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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWater Board - Minutes - 08/18/20161 Water Board Minutes August 18, 2016 Fort Collins Utilities Water Board Minutes Thursday, August 18, 2016 Water Board Chairperson City Council Liaison Rebecca Hill, 970-402-1713 Wade Troxell, 970-219-8940 Water Board Vice Chairperson Staff Liaisons Brett Bovee, 970-889-0469 Carol Webb, 970-221-6231 ROLL CALL Board Present: Chairperson Rebecca Hill, Vice Chairperson Brett Bovee, and Board Members Steve Malers, Phyllis Ortman, Alexander Maas, Andrew McKinley, and Jason Tarry. Board Absent: Board Members Michael Brown, Duncan Eccleston, Kent Bruxvoort, and Lori Brunswig. OTHERS PRESENT Staff: Carol Webb, Katherine Martinez, Adam Jokerst, Jason Graham, Allison Becker, Chris Donegon, and Link Mueller. Members of the Public: Casey Mulder/Woodward. Meeting Convened Chairperson Hill called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. Public Comment None Approval of July 21, 2016 Board Meeting Minutes Board Member Alexander Maas moved to approve the July 21 meeting minutes. Board Member Andrew McKinley seconded the motion. Vote on the motion: It passed unanimously, 7-0. Staff Reports Halligan Quarterly Report (Attachments available upon request) Water Resources Engineer Adam Jokerst summarized the report on the Halligan Water Supply Project, which proposes to enlarge Halligan Reservoir from its existing capacity of 6,400 acre- fee to 14,525 acre-feet, providing Utilities with an additional 8,125 acre-feet of additional storage capacity . Substantial progress is being made on a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) currently scheduled to be published in 2017. The project’s purpose is to meet future water demands for the Fort Collins Utilities service area, provide a storage reserve for emergency 2 Water Board Minutes August 18, 2016 water supply disruptions, increase drought security, and improve water system reliability and flexibility. Discussion Highlights Board members inquired about various related topics, including the water quality modeling effort and future recreational uses of the reservoir. Water Resources Updates Mr. Jokerst provided an update on various topics of interest to board members. Interruptible Water Supply Options Also known as Interruptible Supplement Agreements (ISAs), these agreements are structured to allow municipalities to take agricultural water when needed in dry times, but to allow farming to continue using the water for agricultural purposes during average and wet times. ISAs are most applicable to cities that are buying water rights and converting them to municipal use; it’s not as applicable to the City of Fort Collins because the City is not in water rights acquisition mode. Also, many of the water rights acquired by the City have been for lands converted from agriculture to City developments. The City owns approximately 35% of the North Poudre Irrigation Company (NPIC). NPIC shares are comprised of two components: a native portion and a Colorado-Big Thompson (CBT) portion. The City has not converted the native portion of its shares. The City typically rents excess NPIC water to agricultural shareholders. During dry periods in the past, the City has exchanged the native portion of its shares to farmers for their CBT portion at a preferential rate. The City also recently changed its Water Supply and Storage Company (WSSC) shares from agricultural use to municipal use. The change decree allows the City to lease the City’s WSSC water to farmers. Windy Gap Firming Project Update The Windy Gap Firming Project (WGFP) is a proposal by 13 organizations, including Greeley, Loveland, and Platte River Power Authority for a 90,000 acre-foot reservoir called Chimney Hollow adjacent to Carter Lake in Loveland. The reservoir would use Windy Gap water, which is a relatively junior water right and relies on excess capacity in the CBT system to be collected and conveyed. Because of this, Windy Gap water is unavailable during dry periods when the junior right is out of priority, and during wet periods when there is no excess CBT capacity. The WGFP would store and therefore firm Windy Gap water, meaning that the water would be available more often and especially during droughts. More information is available on the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District website: www.NorthernWater.org. Project Manager Jeff Drager could be available to give a presentation if the board desires. Thornton Pipeline Update In the 1980s, the City of Thornton bought more than 100 farms in the Ault area to obtain Poudre River water rights, which resulted in ownership of just under half of all WSSC shares. Thornton then went through a lengthy change case that went to the Colorado Supreme Court. Thornton is 3 Water Board Minutes August 18, 2016 now investigating development of a pipeline to move those water rights to its service area; it would be 55 to 65 miles long, four feet in diameter, and carry up to 14,000 acre-feet per year. The proposal is to complete it in the mid-2020s. The project would not create new depletions on the Poudre River because Thornton will be using the consumptive portion of water rights historically taken from the Poudre River. Pipeline alignments are currently being studied. Addition information will be forthcoming from the City of Thornton. Thornton staff could be available to give a presentation if the board desires. Discussion Highlights Board members inquired about various aspects of the pipeline, including storage, the possibility of dryland farming, and whether Thornton could take the water from a different location. A board member commented that Thornton could build their pipeline at a higher capacity than their need, then leases rights and capacity to other Denver area communities. Mr. Jokerst responded that a new decree would be needed since Thornton’s WSSC change case would not allow use of Poudre River water outside of Thornton. Aquifer Storage and Recovery Aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) is the concept of injecting water into aquifers during periods of surplus, and then pumping that water out during periods of need. One alternative is to use alluvial aquifers, by providing a containment area of slurry walls and clay liners, or an augmentation plan to replace the depletions caused by drawing water out. Past studies have found the cost of developing alluvial aquifers to be prohibitive. Colorado State University (CSU) recently approached the City with the potential to use deep bedrock storage for ASR. The City provided CSU $50,000 to study the concept; matching funding was also provided by Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB). Deep bedrock ASR is likely to be expensive but permitting process costs and time would be low compared to aquifer storage. Preliminary costs estimated to develop a test well range from $700,000 to over $1 million. Discussion Highlights Board members inquired about various related topics, including alluvial wells, surface storage, and whether this option would eliminate the necessity of Northern Integrated Supply Project (NISP). Water Resources and Treatment Operations Manager Carol Webb commented that we’d need another treated water storage reservoir by 2022, and ASR is being investigated to supply treated water storage as well. Mr. Jokerst stated that during a drought year, the City would not have the necessary water rights or facilities to be able to participate in an augmentation plan if large scale alluvial aquifers are developed. Michigan Ditch Tunnel Project Board members requested an update on this project. Ms. Webb stated this project near Cameron Pass was scheduled to have tunnel boring completed in mid-September but it’s about a month behind schedule because of drill cutters and variations in the bedrock. The tunnel boring machine (TBM), is cutting an 80-inch wide tunnel, which will be 60 inches once the lining is installed. Crews are about half-way into the 800-foot tunnel, originally planned for 20 feet per day; the average is 8 to 10 feet per day. The machine can’t be allowed to sit in the mountain during 4 Water Board Minutes August 18, 2016 winter, because it probably wouldn’t start again. Crews are now working seven days a week, and a night crew will begin soon so that project can operate 24 hours per day. Plans are to demobilize by November 15. Crews may need to return in the spring to grout (line) the tunnel. Discussion Highlights A board member inquired about the feasibility of working through winter. Ms. Webb stated that option is not possible due to weather and safety issues, and logistics, such as the staging area being covered with snow. Co-Gen Appropriation (Attachments available upon request) Water Reclamation and Biosolids Manager Jason Graham and Woodward Director of Marketing Casey Mulder presented a summary of the appropriation request. Special Projects Manager Link Mueller assisted with answering questions. This budget revision request for 2017 is for the recently updated scope for the design and construction of a co-generation and gas conditioning system at the Drake Water Reclamation Facility (DWRF), a $3.9 million project total that would turn biogas into beneficially used heat and power. The updated scope is in partnership with Woodward and will better align this project with current and future Climate Action Plan (CAP) opportunities. This request is for additional funding of $400,000 to complete the project. Woodward’s contribution offsets roughly one million in equipment costs as a project partner. The purpose of the budget offer is to develop or expand City programs that will aid in or directly affect the reduction of the community’s greenhouse gas emissions. Mr. Mulder explained that going with smaller engines (four 220 Kw engines) instead of a 335 kW engine makes the project more feasible by capturing more readily available biogas. The partnership also provides Woodward with multiple upsides due to engine availability, local access to engines for testing and monitoring, and increased carbon savings (5,418 annual metric tons with the four smaller engines instead of 2,062 annual metric tons with one 335 kW engine). The project’s goal is to avoid flare (using boilers to burn waste). Mr. Graham commented that partnerships such as these are a way for the City to meet its CAP goals. Ms. Webb explained that for transparency, staff is bringing this appropriation into the Budgeting for Outcomes (BFO) process rather than an off-cycle budget request. She mentioned that Water Board may choose to include this item in their letter to City Council on BFO items it supports, and also attend and comment at the City Council meetings addressing the budget in September and October. Financial Analyst Chris Donegon stated that City Manager Darin Atteberry’s recommended budget will be released on September 2. Discussion Highlights Board members inquired about various related topics, including comparisons of the engines, the possibility of cooling effluent, digesters, and the amount of solid waste that needs to be removed (inorganic material; anything other than food products), and details of payback (shorter than 15- 5 Water Board Minutes August 18, 2016 year payback), and whether Mulberry Wastewater Treatment Facility would be part of this project (it does not handle solids). Vice Chairperson Brett Bovee moved that the Water Board support the 2017 Budgeting for Outcomes (BFO) Offer #6.87 in the amount of $440,000.00 from wastewater reserves to provide additional funding for the cogeneration and gas conditioning project at the Drake Water Reclamation Facility. Board Member Alexander Maas added a friendly amendment “provided there are adequate reserves in the Wastewater Fund.” Board Member Steve Malers seconded the motion. Vote on the motion: It passed unanimously, 7-0. Water Reclamation and Biosolids Division Update Water Reclamation and Biosolids Manager Jason Graham summarized the role and projects of the Water Reclamation and Biosolids Division. The mission is “Safely provide regulatory compliant wastewater treatment for the City of Fort Collins community. We will achieve this by being operationally nimble, financially responsible, and innovative in our strategies and solutions.” The division consists of the following areas: Process Operations, Industrial Pretreatment, Mechanical Maintenance and Electrical, Technical Services, Pollution Control Laboratory, Meadow Springs Ranch, Administration, Capital Engineering, and Process Systems Controls/Engineering. Achievements include 2015 100% Regulatory Compliance; National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) Gold Peak Performance Award (second year); 100% wastewater effectiveness year to date for 2016; Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) Gold Environmental Leader for Mulberry Water Reclamation Facility and Drake Water Reclamation Facility; Pollution Control Lab 100% Discharge Monitoring Report-Quality Assurance (DMRQA) Study Results. Future Agenda Review  The Water Board Work Session was rescheduled from August 4 to September 1.  The City Council regular meeting on September 6 will feature the Income Qualified Rate (First Reading).  The agenda item on raw water requirements will be on the September 15 Water Board regular meeting agenda and on the October 25 City Council Work Session agenda. Other Business None.