HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Futures Committee - 10/08/2012 -
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Minutes
City of Fort Collins
Futures Committee Meeting
Regular Meeting
300 LaPorte Ave
City Hall
October 8, 2012
5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Committee Members Present: Committee Members Absent:
Wade Troxell Darin Atteberry
Lisa Poppaw
Gerry Horak
Bruce Hendee
Guests:
Donnie Dustin
Kevin Gertig
Brian Janonis
Agenda Item 1: Water Supply Outlook
The High Park Fire impacts impaired the Poudre River. Samples have been taken on a daily
basis since the fire. For 107 days (since the fire started), we could not take water from the
Poudre. We were allowed unrestricted use because of a high allocation of CBT water and
limited ability to save it for next year. Prior conservation efforts made things easier this year.
The continuing efforts to save water include: water conservation programs, audits on sprinkler
systems (we set a record with number of audits this year), tiered and seasonal rate structures, etc.
2013 Conditions include:
The 2013 water year starts on November 1st. Assumed conditions include dry-year demands (hot
and dry summer) and 30% from the Poudre River flows. The CBT system still has decent
storage: about 120% available if 2013 is similar to 2012.
If there were to be a water supply shortage, there is a Water Supply Shortage Response Plan in
place that defines restriction levels. Levels include a set number of days to water, potential rate
reductions and other details.
There are three potential ways to increase CBT supplies, which include:
North Poudre Irrigation Company
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o No CBT rentals, AG to CBT: 1,000 – 2,000 AF
Reuse Plan
o Could provide over 1,900 AF (depends on snowpack)
Horsetooth Carriage Contract
o Could provide up to 5,600 AF ($85/AF up front with uncertainty)
Financial Impacts include:
Lost rental revenue up to $700,000, Increased CBT costs of $315,000 and Reduced revenue from
potential restrictions (mainly high water use months)
Summary:
Monitor supplies and demands, restrictions next year are possible but unlikely, agricultural
community might be upset; these conditions may persist for several years; communications
efforts coming soon.
Agenda Item 2: Water Storage
Highly variable flows affect City water right yields.
The general reason for storage includes; return flow obligations which are critical, future
demands, vulnerability protection and also to store what we conserve. The City‘s current storage
consists of the Joe Wright Reservoir, which is about 6,500 acre-feet. It regulates the Michigan
Ditch and Reuse Plan and has limited carryover ability. Second is the Horsetooth Reservoir
(CBT project). This not the City’s reservoir, it is owned by the Bureau of Reclamation and
administered by the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District, it cannot store Poudre
supplies and it has limited carry over policies. These consist of only year to year, city controls
only 3,800 arce-feet, heavy costs involved and the policy could be eliminated. The City is highly
reliant on the CBT project storage.
Our current water supplies have been adequate in most years, it is based on 1 in 50 year drought
criteria and 31,000 acre feet/year treated water firm yield. Future water demands and supplies
depend on the population and commercial growth. It is estimated the utility population will grow
around 35,000 by 2050 and large contractual use will increase about 3,000 acre-feet/year by
2050. The supply needed depends on water supply demand criteria, which include the drought
criterion, storage reserve factor and planning demand level. These criteria will be determined in
the Water Supply and Demand Management Policy update that will be presented to City Council
in late October.
Current City Storage Projects include either acquiring or developing storage capacity to help
manage current and future water rights. This includes operational storage, such as gravel pits or
similar and carryover and vulnerability protection storage, for example the Halligan Reservoir
enlargement project or similar. Information regarding the Halligan project included its location,
proposed size, reasons for enlargement, potential impacts, permitting process, costs/funding and
potential alternatives (that will be evaluated as part of the permitting).
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Storage continues to be a key City need. The operational storage is critical; the carryover and
vulnerability storage provides multiple benefits. Advocate low water use and increase storage to
make effective use of conserved water. This provides climate change protection and sustainable
water supply future.
Next Steps: