP, Water Conservation Division staff will continue
supporting updates to Streetscape Standards and Land Use and Building Codes when they align with
new state regulations, such as Senate Bill 24-005 and House Bill 25-1113 (which limit high-water-use
turf).
3) WEP EFFICIENCY GOALS AND STRATEGIES
The WEP presents two long-term goals focused on decreasing treated water demand to minimize the
risk of water shortage and building landscape resilience to benefit the community through landscapes
that remain healthy with efficient water use and under a variety of climate conditions.
Goal 1: Reach 4% annual reduction in water demand by 2040 to reduce risk of shortages.
The WEP will set an overall water efficiency goal that applies to all treated indoor and outdoor water uses
within Utilities’ water service area, including residential, commercial, and City water use. The objectives
of this overall goal are to gradually lower demand to minimize the frequency and magnitude of shortages,
expand access to efficiency opportunities, lead by example as a City organization, and offset increasing
demands driven by climate change. Staff anticipate this amount of savings could offset increasing
demands driven by a temperature increase of about 1°F between now and 2040. Goal 1 incorporates
three specific targets:
• Target 1.1: By 2040, lower overall annual treated water demand by 320 million gallons
(MG), or 980 acre-feet (AF) below projected demand
o Every year, take actions to keep total treated water demand lower than it is projected to be
without active efficiency strategies, ramping up to being 4% lower than projected by 2040.
Looking ahead to 2040, a 4% reduction would mean that actual demand was about 320
million gallons (MG), or 980 acre-feet (AF), lower than projected for the year.
Planning and Zoning Commission Agenda Item Summary – City of Fort Collins Page 8
o Interim reduction targets will gradually ramp up annual savings between now and 2040, as
shown on Figure 1:
- By 2030: 3% reduction, estimated at 210 MG (640 AF) below projected water
demand
- By 2035: 3.5% reduction, estimated at 260 MG (800 AF) below projected water
demand
- By 2040: 4% reduction, estimated at 320 MG (980 AF) below projected water
demand
o Reductions in Utilities’ overall treated water demand will be tracked to monitor progress
toward this target.
• Target 1.2: Double the volume of savings from efficiency strategies by 2040, relative to
2020-2024 average performance
o To reach Target 1.1, the Water Conservation Division will increase program offerings and
participation to increase savings over the current annual average of 155 MG below
projected annual water demand. Quantifiable treated water savings from efficiency
strategies that serve customers, including City water accounts, will count toward this
target.
• Target 1.3: Lower treated water use at City properties by a total cumulative volume of 5
MG by 2040
o This target will achieve average annual savings of 360,000 gallons per year for City
properties, adding up to 5 MG of total water savings from 2026-2040.
o This savings is expected to come from a variety of projects lowering indoor and outdoor
treated water uses at City buildings and properties. Strategies with ongoing year-after-
year savings, such as plumbing or turf replacement, will be prioritized.
Progress toward Goal 1 will be evaluated based on tracking treated water demand (overall and by
customer sector, including City properties), Water Conservation Division program participation and
quantifiable savings, projects and water savings at City properties, and distribution system losses.
Figure 3. WEP Goal 1 interim targets and final 2040 goal. Figure note: Historical water demands and projections include
customer demands and non-revenue losses, and exclude wholesale and contractual obligations.
3%
3.5%
4%
Ac
r
e
-Fe
e
t
Mi
l
l
i
o
n
G
a
l
l
o
n
s
Range of
projected
demands
with
successful
attainment
of Goal 1
Planning and Zoning Commission Agenda Item Summary – City of Fort Collins Page 9
Goal 2: Improve water efficiency and build resilience on City-owned landscapes, to benefit the
community and environment.
For the first time, the WEP will set a goal directed at the City’s outdoor water use, which encompasses
both treated and raw water and properties both inside and outside of Utilities’ water service area.
