HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 07/14/2009 - HALLIGAN-SEAMAN WATER MANAGEMENT PROJECT (HSWMP) U DATE: July 14, 2009
STAFF: Kevin Gertig WORK SESSION ITEM
Dennis Bode FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL
Dr. Jim Schall, Ayres Associates
Pre-taped staff presentation: none
SUBJECT FOR DISCUSSION
Halligan-Seaman Water Management Project (HSWMP) Update.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City of Fort Collins has been working on the enlargement of Halligan Reservoir,as directed by
previous Council actions. The City has partners in the project, including North Poudre Irrigation
Company (NPIC), North Weld County Water District (NWCWD), Fort Collins-Loveland Water
District (FCLWD), and East Larimer Water District (ELCO). In 2004, the City entered into an
intergovernmental agreement with the City of Greeley, who is pursuing an enlargement of its
Seaman Reservoir, to create a regional project known as the Halligan-Seaman Water Management
Project (HSWMP). In 2005, the HSWMP initiated the required federal permitting process.
The Halligan project is intended to provide a reliable water supply through drought periods as well
as needed redundancy in our supply system to reduce the City's vulnerability to unpredictable raw
water delivery issues. The recent decrease in the City's water use has been considered in the sizing
of Halligan. Although there are negative impacts associated with the enlargement of Halligan
Reservoir, it remains a viable means of reliably meeting the City's future water supply needs.
GENERAL DIRECTION SOUGHT AND SPECIFIC QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED
Does Council have any comments or questions regarding the project and the permitting process?
BACKGROUND
The City relies on two main sources of water for its customers, Colorado-Big Thompson Project
(CBT) water, which is delivered via Horsetooth Reservoir, and the Cache la Poudre River. As a
result of past decisions by theWater Board and City Council, the City owns relatively senior water
rights on the Cache la Poudre River. The City owns and operates Joe Wright Reservoir, which has
about 6,500 acre-feet of active capacity. Storing water in Joe Wright Reservoir from one year to the
next(carryover)is physically limited to about 3,500 acre-feet. Horsetooth Reservoir is operated by
the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District (NCWCD). Poudre water supplies cannot be
stored in Horsetooth Reservoir,which limits the carryover potential. Although the City owns shares
in local irrigation companies, the ability to store water in reservoirs controlled by these companies
is limited.
July 14, 2009 Page 2
Water storage is important in Colorado due to the short duration of the snowmelt runoff season, as
well as the significant variability in the annual amount of runoff. Storage enables the City to meet
demands throughout the year and during droughts by efficiently using the water rights it already
owns.
Storage also helps protect our water supply system against vulnerabilities, which include climate
change, infrastructure failures,wild fire impacts,and pine beetle impacts to our watersheds. These
risks may affect the amount, timing and quality of our water supplies. Addressing these
uncertainties is accomplished through the use of a safety factor.
The enlargement of Halligan Reservoir has been a long-term goal for the City, as indicated by past
Council actions. These actions include acquiring an interest in the enlargement of Halligan in 1987
(Resolution 1987-161), entering an agreement with NPIC to purchase Halligan for enlargement in
1993 (Resolution1993-164), and exercising the option to proceed with enlarging Halligan and
entering into agreements with other participants in 2003 (Resolution 2003-121).
In 2003, Council adopted the Water Supply and Demand Management Policy (WSDMP) by
Resolution 2003-104. This policy adopted a 1-in-50 year drought criteria for assessing water supply
needs and pursuing the development of storage. The policy also set water use goals to be met
through demand management and water conservation measures. Since this policy was adopted,the
City's water use has decreased significantly. Although decreased use has been considered in the
sizing of Halligan, the significant change prompts the need to update the WSDMP, which will be
included in the 2010 Utilities goals and budget.
The proposed enlargement of Halligan Reservoir will increase its capacity from about 6,500 acre-
feet to around 40,000 acre-feet of storage. At this size, the additional storage can help meet the
water needs of the City and our partners in the project (ELCO, NWCWD, FCLWD, and NPIC).
Halligan has been considered a good choice for water storage since it is an enlargement of an
existing reservoir and located above the intakes of the treatment plants. However,there are adverse
impacts associated with enlarging Halligan,including the potential loss of wetlands,stream channel,
and Prebles Meadow Jumping Mouse habitat (a federally threatened species) around the reservoir.
These and all other environmental impacts will be evaluated by the federal permitting process.
In order to enlarge both reservoirs, Fort Collins and Greeley entered the federal permitting process
required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), led by the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers (Corps). The permitting process will assess the project needs and identify and evaluate
all environmental consequences of the enlargement and define all required mitigation. The draft
environmental impact statement(DEIS)for the HSWMP is expected late in 2010. If permitted and
approved by City Council, the project could be operational by about 2015.
The projected cost of the enlargement is approximately$60 million. This cost will be shared with
our partners, significantly reducing the cost to the City. The City's portion of shared costs to date
is approximately $1.8 million, with the total projected City cost being approximately $21 million.
Compared to other optional water sources,Halligan is cost effective at an estimated$3,000 per acre-
foot of additional firm yield to our supply system.
Fort Collins Utilities' annual use of water is currently around 28,000 acre-feet with a service area
population of 130,000. At build out, the.projected service area population is estimated to be
July 14, 2009 Page 3
153,000. Supporting this population at the current level of water use, along with anticipated
contractual demands,the Utilities will require an annual supply of approximately 38,000 acre-feet.
Meeting these anticipated future water demands through a 1-in-50 drought while providing a 15
percent safety factor is projected to require about 11,000 acre-feet of storage at Halligan. The
remainder of the 40,000 acre-feet at Halligan would be shared among our partners noted above.
Further water conservation may help reduce a portion of the increasing demands. However,the City
still will require storage to meet legal return flow obligations and contractual demands, as well as
provide the 15 percent safety factor that protects against unpredictable events. Other options for
reducing the City's storage needs include using more agricultural rights and changing our drought
criteria or safety factor; although these options either have limitations on their effectiveness or
increase the level of risk to our future water supply system.
In 2010, the process for updating the Water Supply and Demand Management Policy will begin.
Staff will continue to work with our partners, the Corps and other stakeholders to assure the
HSWMP is sized appropriately and addresses all negative impacts.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Glossary of Terms
2. Resolution 1987-161 - Authorizing the Execution of an Agreement with the Phantom
Canyon Ranch Company and Halligan Resources Regarding Halligan Reservoir
3. Resolution 1993-164-Approving an Agreement with North Poudre Irrigation Company for
an Option to Purchase the Halligan Reservoir
4. Resolution 2003-104 -Adopting a Water Supply and Demand Management Policy
5. Resolution 2003-121 - Approving the Exercise of the City's Option from North Poudre
Irrigation Company to Proceed with the Development ofthe Halligan Reservoir Enlargement
Project and Authorizing Other Related Actions
6. PowerPoint presentation
t'
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ATTACHMENT 1
Halligan-Seaman Water Management Project Update
July 14, 2009
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
1-in-50 Drought Criteria - criteria adopted in the Water Supply and Demand
Management Policy; a drought is a period of below average runoff that can last one or
more years and is often measured by its duration, average annual shortage and cumulative
deficit below the average; a 1-in-50 drought corresponds to a dry period that is likely to
occur, on average, once every 50 years; although the Poudre River Basin has several
drought periods in its recorded history, it is difficult to assess whether any of these
droughts were equal in magnitude to a 1-in-50 drought; the 1985 Drought Study
developed the 1-in-50 drought used in assessing the Utilities water supply system; this
drought period is six years long and has a cumulative deficit of 550,000 acre-feet, which
represents annual river volumes that are about 70% of the long-term average for the
Poudre River; see also "Statistically Based Drought Analysis."
Acre-Foot or Acre-Feet (AF) - volume of water equal to about 326,000 gallons; one
acre-foot can supply around three single family homes in Fort Collins per year; for
storage comparison the maximum volume of Horsetooth Reservoir is about 150,000 acre-
feet.
Active Capacity - the usable capacity of a reservoir for storage and regulation of inflows '
and releases that does not include any capacity below the reservoir's lowest outlet (which
is known as dead capacity).
