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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWater Board - Minutes - 04/16/20151 Water Board Minutes April 16, 2015 Fort Collins Utilities Water Board Minutes Thursday, April 16, 2015 Water Board Chairperson City Council Liaison Steve Malers, 970-484-1954 Wade Troxell, 970-219-8940 Water Board Vice Chairperson Staff Liaison Becky Hill, 970-402-1713 Carol Webb, 970-221-6231 ROLL CALL Board Present: Chairperson Steve Malers, Vice Chairperson Rebecca Hill, Board Members Brett Bovee, Brian Brown, Michael Brown, Lori Brunswig, Heidi Huber-Stearns, Alex Maas, Andrew McKinley, and Phyllis Ortman. Board Absent: Duncan Eccleston Board Member Heidi Huber-Stearns left the meeting at 7:13 p.m. OTHERS PRESENT: Staff: Carol Webb, Jon Haukaas, Donnie Dustin, Adam Jokerst, Jennifer Shanahan Members of the Public: Lisa Denke, Pranaya Sathe Meeting Convened Chairperson Steve Malers called the meeting to order at 5:31 p.m. Public Comment None Approval of March 19, 2015 Board Meeting Minutes Board Member Bovee moved to approve the minutes of the March 19, meeting. Board Member Ortman seconded the motion. Vote on the motion: It passed unanimously *Board Members Brian Brown, Michael Brown, Huber-Stearns, and McKinley abstained due to their absence at the March meeting. Staff Reports (Attachments available upon request) Monthly Water Resources Report Water Resources Engineer Adam Jokerst reported on the water resource conditions in the last month. Water demand was 98% of the amount projected. Poudre River streamflow was higher than average and diversions were about equal to the recent average. Statewide snowpack is 2 Water Board Minutes April 16, 2015 below average, and Colorado-Big Thompson Project (CBT) allocations were set at 70% for the year. Water Resources staff does not anticipate the need for water restrictions at this time. A board member inquired about effect of a diminished snowpack in the Poudre basin. Mr. Jokerst replied that it has the potential to affect some junior water diversion rights. A board member inquired about the presentation of the Projected Water Utility Demand graph. Mr. Jokerst commented that projections are updated to reflect recent years. A board member commented that a sentence about weather conditions in the report could be reworked for clarity. Request for Support from the Water Board Endorsing the Poudre River Corridor as an “Important Bird Area” (Attachments available upon request) Bill Miller of the Fort Collins Audubon Society and Audubon Rockies Executive Director Alison Holloran requested the board’s support in designating the Cache la Poudre River Urban Corridor as an Important Bird Area (IBA). Mr. Miller explained an IBA is a designation recognized by the National Audubon Society and does not impose any particular regulations or restrictions. He stated an IBA nomination was submitted in 2007 and this is to restart the previous attempt. Mr. Miller presented a detailed letter outlining the unique properties of the Poudre Corridor that makes it desirable for IBA designation. The City is the largest landowner in the proposed area and the IBA application requires consent from affected land-owners. Ms. Holloran commented that an IBA designation can help attract grant funding for area maintenance. A board member inquired whether Utilities Staff has any concerns about the designation. Water Engineering and Field Services Operations Manager Jon Haukaas commented that the designation seems in line with City priorities and programs such as Nature in the City. A board member inquired why the area does not extend upstream of Watson Lake. Mr. Miller replied that landowner issues upstream would complicate the application. A board member inquired if there are plans to engage with the upstream landowners and Mr. Miller responded no. He requested a letter of support from the Water Board to City Council and mentioned there is no deadline. Board member Brian Brown moved for the Water Board to support the Fort Collins Audubon Society’s application recognizing the Cache le Poudre River Urban Corridor as an Important Bird Area, and for Chairperson Malers to draft a memorandum of support to send to City Council. Board member Huber-Stearns seconded the motion Vote on the motion: No discussion. It passed unanimously Water Supply Reliability and Storage Update (Attachments available upon request) Water Resources Manager Donnie Dustin explained that most board members were familiar with the Utilities’ water supply and storage projects, and he wanted feedback before presenting to City Council at an upcoming meeting. Mr. Dustin discussed water demands and supply obligations, and the hydrology and diversions of the Poudre River and water deliveries from the 3 Water Board Minutes April 16, 2015 Colorado-Big Thompson Project (CBT). Additional subjects covered included the Water Supply and Demand Management Policy (2012), concern over the reliance of the City on storage projects that it does not own and control, population and water demand projects through 2060, the increase in expected firm yields, a description on the Halligan Reservoir enlargement project, and update on the timeline. A board member commented that a graph showing the City’s reliance on CBT storage might be misleading because it does not show other storage projects. A board member inquired if the type of population growth would affect the projects to meet water demand. Mr. Dustin commented that the projects accounted for both growth into buildable land as well as an increase in population density. A board member inquired whether the parties involved in NISP considered participating in the Halligan Reservoir expansion. Mr. Dustin responded that the Halligan project initially had more partners but they have since dropped out. A board member inquired if the projected decommissioning of the Rawhide coal-fired power plant would affect the water exchange program between the City and Platte River Power Authority. Mr. Dustin responded that he didn’t think the issue had been studied yet. A board member inquired about the upper limit on firm yield for the City’s water rights. Mr. Dustin estimated 50,000 to 60,000 acre-feet if the City had enough storage. A board member suggested that the presentation may benefit from mentioning the amount of water that is returned downstream via the wastewater treatment plants so that City Council understands the overall impact on the Poudre River. A board member inquired whether Utilities expects to be able to pay for the Halligan expansion with fees collected from raw water requirements. Mr. Dustin replied he thought that would be the case. Northern Integrated Supply Project (NISP) (Attachments available upon request) Natural Areas Department Director John Stokes presented an update on the Northern Integrated Supply Project (NISP). Topics included a brief history on the project and the projected timeline. Mr. Stokes stated he expects the Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) to be released in June 2015 that he expects the public comment period to be 45 to 60 days. Mr. Stokes stated that because the City is not a participant in the project, much of the information and analysis in the DEIS is unknown prior to its release. City staff and consultants will be involved to address the City’s concerns. A board member inquired whether the Water Board will have any role to play in the City’s submission. Mr. Stokes responded that the subject will most likely not come before the board again due to the compressed comment period. A discussion between several staff and board members concluded that the board might consider sending a letter to advise City Council expressing any thoughts and concerns. Additionally, board members concluded they are free to submit any comments as individuals through the public process, but not as representatives of the Water Board. A board member inquired about the other alternatives presented in the NISP application. Mr. Stokes mentioned there are other reservoirs proposed, but that the diversion point from the Poudre would be the same. A board member stated that off-channel reservoirs are generally more acceptable than in-channel reservoirs.