Community feedback shows a widespread desire for the City to take responsibility and action related to
efficient water use. Beneficial outcomes for actions on City-owned landscapes include contributing to the
overall water efficiency (Goal 1) by lowering municipal demands, building resilience in our public
landscapes to prepare for a hotter future, prioritizing water use for spaces that most benefit the
community, and creating attractive, highly-visible projects that inspire water-saving actions by individuals
and businesses in our community. Goal 2 incorporates one specific target:
Target 2.1: The City will implement at least 1 new water-saving project in each 2-year
municipal budget cycle, for at least 7 new projects on City landscapes by 2040.
o Projects that lower treated or raw water use and/or build landscape resilience on City-owned
properties within the Fort Collins growth management area will count toward this target; this
approach reflects the City’s intention to lead by example and benefit the entire community
regardless of water source or provider.
o Landscape projects that lower treated water use on City-owned properties that are within
Utilities water service area will also count toward Goal 1 targets.
Progress toward Goal 2 will be evaluated based on the number of projects, associated water savings,
and total project area completed each year. Project examples are presented in Table 1.
The next WEP update is expected in 2032. This provides an opportunity to evaluate and update goals
and strategies based on changing conditions.
Efficiency Strategies to Meet Goals
Efficiency strategies managed or supported by the Water Conservation Division include a wide variety of
programs and policies aimed to lower overall water demand through more efficient water use, build
resilience, and increase community awareness. Strategies can impact the entire community and we have
selected a set of strategies that not only align with feedback from engagement but also target cost-
effective water savings. The portfolio of water efficiency strategies is diversified to collectively meet the
goals and to support objectives such as: provide opportunities for participation and potential water bill
savings for all customers, including disproportionately impacted groups and those who have had low
historical participation rates; provide customized strategies to meet high-use and unique customer sector
needs; continue doing what works well and what customers like; and lead by example through managing
water use at City properties. Strategies are intended to be implemented, tracked, and refined over time.
This cultivates and supports a water efficient, adaptive, and knowledgeable customer base through
education and cost-effective water efficiency programs while minimizing water shortage risk and
supporting the City’s Strategic Plan.
The portfolio of water efficiency strategies selected to lower treated water demand in support of Goal 1
are summarized below. New strategies are indicated with an asterisk (*). Once fully implemented, Utilities
estimates that these strategies will lower treated water demand by over 300 MG per year. Figure 4 shows
how the prioritized strategies work together to provide water savings through a variety of approaches.
Behavioral strategies
• Educational programs and events
• Xeriscape Demonstration Garden
• Efficiency equipment giveaways
• Irrigation system assessments
• Indoor assessments and direct
installation
• Saving water hotline to report water
waste
• Customized water use reports
• Customized residential water budgets
Planning and Zoning Commission Agenda Item Summary – City of Fort Collins Page 10
• Water use estimator spreadsheet tool for
development concepts
• Waterwise landscape professionals
network and support
• High bill evaluations*
• Plumbing repair assistance*
• Wrap-around support for efficiency in
large turf areas*
• Design assistance and incentives for new
development and redevelopment*
• Rental tenant and owner outreach and
giveaways*
• Commercial water use benchmarking*
• Comprehensive conservation
communications plan*
Infrastructure-based strategies
• Advanced metering
• Customer data portal
• Leak alerts and high-use notifications
Economic strategies
• Indoor product rebates
• Irrigation equipment rebates
• Xeriscape landscape conversion rebates
and grants
• Custom rebates for commercial projects
• Conservation-oriented tiered/seasonal
rate structures
• Conservation-oriented water supply
requirement fee
• Commercial allotments and excess water
use surcharge
• On-bill financing for efficiency upgrades*
Regulatory strategies
• Wasting water ordinance
• Building codes and plumbing standards
• Landscape, irrigation, and soil codes
• Review of irrigation plans with
development review
• Parkway landscaping regulations
• Graywater reuse
• Water adequacy determination
• Restrictive covenants ordinance
• Water Shortage Action Plan
• Daily sprinkler watering window*
• Examine existing land use regulations for
barriers or conflicts to water efficiency*
Strategies focused on lowering City treated water use and building landscape resilience
• System water loss audits
• Distribution line repair/replacement
• Efficiency incorporated in plans, policies,
and best practices
• Irrigation application rates based on
water need and system audits
• City landscape designs follow xeriscape
principles and irrigation best practices
• Prioritize raw water sources for irrigation
to lower treatment costs
• Track water use data for City buildings
and properties
• Prioritize dedicated irrigation to trees
• Water Conservation Division provides
technical and financial support for City
efficiency and resiliency projects*
• Establish regular contact between PDT
and water providers*
• Support One Water efforts and integrated
demand management*
• Use City properties to pilot efficiency
activities (e.g., commercial use
benchmarking)*
• Increase pace of plumbing retrofits in City
buildings*
• Irrigation and landscape efficiency
projects on City-owned properties*
• Increase pace of distribution line
replacement/repair*
Planning and Zoning Commission Agenda Item Summary – City of Fort Collins Page 11
Figure 4. Distribution of water efficiency strategies
4) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT CITY STRATEGIES TO MEET WEP GOALS 1 AND 2
Through collaborative cross-departmental meetings, staff identified strategies to lower treated water
demand and build landscape resilience on City properties and infrastructure. Many of the strategies align
with planned or ongoing work. In addition, there are new and existing funding opportunities for projects
including the 2050 tax, about $50,000 from Water Conservation’s ongoing budget (limited to use on
treated water in Utilities service area), and external grants. (Grants offered by the Colorado Water
Conservation Board are regularly available and are not impacted by federal decisions.) Examples of a
variety of strategies, both large and small, to lower City water use and build resilience on City landscapes
are shown in the following table. (Note that some of the strategies listed below are planned projects,
while others are areas of opportunity that will be pursued. Additionally, this is not a comprehensive list
and additional opportunities will continue to be evaluated through cross-departmental collaboration.):
City Project
Example Potential for 1
year of
Range Sources
Landings Park
irrigation and
turf
replacement
outdoor treated water use
and build landscape
resilience through irrigation
system efficiency upgrades
and converting turf to low-
water landscape.
Landings Park requires
over 3.5 MGY of treated
water to irrigate 309,000
square feet (7.1 acres). The
2019 Parks Irrigation
Master Plan identified
Landings Park as a high
priority for infrastructure
gallons
community
outreach: $65,000
(General Fund
allocation in 2024)
Installation
anticipated to range
from $800,000- $1
million
•
Conservation
funds allocated
to City projects:
up to $50,000
annually
• Nature in the
City grants
• Municipal
Innovation Fund:
up to $30,000
• General Fund
• 2050 tax
• External grants
demonstration
garden at the
Farm at Lee
landscape resilience
through demonstrating use
of native and xeric plants
resilience
project cost
typically range from
$5,000- >$50,000
•
City grants
• Water
Conservation
Strategy Distribution by Customer Strategy Distribution by Approach Potential Annual Water Savings based
on Current Uses and Climate
Planning and Zoning Commission Agenda Item Summary – City of Fort Collins Page 12
scope and scale up to $50,000
replacement
near parking
lots
outdoor treated water use
and build landscape
resilience in a highly visible
location, and adjacent to
the Xeriscape
Demonstration Gardens,
through irrigation system
efficiency upgrades and
converting 7,500 sq. ft. of
turf to low-water landscape.
gallons approach:
Installation
$23,000; annual
maintenance
$1,700
Contractor-based
approach:
Installation $40,000
– 80,000; annual
maintenance
•
Conservation
funds allocated
to City projects:
up to $50,000
annually
• Nature in the
City grants
• Municipal
Innovation Fund:
up to $30,000
• External grants
replacements
in City
buildings
indoor treated water use by
replacing less-efficient
toilets and urinals with
modern, high-efficiency
units.