Ag Right Yields - agricultural water right yields; see also "Yield."
Carryover - used in reference to storage; it is the ability to save water in storage for use
at a later time, most notably in following years.
Change in Water Right - refers to changing water rights under Colorado water law from
agricultural to municipal water use; see also "Legal Return Flows or Return Flow
Obligations."
y
Colorado-Big Thompson (CBT) Project - a Bureau of Reclamation project thaVbrings
water from the Colorado River basin to the east side of the continental divide via a tunnel
and the Big Thompson River to several locations including Horsetooth Reservoir;
operated by the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District; Fort Collins Utilities
currently owns 18,855 units of the 310,000 total units in the CBT project.
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Cubic Feet per Second (cfs) - volumetric flow rate equal to one cubic foot flowing every
second; for comparison, an average peak flow rate on the Poudre River at the Lincoln
Street gage (downtown) is around 1,900 cfs and a median winter-time low flow rate in
December at the same location is around 7 cfs.
Direct Flow Rights - water rights that can be taken for direct use, as opposed to storage
rights that can be taken for later use; see also "Senior Water Rights."
DEIS - Draft Environmental Impact Statement; a report detailing the findings of the
NEPA permitting process; report can be reviewed by public for their comments which
are typically addressed in a Final Environment Impact Statement; see also "NEPA."
ELCO - East Larimer County Water District; a partner in the HSWMP that also supplies
water to some Fort Collins citizens; see also "Tri-Districts."
FCLWD - Fort Collins-Loveland Water District; a partner in the HSWMP that also
supplies water to some Fort Collins citizens; see also "Tri-Districts."
Firm Yield - a measure of the ability of a water supply system to meet water demands
through a series of drought years; for the Fort Collins Utilities, this means being able to
meet our projected demands through consecutive years meeting the 1-in-50 drought
criteria; see also "Statistically Based Drought Analysis" and "1-in-50 Drought Criteria."
GPCD - gallons per capita per day; a measurement of municipal water use; for the Fort
Collins Utilities, GPCD is calculated based on the total annual treated water produced for
use by all Utilities water customers, including for homes, businesses, schools and
industries (adjusted for large contractual customers and other sales or exchange'
agreements) divided by the estimated population of the Utilities' water service area and
365 days.
HSWMP - Halligan-Seaman Water Management Project.
Interruptible Supply or Dry-Year Lease - a contract between two water users where
the owner of a water right temporarily stops using its water and allows the other water
user to use that water; this type of contract is typically between a municipal water
provider and an agricultural water owner.
Legal Return Flows or Return Flow Obligations - refers to legal requirements when
changing water rights from agricultural to municipal use; this process requires obtaining a
decree from Colorado Water Court that involves detailed analysis of the historic
agricultural water use, including the water diversions, amount used by the crops, and the
return flow patterns of the water not used by the crops; terms in the decree try to prevent
municipalities from taking more water than was historically taken and replacing return
flows in the right amount, location and time to prevent injury to other water rights.
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NEPA - National Environmental Policy Act; federal legislation that established
environmental policy for the nation; it provides interdisciplinary framework for federal
agencies to prevent environmental damage and contains "action-forcing" procedures to
ensure that federal agency decision-makers take environmental factors into account.
NISP - Northern Integrated Supply Project.
Northern Water or NCWCD - Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District
(NCWCD); Northern Water operates the Colorado-Big Thompson (CBT) Project and is
involved in several other regional water projects on behalf of their participants.
NPIC - North Poudre Irrigation Company; a partner in the HSWMP that supplies water
to farmers north of Fort Collins.
NWCWD - North Weld County Water District; a partner in the HSWMP that supplies
water to rural areas of Weld County; see also "Tri-Districts."
Rotational Fallowing - refers to the practice of removing portions of irrigated lands from
production and rotating this land with the lands that remain irrigated; the water saved
through this practice can be transferred to another water user (i.e., municipal water
supplier).
Safety Factor - refers to a commonly used engineering principle that accounts for
uncertainty in designing water supply systems; for the HSWMP, the safety factor is to
maintain 15 percent of annual demands in storage through the 1-in-50 drought; for Fort
Collins Utilities, this equates to about 4 months of indoor demands.
Senior Water Rights - refers to Colorado water law's use of the "prior appropriation" or
priority system, which dictates that in times of short supply, earlier water rights decrees
(senior rights) will get their water before others (junior rights) can begin to use water,
often described as "first in time, first in right."
Smart Storage - a term used in a 2005 report by Western Resource Advocates "Facing
Our Future: A Balanced Water Solution for Colorado" where it is mentioned that the
HSWMP has the potential to be a Smart Storage project; smart water storage and supply
projects are those that fully integrate public opinion and economical, financial,
environmental, and recreational needs into the planning and development process.s
Statistically Based Drought Analysis - refers to the 1985 report "Droughts and Their
Effect on the Water Supplies for the City of Fort Collins, Colorado" (referred to as the
1985 Drought Study); the report was done primarily to study the effects of prolonged
droughts and to define them in terms of the probability of their occurrence; synthetic
hydrologic traces were produced based on statistical parameters of the historic data
available, which allowed analysis of numerous artificial drought periods ,and a
determination of representative droughts with calculated return frequencies; this report
was done in conjunction with water resources experts at Colorado State University.
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Tri-Districts - the combination of the three regional water districts ELCO, FCLWD and
NWCWD; these districts share the same water treatment plant called Soldier Canyon
Filter Plant, which is located adjacent to Fort Collins' Water Treatment Facility.
Triple Bottom Line - refers to the Utilities for the 21s`Century sustainability initiative to
have business decisions that optimize economic, social and environmental considerations.
Water Rights Portfolio - the mix of water rights owned by a water supplier; typically
includes water for direct use, as well as for storage for later use; for Fort Collins Utilities,
includes City owned water rights, owned and/or converted shares in agricultural rights,
storage rights at Joe Wright Reservoir, and ownership in the CBT project.
Yield or Water Rights Yield - refers to the amount of water that is produced from a
water right; the yield of water rights vary from year to year depending on the amount of
water available (i.e., low or high river runoff) and the priority of the water right; see also
"Firm Yield" and "Senior Water Rights."
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ATTACHMENT 2
RESOLUTION 87-161
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AN
AGREEMENT WITH THE PHANTOM CANYON RANCH COMPANY
AND HALLIGAN RESOURCES COMPANY REGARDING
HALLIGAN RESERVOIR
WHEREAS, the Phantom Canyon Ranch Company and Halligan Resources
Company (referred to collectively herein as the "Sellers") are the owners
of a decreed water right to store water in an enlargement of the Halligan
Reservoir, which reservoir is owned and operated by the North Poudre
Irrigation Company; and
WHEREAS, the Sellers have expended considerable sums of money in the
preparation of engineering plans, studies and drawings pertaining to the
proposed enlargement of Halligan Reservoir, and are the owners of the same;
and
WHEREAS, the Sellers, and particularly Phantom Canyon Ranch Company,
are the owners of certain real property adjacent to and abutting Halligan
Reservoir; and
WHEREAS, the City is desirous of obtaining an option to acquire such
properties as are owned by one or both of the Sellers adjacent to the
Halligan Reservoir and necessary for the purpose of enlargement of said
reservoir; and
WHEREAS, the City is further desirous of obtaining an assignment of
the decreed water right to store water in an enlargement of Halligan
Reservoir and all engineering plans, studies and drawings pertaining to
said enlargement; and
WHEREAS, the Sellers are ready, willing and able to assign all of
their interests in said water right and in the engineering plans, studies
and drawings pertaining to said enlargement, together with an option to the
City to acquire certain property adjacent to Halligan Reservoir as is
necessary for the purpose of accomplishing the enlargement; and
WHEREAS, the Sellers are further desirous of assigning to the City all
of their right to enlargement of Halligan Reservoir pursuant to agreement
with the North Poudre Irrigation Company, all in consideration of the
payment by the City of One Hundred Thousand Dollars (E100,000.) to the
Sellers.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT
COLLINS that the City Manager be, and he hereby is, authorized, on behalf
of the City, to enter into an agreement with the Sellers for the
acquisition of the Sellers' interests in the enlargement of Halligan
Reservoir as represented by agreement, as amended, between the Sellers and
North Poudre Irrigation Company, and by decree of the Water Court
authorizing the diversion and storage of water in an enlargement of
Halligan Reservoir, together with all engineering plans, studies and
drawings pertaining to the enlargement and together with an option to
acquire certain property of the Sellers adjacent to the reservoir as
necessary for the enlargement thereof, all as set forth in the proposed
agreement, in consideration of the payment by the City to the Sellers of
the sum of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000. ) .
Passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the' Council of the City of
Fort Collins held this 3rd day of November, A.D. 1987.
M
ATTEST:
7�b1�
City C erk
ATTACHMENT
RESOLUTION 93-164
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
APPROVING AN AGREEMENT WITH NORTH POUDRE IRRIGATION
COMPANY FOR AN OPTION TO PURCHASE THE HALLIGAN RESERVOIR
WHEREAS, it is projected that the City of Fort Collins will need additional
storage water to meet the long-term water demands of the City sometime after the
year 2000; and
WHEREAS, North Poudre Irrigation Company (hereinafter referred to as "North
Poudre") is the owner of an existing reservoir known as Halligan Reservoir which
is located on the North Fork of the Cache la Poudre River; and
WHEREAS, the City has entered into an agreement with Halligan Resources
Company and Phantom Canyon Ranch Company, dated October 14, 1987, whereby the
City has, among other things, obtained an option to acquire certain property to
facilitate the enlargement of Halligan Reservoir and has acquired all engineering
plans, drawings and studies owned by Halligan Resources Company pertaining to the
Halligan Reservoir enlargement; and
WHEREAS, by subsequent assignment agreements, the City has obtained the
interest of Halligan Resources Company in that certain agreement dated December
30, 1985, between Halligan Resources Company and North Poudre and also the
interest of Halligan Resources Company in that certain decree entered in Case
Number 85CW435 in the District Court for Water Division No. 1; and
WHEREAS, the City has conducted feasibility studies evaluating the
engineering, environmental aspects and any permit process with regard to
enlarging Halligan Reservoir; and
WHEREAS, the City is presently in a position to, in cooperation with North
Poudre, conduct additional feasibility studies regarding the enlargement of
Halligan Reservoir, and the City desires to proceed with such enlargement if
feasible; and
WHEREAS, if the City subsequently determines that enlargement of the
Halligan Reservoir is feasible and desirable for the City, it wants to be able
to purchase the Halligan Reservoir from North Poudre; and
WHEREAS, in order to accomplish this, the City and North Poudre have
negotiated a proposed agreement granting the City the option to purchase the
Halligan Reservoir, a copy of which agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit "A"
and incorporated herein by reference.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
that the Mayor be, and hereby is, authorized on behalf of the City to enter into
an agreement with North Poudre upon substantially the same terms and conditions
as are contained in Exhibit "A," subject to such modifications as the City
Manager and City Attorney may determine to be necessary to protect the interests
of the City and effectuate the purposes of the agreement.
Passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the Council of the City of Fort
Collins held this 2nd day of November, A.D. 1993.
Mayor
ATTEST:
City Clerk
HALLIGAN RESERVOIR AGREEMENT
Page
Article 1 . Project Option
1 .1 Definition of Project 3
1 .2 Option to Proceed with Project 3
1 .3 Term 3
1 .4 Activities During Option Period 5
1 .4 . 1 Diligence 5
1 . 5 Effect of Storage Restrictions Upon Option 6
1 . 6 Major Repairs 7
1 .7 Title Review 8
1 . 8 Termination of Option by City 10
1 . 9 Memorandum 11
Article 2 . Exercise of Option
2 . 1 Exercise of Option 11
2 . 2 Conveyances and Payment for Project 11
2 .2 . 1 Conveyances 11
2 .2 .2 Payment 12
2 .2 .3 Easements and Retained Ownership 12
2 .2 .4 Title 13
2 .2 . 5 Perfection of Conditional Decree 15
2 . 3 Design and Construction of Project 15
2 . 3 . 1 Termination Prior to Construction of
Reservoir 15
2 .4 Operations Advisory Committee 16
2.5 Construction 17
Article 3 . Security Arrangements
3. 1 Option Period 18
3 .2 Option Exercise 19
Article 4 . ownership, operation, and Maintenance of
Enlarged Reservoir
4 .1 Storage Capacity Allocation 20
4 .1 . 1 Evaporation and Seepage 21
4 . 1 . 2 water Represented by North Poudre Stock 21
4 .2 Outlet Capacity 22
4 .3 Temporary Storage Capacity Restrictions 22
4 .4 Recreation 22
4 .5 Operation of Reservoir 23
4 . 6 Measurement Devices 23
4 .7 Exchanges 23
4 . 8 Maintenance and Repair 24
4 .8 .1 Routine Maintenance and Repairs 24
4 . 8 .2 Capital Reconstruction 24
4 . 8 .2. 1 Reconveyance 25
4 .9 Liability 27
Article 5. Miscellaneous
5.1 Water Court Filings 27
5.2 Notices 28
5. 3 Default 28
5 .4 Assignment by North Poudre 29
5 .5 Assignment of City's and Board' s Rights 29
5. 6 Binding Effect 32
5.7 Survival of Agreement After Closing 32
5. 8 Prepayment 32
5.9 Agreement with The Nature Conservancy 33
Article 6 . Conditions Subsequent
6 .1 Stockholder Ratification 33
HALLIGAN RESERVOIR AGREEMENT
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THIS AGREEMENT is executed this U day of IV ov LPe•
1993, by and between the CITY OF FORT COLLINS, COLORADO, a Colorado
municipal corporation (hereinafter referred to as "City") , the
BOARD OF THE FORT COLLINS WATER UTILITY, a City-owned enterprise
(hereinafter referred to as "Board") , and THE NORTH POUDRE
IRRIGATION COMPANY (hereinafter referred to as "North Poudre") .
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, North Poudre is the owner of an existing Reservoir
known as Halligan Reservoir situate in Sections 32 , 33 and 34,
Township 11 North, Range 71 West of the 6th P.M. , in Larimer
County, Colorado; and
WHEREAS, the City has entered into an agreement with Halligan
Resources Company and Phantom Canyon Ranch Company, dated October
14 , 1987 (the "Phantom Canyon Agreement") , whereby the City, among
other things, obtained an option to acquire certain property to
facilitate the enlargement of Halligan Reservoir and acquired all
engineering plans, drawings, and studies owned by Halligan
Resources Company pertaining to the Halligan Reservoir Enlargement;
and
WHEREAS, by subsequent assignment agreements, the City
obtained the interest of Halligan Resources Company in that certain
Agreement dated December 30, 1985, between Halligan Resources
Company and North Poudre and also the interest of Halligan
Resources Company in that certain Decree entered in Case No.
85CW435 in the District Court in and for Water Division No. 1
awarding a conditional storage decree for the Halligan Reservoir
Enlargement; and
WHEREAS, the City has conducted initial feasibility studies
evaluating the engineering, environmental aspects, and permit
processes needed with regard to enlargement of Halligan Reservoir;
and
WHEREAS, the City is presently in a position, in cooperation
with North Poudre, to conduct additional necessary feasibility
studies regarding the enlargement of Halligan Reservoir, and the
City wishes to proceed with such enlargement if possible; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 19 . 3 of the City Charter, as
amended April 6 , 1993 , and ordinance No. 61, 1993, the City has
established the City' s water utility as an enterprise within the
meaning of Art. X, §20 of the Colorado Constitution and authorized
the Board to issue its own revenue bonds and other obligations on
behalf of the City payable solely from the net revenues derived
from the operation of the enterprise; and
WHEREAS, the City, the Board and North Poudre desire by this
Agreement to set forth the rights and obligations of the parties
hereto with respect to said studies and enlargement and the option
to purchase described herein;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises of the
parties hereto and other good and valuable consideration, the
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receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties
agree as follows:
Article 1. Project option.
1 .1 Definition of Project: The Project that is the subject
of this Agreement consists of the enlargement of the existing
Halligan Reservoir which will include the existing Reservoir site.
