HomeMy WebLinkAboutWater Board - Minutes - 03/25/2004City Council Liaison
David Roy
Staff Liaison
DeEtta Carr 221-6702
Fort Collins Utilities Water Board Minutes
Thursday, March 25, 2004
Water Board Chairman Water Board Vice Chairman
Tom Sanders 491-5448 Tom Brown 295-5968
Secretary
Leslie Mooney 416-2703
Roll Call:
Board Present
John Bartholow, Ted Borstad, Bill Fischer, Gina Janette, Tom Sanders, Reagan Waskom and
Doug Yadon
Board Absent
Tom Brown, Jim Finley, Rami Naddy, Debra Sweetman
Staff
Patty Bigner, Dennis Bode, DeEtta Carr, Jim Hibbard, Cliff Hoelscher, Brian Janonis, Beth
Molenaar, Leslie Mooney, Bob Smith, Mike Smith, Susan Smolnik and Dennis Sumner
Meeting Convened
Chairman Tom Sanders called the meeting to order at 3:05 p.m.
Approval of Minutes
Chairman Sanders asked for any corrections or amendments to the minutes of the February 26,
2004 meeting. Board member Ted Borstad made a motion, seconded by Board member Bill
Fischer, to approve the minutes. The motion passed unanimously.
Watershed Protection Presentation — Ben Alexander
Ben Alexander, Watershed Protection Manager, spoke about the Big Thompson Watershed,
approximately 900 square miles of mountains and plains east of the continental divide. This
includes areas such as Horsetooth, Pinewood, Flatiron and Boulder Reservoirs; Carter, Grand and
Mary's Lakes; Poudre, Big and Little Thompson and St. Vrain Rivers. Ben stated that he is a
member of the Big Thompson Watershed Forum which is a non-profit corporation whose goal is
to protect the water quality of the Big Thompson Watershed. He is the Chairman of the
Water Board Meeting Minutes• •
March 25, 2004
Page 2
Assessment Committee and assesses the water quality of the Horsetooth Reservoir along with
other reservoirs in the area.
Ben stated that last summer he located an algae bloom in the system. Algae blooms are
aggravated by excess nutrients in the water such as total organic carbons, copper and certain
algae can become toxic for both animals and humans. Many of the nutrients from which algae
thrive come from runoff from horse stables, feedlots, free roaming animals, golf courses,
wastewater effluents, septic systems and weeds. In order to remove algae for drinking water
purposes, it has to be treated gently to not break down the cell walls and release the toxins. It can
be filtered out through an activated carbon filtration process and then treated with chlorine. This
renders the algae harmless in the drinking water but does not deal with the dangerous conditions
for animals and humans who come into contact with the algae during wildlife or recreational
activities.
Ben stressed the importance of regular water quality monitoring and notifying health officials and
other entities involved of the conditions as it relates to health and safety. Currently the forum is
trying to accomplish this task but they are limited in their abilities because of lack of manpower
and funding.
Board member Waskom asked if there was a threshold level for bodily contact with algae toxins.
Ben replied that there is no regulation in place and no one really has the responsibility to do
something about it.
Board member John Bartholow asked what agencies have jurisdiction over nutrient runoff. Ben
replied that last year the State Health Department rated Horsetooth Reservoir as borderline as a
result of the high levels of nitrogen caused by natural topography runoff and effluent from the
two wastewater treatment plants in Estes Park. Horsetooth Reservoir was put on the proposed
monitor and evaluate list of being possibly impaired.
Ben stressed the need for cooperation between entities to clean up their nutrient runoff because it
affects the water quality for all of the communities on the eastern slope.
Chairman Sanders thanked Ben for his presentation and noted that if the treatment facilities and
feedlots in Estes Park were cleaned up it would greatly reduce the amount of nutrient runoff in
the watershed.
Staff Reports
Fluoride Update - Brian Janonis, Water Resources & Treatment Services Department
Manager, reported that the new fluoride system has been under construction since
December and is scheduled to be completed by mid to late April. He suggested that
the Board take a tour before they start up the fluoride feed system. The tour is
scheduled for April 9`h at 2:00 p.m.
Water Board Meeting Minutes •
March 25, 2004
Page 3
Halligan Reservoir Update - Brian Janonis reported that staff has met with
stakeholders or potentially affected interested parties such as Boulder Water
Department, the Corp of Engineers, Colorado Division of Wildlife, and the U.S.
Forest Service. Partners include North Poudre Irrigation Company, the East Larimer
County Water District, and the Fort Collins -Loveland Water District. Staff is
working on a formal agreement with the partners. The estimated project completion
date is 2010.
Board member John Bartholow stated that a couple of meetings ago, he had expressed his
concern that the City's water is going too cheaply and wanted to repeat some of those comments
for the record. He stated that water is becoming more and more expensive and City staff has
done an excellent job of planning for the future by acquiring water rights and storage and
working with our neighbors, but at the same time it has contributed to growth. He stated that he
would hate to see the City give up its rights too easily and encouraged city staff to look into cost
sharing for the Halligan project that is not strictly proportionate.
Chairman Sanders agreed and asked Board member Bartholow to draft a motion for future
discussion in the next couple of meetings.
Board member Doug Yadon asked staff to provide a brief summary of what negotiations will be
addressed with the future partners of Halligan Reservoir.
Treated Water Production Summary - Dennis Bode, Water Resources Division Manager,
submitted the monthly water use report which indicated that actual water use was slightly
under the projected use for February. As of Marsh 21s` the Snotel figures were about the
same as in 2002. Dennis stated that the CBT storage system is approximately 220,000
acre feet above where it was at this time a year ago. Northern Colorado Water
Conservancy District has announced a 50 % quota for 2004. There is the potential that
the quota will be increased to help the agricultural users.
Committee Reports
Chairman Sanders appointed Ted Borstad as a temporary Chairman of the Conservation and
Public Education Committee or until another chairman is elected.
Water Board Meeting Minutes •
March 25, 2004
Page 4
Other Business
Tri-City Meeting — Wednesday May 19 2004 — Sylvan Dale Ranch
Chairman Sanders reminded the Board to attend the meeting.
Other Tours
Chairman Sanders asked if other tours were scheduled for this summer. Staff Liaison DeEtta
Carr replied that possibly in May, they can tour the Drake Water Reclamation Facility and in
June tour Halligan Reservoir, August, Joe Wright Reservoir or Meadows Ranch. She will
contact the Board when dates and times are set.
Childrens Water Festival is May 18t' and they need a couple of volunteers.
Board member Yadon commended Bob Smith and his staff for doing a good job of following up
on the Wingshadow floodplain variance by ensuring that the Board's conditions were met.
Adiournment
Board member Bill Fischer made a motion, seconded by Board member Doug Yadon to adjourn.
The motion was unanimously adopted. The meeting adjourned at 5:00 p.m.
Leslie Mooney, Water Board SoUiciary