•
Conservation
funds allocated
to City projects:
up to $50,000
annually
• Water
Conservation
rebates:
o Toilets: up to
$100 per
toilet
o Custom:
$1,000-
25,000
• Municipal
Innovation Fund:
up to $30,000
•
repair and
replacement
current pace of line repair
and replacement to lower
distribution system water
losses and main line
breaks.
- Current water line
replacement rate is
about 0.3%, or 2.5
linear miles, per year.
Goal is 1% (5 linear
miles).
- Water leaks from the
Utilities distribution
system exceed 80
MGY, based on water
1,400,000
gallons
$5,000,000 (Budget
allocation for 2025
for ongoing asset
management)
•
Improvement
Project funds
irrigation tree health and canopy by
installing dedicated
irrigation to trees that does
not depend on overhead
resilience
For some
projects, water
$50,000 per project
(cost varies based
on location and
size)
•
Conservation
funds allocated
to City projects:
up to $50,000
Planning and Zoning Commission Agenda Item Summary – City of Fort Collins Page 13
trees can be watered during
shortages, even if
restrictions limit turf
irrigation.
because drip
systems direct
irrigation to tree
root zones and
minimize water
•
5) IMPLEMENTATION AND COST
The portfolio of strategies proposed in the WEP was holistically evaluated and includes continuation of
some current actions as well as new strategies. Beginning in 2026 and continuing through the seven-year
WEP renewal cycle, staff anticipate gradually implementing strategies, developing each one followed by
the applicable processes of review, community input, approval and adoption, and/or funding proposals.
By adopting the WEP, City Council is not authorizing the listed strategies to become policy or to
appropriate funds.
Based on strategy analysis, Utilities anticipates achieving WEP goals with limited need for new funding
sources or future budget enhancements. For Goal 1 (overall water savings) staff identified opportunities
to reallocate our budget, to more effectively use our resources (shifting our funding to different
strategies), implementing low-cost opportunities with strategic partnerships, and using third-party support.
For Goal 2 (City landscape resilience), many of the strategies align with planned or ongoing work. In
addition, there are also new funding opportunities for landscape projects including the City’s 2050 tax,
Water Conservation’s ongoing budget, and external grants not impacted by federal funding decisions.
New or updated policies often come with added costs—both for the community and for developers.
Throughout this process, and with guidance from community input, a core principle has been to carefully
evaluate each goal and strategy with cost impacts in mind. Our aim is to avoid unintentionally burdening
affordable housing or development with new requirements, particularly when it comes to efficiency
standards. Some analyses have even shown that certain measures, like water-wise landscaping, can
help reduce overall development costs. Other updates, such as plumbing efficiency improvements, have
demonstrated little to no cost impact—and in some cases, potential savings. That said, we recognize that
some strategies may still result in added costs. This work was developed with that possibility in mind, and
we remain committed to identifying any cost impacts and finding solutions to minimize them wherever
possible.
It is important to also consider the potential future costs resulting from inaction now. Climate impacts are
estimated to increase costs in several ways. Insufficient water demand management now could impact
the City by requiring more water storage or water purchases. City properties, including critically important
elements such as trees, can be damaged due to water restrictions from more frequent and severe water
shortages. Customers could be impacted by higher fees and rates and loss of landscaping, as well as
water restrictions that can cause economic impacts to businesses.
6) NEXT STEPS
Anticipated next steps:
• April 24-June 23: 60-day public comment period, CWCB’s review, seek Board and Commissions’
recommendations
• Q2 2025: Prepare final WEP
• Q3 2025: Seek City Council approval via resolution, then submit to CWCB
Planning and Zoning Commission Agenda Item Summary – City of Fort Collins Page 14
• 2026-2032: Implement prioritized water efficiency strategies, track progress toward goals
• 2032: Next state required WEP update submittal to CWCB
ATTACHMENTS
1. Map of Fort Collins Utilities water service area
2. Presentation
3. 2023 Water Conservation Annual Report
4. 2025 Water Efficiency Plan (Draft)