The Project contemplates that a new dam will be built below the
existing structure to increase the storage capacity of the Reser-
voir. The Project includes the acquisition of all property or
other rights necessary for the proposed enlargement, and the design
and construction of the necessary facilities for such enlargement.
1.2 Option to Proceed with Project. For and in consideration
of the agreement of the City to pay North Poudre the sum of
$40, 000.00, the payment of which shall be due 60 days after
execution hereof, and the option payments which are due on or
before December 31 of each year as set forth on Exhibit A attached
hereto and incorporated herein by this reference, North Poudre
hereby grants to the City the exclusive option (the "Option") to
proceed with the Project upon the further terms and conditions set
forth in this Agreement.
1.3 Term. The initial term of the Option granted hereby
shall extend from the date of execution of this Agreement through
December 31, 1993 . The tern of the Option may be extended by the
City for successive terns of one calendar year each up to and
including December 31, 2000, a 7 -year period, by payment by the
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City of the additional Option amounts set forth in Exhibit A in
advance of each year for which extension of the Option is desired.
There shall be one additional written extension of the option to
December 31 , 2002, if the City requests same in writing if there
are problems in obtaining any necessary permits for the Project or
if litigation is causing delay in the Project. The City shall
continue making Option payments during any requested extension.
Nothing herein shall prohibit North Poudre from further extending
the time in writing by action of its Board of Directors should the
City request an extension and if there is a reasonable basis for
same, but North Poudre is not obligated to grant a further
extension beyond December 31, 2002. After December 31, 2002, if
North Poudre has not further extended the Option in writing in its
sole discretion, all rights and duties end and all option money
will be retained. However, during the initial option period and
any extension thereof, North Poudre shall promptly give the City
written notice of non-receipt of additional Option payments,
whereupon the City shall have twenty days to cure any failure to
pay. After expiration of such twenty day grace period without
payment, the City' s further rights under this Agreement shall
terminate. The obligations of the City to pay any additional
Option payment shall be subject to appropriation of such payment by
the City Council in advance of each year for which the Option is to
be extended. The failure to appropriate such payment does not
change North Poudre's right to declare termination for non-payment.
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1 .4 Activities During Option Periods. During the Option
periods, the City shall prepare or commission at its sole expense
such technical studies prerequisite to construction of the Project
as it determines are necessary or desirable. The City shall,
before taking such action, apprise North Poudre of its activities
in this regard and shall invite its advice and comments upon all
aspects of the technical studies undertaken by the City. Such
consultation between the parties is anticipated to include frequent
briefings concerning progress of studies; sharing of all documents;
inclusion of North Poudre representatives on any advisory commit-
tees; participation, to the extent permitted by the City Code and
Charter and its purchasing policies, in interviewing and selection
of consultants . The City may, at its sole expense, obtain a survey
of the property that is the subject of this Agreement.
1.4 .1 Diligence. During the term of the Option the
parties shall cooperate in connection with required diligence
applications for maintenance of the conditional water rights for
Halligan Reservoir Enlargement. In this connection, the city shall
prepare and file and further prosecute, in the city' s and North
Poudre' s name, any necessary diligence proceedings. The City and
North Poudre shall consult and cooperate fully in connection with
such proceedings . The City shall bear the costs and expenses of
such proceedings, except for such costs and expenses which North
Poudre may incur as the result of the use of its own staff, its
engineers, accountants, and its attorneys. The parties acknowledge
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that the City' s activities contemplated hereby in studying the
Project are of the sort ordinarily undertaken in connection with
the development of conditional water rights in. the State of
Colorado. The parties agree that such activities may be cited and
relied upon to demonstrate reasonable diligence in the development
of the conditional water right for the Project in any water court
diligence proceedings during the term of the Option. The parties
further acknowledge that the City' s undertaking such activities
will not guarantee that findings of reasonable diligence will be
entered by the water Court.
1 .5 Effect of Storage Restrictions Upon Option. If after
December 31, 1995 and prior to termination or exercise of the
Option, the existing Halligan Reservoir is restricted by Order of
the Colorado State Engineer to storage of less than 3 , 200 acre-feet
of water, then the City shall have one (1) year from the date of
notification of the storage restriction to exercise the option.
If the City fails to exercise the Option within the one
(1) year period, then the parties shall consult and North Poudre
may thereafter, alternatively, at its discretion, terminate or
elect not to terminate the Option. If it does not initially
terminate the Option, North Poudre may nevertheless, so long as the
storage restrictions remain in effect, elect to terminate the
Option at each annual renewal, by providing written notice to the
City no later than thirty (30) days in advance of the expiration of
the current Option term. If North Poudre terminates the Option,
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either initially or at an annual renewal, it shall remit to the
City within 60 days of its written notice of termination, without
interest, one-half of all Option payments previously paid by the
City pursuant to this Agreement, and this Agreement shall be
terminated and of no further force or effect.
If North Poudre elects not to terminate the Option, it
may, at its election, in each year that the option and the storage
restrictions continue in effect, require the City to waive the use
of water attributable to one (1) share of North Poudre stock owned
by the City for each five acre-feet that the storage in Halligan
Reservoir is restricted below 3,200 acre-feet. This provision is
based upon a yield of a 5 acre-feet per share per year of North
Poudre stock. The formula will not be changed if it is subse-
quently determined that the yield of North Poudre stock actually
varies from 5 acre-feet per share per year. The formula will
operate as follows: for example, if storage is restricted to 2, 000
acre-feet, the City may be required to waive delivery on 240 shares
of North Poudre stock. If, however, the Option thereafter termi-
nates by reason of the City's nonrenewal thereof, following such
termination the City shall have no further obligation to North
Poudre to waive the use of share water.
1.6 Major Repairs . If Halligan Reservoir requires major
repair or reconstruction during the Option period, the parties
shall negotiate in good faith to determine whether and how to
undertake and finance such repairs in a manner beneficial to both
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parties. If the parties are unable to agree concerning such
repairs, then North Poudre may terminate the Option by providing
written notice of termination to the City, and shall remit to the
City within 90 days of its written notice of termination, without
interest, one-half of all Option payments previously paid by the
City pursuant to this Agreement, and this Agreement shall be of no
further force and effect.
1 .7 Title Review. North Poudre has provided to the City a
title insurance commitment offering to insure the property that is
the subject of this Agreement in the amount of $1, 000, 000 .00 for
the land to be conveyed to the City pursuant to Paragraph 2 .2 .1
below upon exercise of the Option. North Poudre has used access
over private property to the Project from the Laramie Highway (now
U.S. Highway 287) without hindrance over 18 years. There has not
been any public access over this route. Access over any State land
has been without any special use permit or right-of-way. North
Poudre will transfer only such rights of access as it has . Failure
of the title commitment or title abstract to evidence such right of
access shall not constitute a defect of title. The title commit-
ment or the title policy shall not be required to evidence a valid
and subsisting right-of-way for occupancy of lands needed for the
Project or access thereto which are owned by the United States of
America or the State of Colorado. North Poudre and the City shall
cooperate to identify, secure, and transfer any necessary rights of
way required for the Project from the United States of America and
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the State of Colorado. Any costs to acquire any rights required
shall be the City' s sole expense except for the cooperation to be
provided by North Poudre. In addition, North Poudre has disclosed
the existence and scope of any existing easements or encumbrances
upon the land not disclosed by the title commitment and known to
North Poudre. These are any rights of private owners, Poudre
Valley REA, a U.S. West underground cable, and The Nature
Conservancy. The City shall have 30 days from the signing of this
agreement by the City to provide written notice of defects of title
to which it objects. Existing exceptions in Schedule B of the
title insurance commitment for easements or encumbrances shall not
constitute defects of title. North Poudre covenants and agrees
that it shall not, after the signing of this Agreement, transfer or
convey the property required for the Project or by its actions or
omissions suffer or permit any liens, encumbrances, or other
detriments to title to such property without the prior written
consent of the City (which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld) . The parties acknowledge that there is an existing
Recreation Lease, dated June 1, 1988 (the "Lease") , in effect for
the Reservoir by and between North Poudre and the North Fork
Recreation Association (the 'INFRA") , which has been assigned by the
NFRA to the Landowners Association for Phantom Canyon Ranches (the
"Lessee,,) , which Lease includes a preferential right in the Lessee
for future recreation uses, and that the conveyance will be subject
to the provisions of the Lease upon exercise of the option. The
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City acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Lease, which is in
effect as of the date of this Agreement. However, North Poudre
agrees that during the term of the Option, North Poudre will not
renew the Lease or enter into any other recreation lease without
the prior written approval of the City which will not unreasonably
be refused.
1 . 8 Termination of Option by City. If the City either fails
to renew the Option in accordance with Paragraph 1 .3 above, or to
exercise the Option in accordance with Paragraph 2 .1 below, the
Option shall terminate at the expiration of its then current term.
In such case, North Poudre shall retain all Option payments
previously paid, and all rights of the City to the Project shall
terminate and North Poudre shall own and hold the conditional
decree for the Project with no further obligation to the City. The
City shall promptly take such further actions, including execution
of quitclaim deeds and assignment of all rights in the conditional
decree and reservoir and site, as are necessary to vest the entire
conditional decree and its rights thereunder in North Poudre. The
City shall transfer ownership of and furnish North Poudre, without
charge, with copies of all technical and engineering reports,
studies, permits and data pertinent to the Project to the extent
same are City records that are by law open to inspection by the
public. Otherwise, same shall be furnished upon reimbursement from
North Poudre of the out-of-pocket cost paid by the City for such
information.
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1 .9 Memorandum. Either the City or North Poudre may record
a memorandum of this Agreement in the records of Larimer County,
Colorado. In that event, the parties will cooperate in the
drafting of such memorandum.
Article 2 . Exercise of option.
2 . 1 Exercise of Option. If the City elects to exercise the
Option, it shall notify North Poudre in writing in the manner
provided in Paragraph 5.2 that it is exercising the Option. The
Option can be exercised only in November or December of any year,
to enable North Poudre to plan for the appropriate assessments at
the next year' s annual meeting.
2 .2 Conveyances and Payment for Project.
2 .2 .1 Conveyances . Within 60 days of exercise of the
Option by the City, North Poudre shall convey to the City by
General Warranty Deed with the reservations provided in Paragraph
2.2 .3 hereof all land described in Transamerica Title Insurance
Company Title Commitment No. 6418310 which has been furnished,
including any and all easements and other appurtenances owned by
North Poudre in connection with such dam and reservoir, and all
land or rights owned by North ,Poudre in Sections 32, 33 and 34 ,
Township it North, Range 71 West, 6th P.M. , and by Bargain and Sale
Deed, without covenants of warranty, all its interest in Sections
27, 28 and 29 , Township 11 North, Range 71 West of the 6th P.M. ,
and all its interest in the conditional water right awarded in Case
No. 85CW435 for the Halligan Reservoir Enlargement, also known as
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North Poudre Reservoir No. 16, in the amount of 33 ,462 acre-feet
with an appropriation date of August 1, 1979 , and adjudication date
of December 31, 1985.
2 .2 .2 Payment. For and in consideration of the
conveyance set forth in Paragraph 2 .2.1, the City shall, at the
time of delivery of the deed, make an initial payment in the amount
set forth on Exhibit A for the year of exercise of the Option, and
the Board shall thereafter continue to make payments to North
Poudre in accordance with the balance of the payment schedule
attached hereto as Exhibit A and incorporated by this reference,
which continued payments and all prior option payments made shall
constitute the purchase price. Each payment made shall be con-
sidered to cover the City' s obligation for the ensuing calendar
year. The obligation of the Board to make the payments specified
herein shall be evidenced by a non-interest bearing revenue bond
(the "Bond") issued by the Board to North Poudre. The Bond shall
be a special obligation of the Board payable from the net revenues
of the City' s water system as provided in Article V, §19 .3 of the
City Charter and shall be issued upon the exercise of the option by
ordinance duly adopted by the Board, or as otherwise provided by
law.
2.2.3 Easements and Retained ownership. The convey-
ance set forth in Paragraph 2 .2. 1 shall be subject to a permanent,
reserved easement of active storage space in favor of North Poudre
in the enlarged reservoir in the amount of 6,408 acre-feet, to be
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used for the lawful storage of any North Poudre water rights .
"Active storage" means a perpetual pool of 6408 acre-feet not
diminished by any silt or dead storage. In addition to such
reserved storage, the parties acknowledge and agree that North
Poudre shall reserve and retain water then in storage and the
storage decrees for Halligan Reservoir, which are set forth below:
Amount (af) Appropriation Adjudication
Name (Acre Feet) Date Date
No.Poudre Reservoir 16 3719 04/30/1900 12/09/1904
No.Poudre Reservoir 16 2689 08/16/1906 04/22/1922
No.Poudre Reservoir 16
(Refill) 4591 12/31/1921 09/10/1953
No.Poudre Reservoir 16
(Refill) 1817 cond- 12/31/1921 09/10/1953
tional
Halligan Reservoir is also known as North Poudre Reservoir No. 16 .
2 .2.4 Title. Title shown by the Title Commitment
previously furnished, Transamerica Title Commitment No. 6418310,
shall be acceptable to the City. A general warranty Deed
containing the exceptions and restrictions and easements therein
mentioned is acceptable to the City if no written notice of defects
is provided within thirty (30) days from the date this Agreement is
signed by the City, provided such defects were not known to the
City at the execution hereof and such defects affect the merchanta-
bility of title for the City' s intended use. Title to the property
to be conveyed to the City shall be merchantable and free and clear
of all liens and encumbrances, but subject to exceptions in the
title commitment furnished the City and the Lease, reservations and
restrictions and any easements of record or existing as of the date
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of this Agreement, the existence of which have previously been'
disclosed to the City and not objected to by the City as a defect
of title in accordance with Paragraph 1 .7 above.
within 30 days of exercise of the option, North Poudre shall
provide to the City updated title insurance commitments or ab-
stracts of title to the land to be conveyed pursuant to Paragraph
2.2. 1 above. If there are new matters shown from those previously
disclosed by the title commitment described in paragraph 1.7 above
which detrimentally affect marketable title and restrict or prevent
intended use, the City shall have 20 days thereafter to provide
written notice of defects of title, and failing such notice shall
have agreed that title is merchantable. North Poudre shall take
such action as is necessary to cure any title defects arising
subsequent to the approval of title provided for in Paragraph 1 .7
above of which written notice is provided by the City. If such
title defects are not cured within 365 days of notice of defects,
the City may, at its discretion, terminate this Agreement, and the
City shall thereupon be reimbursed without interest for all Option
or other payments made to North Poudre to date; provided, however,
that if the title defect was caused by intentional actions of North
Poudre, then the City shall not be limited to recovery of its
Option payments but shall be entitled to collect all consequential
damages resulting from North Poudre' s failure to cure title
defects. The parties acknowledge and agree that the imposition of
nonconsensual liens such as judgment liens upon the property shall
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not be considered to have been caused by the intentional actions of
North Poudre.
2 .2 . 5 Perfection of Conditional Decree. From and after
the conveyance by North Poudre to the City of all North Poudre' s
interest in the conditional decree for the Halligan Reservoir
Enlargement, the City shall in its own name be solely responsible
for the prosecution of any required diligence application for the
conditional decree. The parties acknowledge that the City' s
prosecution of such diligence cases will not guarantee that any
findings of reasonable diligence will be duly entered by the Water
Court, and the City shall bear no liability for the results of such
diligence proceedings, unless the City fails to timely file and
diligently pursue an application for a finding of reasonable
diligence.
2.3 Design and Construction of Project. Upon exercise of the
Option, the City shall undertake any further feasibility study and
facility design needed in its judgment for construction of the
Project. The City on a timely basis shall continue to advise North
Poudre of its activities in this regard and to consult with it as
set forth in Paragraph 2 .4 below.
2.3 . 1 Termination Prior to Construction of Reservoir.
If after exercise of the Option the City determines that because of
legal, technical, operational, or financial problems, the Project
is not feasible or is impossible, the City may, in its discretion,
terminate the Project. In such case, the City shall reconvey and
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transfer to North Poudre without charge any and all property
previously conveyed or transferred to it pursuant to Paragraph
2 .2 .1 above, free and clear of any lien or encumbrance created by
the City, except for any easements, permits, or restrictions placed
upon such property in aid of the construction or operation of the
Project, by deed or transfer carrying the same warranties of title
as the . deed or transfer to the City; and shall convey or assign
and deliver to North Poudre any studies, reports, data, or other
documents prepared or received by it relating to the Project that
are by law open to inspection by the public; and North Poudre shall
retain all option and purchase payments previously received from
the City and Board and any due and unpaid shall be paid by the
Board. In addition, in such case the City will, upon request of
North Poudre and on payment of the City's actual cost without
interest, convey to North Poudre any additional real property and
personal property that the City had acquired in order to complete
the Project free of all liens or encumbrances created by the City
except for any easements, permits, or restrictions placed on any
such additional real property and personal property in aid of or in
anticipation of construction or operation of the Project. 'Actual
cost shall not include any charge for time spent by City employees
nor any mark-up for consulting charges .
2.4 Operations Advisory Committee. No later than six (6)
months after the exercise of the Option, the parties shall
establish an Operations Advisory Committee, consisting of two City
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representatives appointed by the City manager and two North Poudre
representatives, who shall not be City employees, appointed by the
North Poudre Board of Directors. The Committee shall develop
written operation guidelines to aid in the operation of the
Enlarged Reservoir (as hereinafter defined) after construction.
Such guidelines shall address reservoir operations, accounting, and
measurement, including specific recommendations on the location and
type of measurement devices needed for accounting to meet the terms
of this Agreement. In case of disagreements between the North
Poudre and City representatives , the Operations Committee shall
jointly select a neutral party possessing experience and expertise
in the operation of reservoirs storing water used for both
irrigation and municipal purposes to mediate the disagreement by
reviewing materials supplied by the parties and meeting with all
members of the Operating Committee. All costs and expenses of the
mediator shall be split equally between North Poudre and the City.
If the foregoing mediation is unsuccessful in resolving the
disagreement, or if the Operations Committee cannot agree in
selecting the mediator, the parties may pursue such legal redress
as they determine best, with venue for any action arising from such
disagreement in the District Court of Larimer County.
2 .5 Construction. Upon completion of any necessary design
and study after exercise of the Option and upon obtaining any
necessary permits, the City shall proceed in a timely manner with
construction of the Project at its sole cost. The City will
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continue to inform North Poudre and consult with it concerning the
progress and the status of construction. All construction shall be
planned so as to avoid or minimize any loss of water storage or
delivery capacity from the existing reservoir during construction.
In the case of any such temporary loss of storage capacity or
delivery capacity resulting from construction, the City will make
available to North Poudre to the extent reasonably feasible an
equivalent amount of substitute water from other sources of supply
available to the City. If such substitute water does not restore
the yield otherwise due the stockholders of North Poudre, North
Poudre may, at its election, require the City to waive the use of
water attributable to one share of North Poudre stock owned by the
City for each five acre feet of otherwise unreplaced shortage in
yield suffered by North Poudre stockholders. This procedure may be
invoked by North Poudre in each year of temporary loss .
Article 3 . Security Arrangements.
In order to secure the parties' respective performance of
their obligations hereunder during the term of this Agreement, the
parties agree to the following security arrangements:
3 .1 option Period. Promptly after receipt of any money from
the City for option payments, North Poudre will place one-half of
the Option payments made by the City in an FDIC-insured savings
account in the State of Colorado. North Poudre shall be entitled
to regularly receive the interest on the funds so deposited. North
Poudre will, upon creation of the account, give the City a first
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lien on such account which shall either be perfected by delivering
possession of the passbook for the savings account to the City or,
alternatively, by setting up the account so that no withdrawals of
principal may be made without the City' s express written approval
(as by making the City a required signatory for withdrawals) . In
either case, North Poudre shall also provide the City with the
depository bank' s written Waiver of Set-Off against the savings
account or make a trust account arrangement at the sole expense of
North Poudre so the bank cannot claim this money. The security
interest shall be released and the passbook returned to North
Poudre or the City' s signature removed from the account at such
time as the Option is exercised or earlier if there is a written
agreement providing for such release signed by the City and North
Poudre. The City shall not be obligated to consent to any release
of security interest prior to the exercise of the Option. If the
Option is not exercised by the City prior to its expiration, and
there are no conditions which have occurred which require the
return of Option payments to the City, then the security interest
shall be released and the passbook returned to North Poudre or the
City' s signature removed from the account.
3 .2 Option Exercise. Simultaneously with the delivery of the
deed conveying the Halligan Reservoir property to the City, the
Board shall execute and deliver to North Poudre the Bond evidencing
its obligation to North Poudre in order to secure the Board' s
payment of the purchase price described in paragraph 2 .2.2 above.
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upon termination of the Project in accordance with
Paragraph 2 .3 .1 above, and reconveyance by the City of the property
previously conveyed to it and compliance by the city with all
obligations under this Agreement, North Poudre shall return to the
Board for cancellation the Bond to be given to North Poudre by the
Board.
Article 4. Ownership, Operation, and Maintenance of Enlarged
Reservoir.
4.1 Storage Capacity Allocation. upon completion of the
Halligan Reservoir Enlargement (the "Enlarged Reservoir") , North
Poudre shall be entitled to independent, free, and unrestricted use
of its reserved easement of 6 , 408 acre-feet of active storage space
in the Enlarged Reservoir ("North Poudre Isseparate storage") , and
the City shall be entitled to the balance of capacity within the
Enlarged Reservoir ("city, s separate storage") . Each party shall
be entitled to store water owned and controlled by it in the
temporarily unused capacity of the other, without charge, subject
to such water supply being "booked over" or transferred to the
other party, or being spilled from the Enlarged Reservoir, as the
other party makes use of its separate storage capacity.
Further, provided that there is no interference with the
water rights identified in this Agreement, each party shall be
entitled to store any water supply available to it from any source
within its separate storage capacity without charge for such use;
the parties agree, however, to cooperate to ensure that the
-20-
introduction of water supply from other sources does not impair
water quality within the Enlarged Reservoir to the detriment of
either party.
4 .1 . 1 Evaporation and Seepage. In the event of lawful
imposition of evaporation and seepage charges on Reservoir
operations by administrative authorities, so long as the City has
a water supply in storage within its separate capacity within the
Reservoir, all evaporation and seepage from the Reservoir shall be
deducted from the City' s share of water in the Reservoir. At any
time that the only water stored in the Reservoir is owned by North
Poudre, then, in the event of lawful imposition of evaporation and
seepage charges on reservoir operations by administrative authori-
ties, evaporation and seepage losses shall be borne by North
Poudre.
4 .1 .2 water Represented by North Poudre Stock. This
Agreement does not convey nor grant any rights to the City for
independently operating any North Poudre storage for the 6, 408 acre
feet secured to North Poudre under this Agreement which may be
attributed to the City's ownership of North Poudre stock; provided,
however, that at the City' s request and to the extent North Poudre
may legally do so, North Poudre may allocate all or some water
attributable to stock owned by the City for delivery to the City's
enlargement space in Halligan Reservoir under the policies of North
Poudre.
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4 .2 Outlet Capacity. In the operation of the Enlarged
Reservoir, the City shall at all times honor North Poudre' s right
to the benefit of up to 250 c.f.s. of outlet capacity for releases
from the North Poudre separate storage.
4 . 3 Temporary Storage Capacity Restrictions. North Poudre' s
storage capacity of 6,408 acre-feet shall be preserved inviolate
subject only to any temporary emergency restrictions which invade
such capacity. In the event that the storage capacity available in
the Enlarged Reservoir is restricted below the full, enlarged
capacity as a result of (a) hold orders issued by the State
Engineer or (b) sedimentation reducing storage capacity, or if a
portion of the capacity is dedicated to storage for purposes not
envisioned in this Agreement, the parties agree that any such
restrictions or deduction of capacity shall be deducted, first,
against the City' s separate storage capacity in the Reservoir, to
the end that North Poudre' s separate storage capacity will be
inviolate so long as the total usable storage capacity in the
Enlarged Reservoir is at least 6,408 acre-feet.
4 .4 Recreation. The City shall enjoy sole ownership and
control of all recreational rights on the Reservoir, subject to the
Lease and any preferential right to recreational rights as
contained in the Lease if it is extant upon exercise of the option.
All such recreation rights shall be subject and subordinate to the
use of the Reservoir for water storage and release for the water
supply purposes of the parties.
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4 .5 Operation of Reservoir. If the Option is exercised, upon
delivery of the deeds to City, the City shall operate the Reservoir
and provide all Reservoir accounting necessary to document the
operation of the Reservoir and the allocation of water supply
within the Reservoir between the City and North Poudre. If
requested by North Poudre, the City shall provide daily verbal
reports of storage and releases. In addition, the City shall
provide North Poudre with monthly written accountings broken down
to a daily basis of inflow, storage, and releases into and from
North Poudre' s and the City' s separate storage.
The City will effect releases or exchanges of North
Poudre' s water stored under its retained decrees and entitlements
within 24 hours after receipt of request for releases or exchanges
from North Poudre and approval, if required, of such requests by
the Division Engineer. The City will, if reasonably possible,
accommodate requests for earlier releases by North Poudre.
4 .6 Measurement Devices . As a part of the construction of
the Project, the City shall install a gauging station below the
Reservoir and such other measuring devices as the Operations
Advisory Committee may recommend.
4 .7 Exchanges. In the event that either the City or North
Poudre determines to lease or exchange water in the Enlarged
Reservoir outside of their respective water supply systems, the
other party shall enjoy a first right of refusal of acquiring any
such water to be exchanged or leased on the same terms and
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conditions as offered to any other party. The first right of
refusal must be exercised or declined within seven (7) days from
the receipt of written notification of the terms of an acceptable
lease or exchange agreement.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the first right of refusal
of North Poudre shall not apply to any water that might be required
to be delivered by the City to Halligan Resources Company and the
Phantom Canyon Ranch Company pursuant to the Phantom Canyon Agree-
ment, which can be up to 1000 acre-feet.
4 . 8 Maintenance and Repair. Once each year the City shall,
after notifying North Poudre and inviting its participation,
conduct a thorough maintenance inspection of the Enlarged Reservoir
for determining maintenance or repairs needed. The City shall
thereafter categorize repairs recommended or required as a result
of the inspection or otherwise as "routine maintenance and repairs"
or "capital reconstruction. "
4 . 8.1 Routine Maintenance and Repairs. Routine
i
maintenance and repairs shall include ordinary and foreseeable
preventative maintenance and upkeep generally required to maintain
the Enlarged Reservoir and its appurtenances in sound operating
condition. The City shall be responsible for and shall bear all
costs of such routine maintenance and repair of the Enlarged
Reservoir and its appurtenances and additions.
4 .8.2 Capital Reconstruction. Capital Reconstruction
shall include major repairs or rehabilitation of the Enlarged
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Reservoir of a nature not reasonably foreseeable, or the
reconstruction or rehabilitation of the Enlarged Reservoir at the
conclusion of its useful life. Such capital reconstruction
includes, but is not limited to, complete rehabilitation or
replacement of the dam and its appurtenant structures as a result
of an act of God, failure of the Reservoir, or otherwise.
If such capital reconstruction would be required to
maintain the Enlarged Reservoir at its enlarged capacity, then the
City shall, after consultation with North Poudre, determine in its
discretion whether it will expend the funds necessary for such
capital reconstruction. The City, in its discretion may relinquish
the use of the Enlarged Reservoir, transfer to North Poudre the
conditional decree for Halligan Reservoir and any other water
rights it has specifically appropriated for the Enlarged Reservoir,
and convey to North Poudre the land and appurtenances acquired for
the Project to North Poudre pursuant to the following paragraph;
provided,. however, that nothing herein shall require the City to
convey to North Poudre any water rights it has changed to allow
storage in the Enlarged Reservoir.
4 .8.2.1 Reconveyance. If the City determines that
because of legal, technical, operational or financial problems, it
is infeasible or impossible to complete the required capital recon-
struction so that North Poudre's separate storage is maintained,
the City shall convey to North Poudre at no charge the entire
Project, including, all property previously conveyed or transferred
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to the City under this Agreement. Such conveyances shall be by
instruments carrying the same warranties of title as received by
the City when the property was conveyed to it, free and clear of
all liens and encumbrances created by the City except for
easements, permits or restrictions placed upon the property in aid
of the construction or operation of the Enlarged Reservoir. If the
cause of the needed capital reconstruction is an Act of God, and
the City relinquishes its interest acquired under this Agreement,
the City shall bear no further responsibility or liability to North
Poudre for the relinquishment of the Enlarged Reservoir. If,
however, the cause of the needed capital reconstruction is faulty
design, faulty construction, or negligent operation of the Enlarged
Reservoir, or some other cause within the reasonable control of the
City, and the Enlarged Reservoir, if not reconstructed, is unable
to maintain an active capacity of at least 6, 408 acre-feet, then
the City, if it determines that because of legal, technical,
operational or financial problems, it is not feasible or possible
to undertake a capital reconstruction of the Enlarged Reservoir,
shall either reconstruct the Enlarged Reservoir to a capacity to
allow North Poudre continued use of its separate storage capacity
in the Enlarged Reservoir or, alternatively, provide equivalent
storage capacity in another facility to which North Poudre' s
retained Halligan Reservoir decrees may reasonably be transferred
and used.
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Upon the reconveyance herein required, North Poudre shall
deliver the Bond to the Board for cancellation.
4 .9 Liability. Upon conveyance of the Project to the City,
the City shall, to the extent permitted by law, indemnify North
Poudre and hold it harmless from any and all claims or causes of
action arising from or caused by the negligent acts or omissions by
the City or its officers or employees in the construction and
operation of the Enlarged Reservoir, dam, and appurtenances. The
aforesaid indemnification shall not apply if the City has, in any
manner, been prevented by North Poudre from conducting maintenance
or repair of the Enlarged Reservoir or its appurtenances . Further,
this indemnification is subject to the requirements, defenses , and
limitations of the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act, section 24 -
10-101 , C.R.S. , et sec . , as from time to time amended, and as
otherwise provided by law. North Poudre shall continue to be
responsible for all of its own actions but it is not responsible
for the acts or omissions of the City.
Article 5. Miscellaneous.
5 . 1 Water Court Filings. subject to the specific provisions
of this Agreement concerning applications for findings of reason-
able diligence, any party to this Agreement may make water court
filings involving their respective interests in Halligan Reservoir
without objection from any other party so long as such filings are
not inconsistent with this Agreement and so long as any filing is
not detrimental to other rights of a party to this Agreement.
27-
Water court filings may include new appropriations, and inclusion
of Halligan Reservoir in change of use, augmentation or exchange
plans.
5 .2 Notices. Any notices to be provided pursuant to this
Agreement shall be deemed delivered three (3) business days after
deposit in the united States mail, postage prepaid, addressed as
follows :
If to North Poudre: The North Poudre 'Irrigation Company
P.O. Box 100
3729 Cleveland Avenue
Wellington, Colorado 80549
with copies to its board of directors and manager. One
copy shall be sent to the North Poudre president at the
residence address.
If to City or Board: Water and Wastewater Director
City of Fort Collins
P.O. Box 580
Fort Collins, Colorado 80522
Notices shall be sent by certified or registered mail, return
receipt requested. These addresses may be changed by written
notice to the other parties.
5 . 3 Default . Each and every term and condition of this
Agreement shall be deemed to be a material element of the
Agreement. In the event that any party should fail or refuse to
perform according to the terms of this Agreement, such party may be
declared in default. All payment obligations of the Board here-
under shall be merged into the Bond and the ordinance authorizing
the issuance thereof . The parties acknowledge and agree that the
subject of this Agreement concerns unique property and performance
-28-
by the parties, and the parties therefore agree that in case of
default by any party hereto, the other party shall be enitlted to
specific performance by the other party of its obligations here-
under. In the event of such default, if the party that is not in
default commences legal or equitable action against the defaulting
party, the defaulting party shall be liable for the non-defaulting
party' s reasonable attorneys fees and costs incurred because of the
default.
5.4 Assignment by North Poudre. North Poudre may assign its
rights and obligations hereunder only with the prior written
consent of the City and the Board, which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld.
5 .5 Assignment of City' s and Board' s Rights. The City and
the Board may assign their rights under this Agreement only as
follows:
(1) The City and the Board may assign their rights and
obligations under this Agreement without restraint to a municipal
or quasi -municipal corporation or enterprise thereof that succeeds
to the water service obligations of the City and/or the Board to
the City' s inhabitants and has demonstrated to North Poudre that it
is financially responsible. Any interest sought to be assigned or
conveyed by the City shall always be specifically and expressly
subordinate to the rights reserved in North Poudre described in
Paragraph 2 .2.3 of this Agreement. Upon such assignment, the City
-29 -
and the Board shall be discharged from any further obligations
under this Agreement.
(2) The parties agree that should the City ever desire
to assign or convey all or any part of its interest in the Enlarged
Reservoir or water rights associated therewith to a public entity
(defined for purposes of this paragraph to mean the United States
or any agency or instrumentality thereof, the State of Colorado or
any agency, instrumentality or political subdivision thereof, a
municipal or quasi-municipal corporation or enterprise thereof, or
any other public district engaged in developing, managing or
supplying water in the State of Colorado) that will not succeed to
the City' s and/or the Board' s water service obligations to its
inhabitants, and that the City, in the good faith exercise of its
discretion, has determined is financially responsible, then the
City will consult with North Poudre concerning the reason for any
such proposed assignment or conveyance and whether such assignment
or conveyance can be avoided. In addition, in such case, North
Poudre shall have a Right of First Refusal to acquire any interest
in the Enlarged Reservoir or associated water rights sought to be
assigned or conveyed by the City at the same price and upon the
same terms and conditions as those contained in a bona fide written
offer made to the City by a public entity, which price and terms
and conditions are acceptable to the City. The Right of First
Refusal shall be exercised as follows: Upon receipt of an
acceptable bona fide offer from a public entity, the City shall
-30-
provide North Poudre with written notice of the price and terms and
conditions thereof; North Poudre shall have thirty (30) days
thereafter to provide the City with a written notice of exercise of
the Right of First Refusal. Should North Poudre not provide a
written notice of exercise of its Right of First Refusal within
that 30-day period, the Right of First Refusal shall be terminated
and the City shall be free to proceed with the assignment or
conveyance to the third party. Should North Poudre provide a
written notice of exercise of its Right of First Refusal, then it
shall have six months from the date of its notice of exercise in
which to close upon the assignment or conveyance of the interest to
be conveyed by providing the consideration therefor to the City.
Should North Poudre fail to consummate the closing within such 6 -
month period, or any extension thereof granted by the City (which
extension will not be unreasonably refused provided North Poudre is
diligently pursuing appropriate financing to effect the closing) ,
then the Right of First Refusal shall be terminated, and the City
may assign or convey the interest to a third party upon the same
terms and conditions as the transaction that was not consummated
with North Poudre. Any interest sought to be assigned or conveyed
by the City shall always be specifically and expressly subordinate
to the rights reserved in North Poudre described in Paragraph 2 .2 .3
of this Agreement. Should North Poudre either not provide timely
notice of exercise of its Right of First Refusal upon receipt of
notice from the City, or should it fail, after providing notice of
-31-
exercise, to close the transaction within six months of the notice
of exercise, and should the City thereafter not consummate the
contemplated transaction with a third party, then, if the City
subsequently seeks to enter into a new arrangement for assignment
or conveyance, it will again honor North Poudre's Right of First
Refusal in accordance with the procedures set forth above.
(3) Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to prevent
the City from discharging any duties or responsibilities hereunder
by or through its duly authorized departments, officials, agents or
employees including, without limitation, the Board or its duly
authorized officials, agents or employees .
5 .6 Binding Effect. This Agreement is the -entire agreement
of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and shall
be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties, their
successors and assigns .
5 .7 Survival of Agreement After Closing. Except as provided
in Paragraph 5 .3 hereof, this Agreement shall survive any convey-
ance of property and shall not merge into any deed or deeds given
if the Option is exercised.
5. 8 Prepayment. The Board and the City shall not have the
right of prepayment of any sum due North Poudre under this
Agreement or the Bond without North Poudre' s written consent.
North Poudre shall not be obligated to accept any prepayment which
may create an income tax obligation upon North Poudre.
-32-
5 .9 Agreement with The Nature Conservancy. There is pre-
sently an Agreement in effect between The Nature Conservancy and
The North Poudre Irrigation Company, which was approved by the
North Poudre manager on December 9, 1991. It is for a three-year
term. A copy of this agreement has been furnished to the City.
Any conveyance to the City by North Poudre will be subject to the
terms of any existing agreement with The Nature Conservancy. North
Poudre agrees it will not make a new written agreement or extend
such agreement without the City's written approval of any
agreement, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. The
City will have not less than thirty (30) days from written notice
to it of the proposed agreement to respond.
Article 6 . Conditions Subsequent
6.1 Stockholder Ratification. This Agreement is conditioned
upon the ratification by a majority of the stockholders of North
Poudre present at the 1994 Annual Meeting of Stockholders . If the
Agreement is not so ratified by the stockholders of North Poudre,
then the Agreement shall be of no further force or effect, and any
payments previously made hereunder shall be promptly refunded to
the City without interest.
CITY OF F COLLINS ORADO, a
Colorado ipal co orati
By:
Mayor
P.O. Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522-0580
ATTE$T�
��ity Clerk
vVVV -33-
APPROVED AS FORM-
Asst stant City Attorney
City Spe ial Water Counsel
City Bond Counsel
BOARD OF THE F OLLINS UTILITY,
a City owne usi es a erpr' e
By � �4yor �X -� � �"•T'CI.AP n`� 0. C�k 1}ou.-•l
P.O. Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522-0580
ATTEST:
THE NORTH POUDRE IRRIGATION COMPANY
By:
ident
3729 Cleveland Avenue
P.O. Box 100
Wellington, CO 80549
ATTEST:
Manager
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
HILL & HILL, P.C.
/0 2�- C73
Alden V. H 1
160 W. Mountain Avenue
PO Box 421
Fort Collins, CO 80522
COUNSEL FOR THE NORTH POUDRE
IRRIGATION COMPANY
-34-
EXHIBIT A
HALLIGAN RESERVOIR ENLARGEMENT PROJECT
SCHEDULE OF PAYMENTS TO NORTH POUDRE IRRIGATION COMPANY
Payment Due Date Payment
See Note Below $40,000. 00
December 31, 1993 $30,000. 00
December 31, 1994 $40,000. 00
December 31, 1995 $50,000.00
December 31, 1996 $60,000.00
December 31, 1997 $70,000.00
December 31 , 1998 $80,000.00
December 31, 1999 $90,000.00
December 31, 2000 $188,223.51
December 31, 2001 $188,223.51
December 31, 2002 $188,223.51
December 31, 2003 $188,223.51
December 31 , 2004 $188,223 .51
December 31, 2005 $188,223 .51
December 31, 2006 $188,223 .51
December 31 , 2007 $188,223 .51
December 31, 2008 $188,223 .51
December 31 , 2009 $188,223 .51
December 31, 2010 $188,223 .51
December 31 , 2011 $188,223 .51
December 31, 2012 $188,223.51
December 31 , 2013 $188,223 .51
December 31, 2014 $188,223. 51
December 31, 2015 $188,223.51
December 31, 2016 $188,223. 51
December 31, 2017 $188,223.51
December 31, 2018 $188,223.51
December 31, 2019 $188,223.51
December 31, 2020 $188,223 . 51
December 31, 2021 $188,223 . 51
December 31, 2022 $188,223.51
December 31, 2023 $187,925. 67
December 31 , 2024 $110,611. 82
December 31, 2025 $110, 611.82
December 31 , 2026 $43,420. 31
December 31, 2027 $43,420.31
December 31, 2028 $38,851.24
December 31, 2029 $19,846. 68
_ December 31, 2030 21gx846. 68
TOTAL $5, ,
Note: An initial option payment of $40,000 is due within
60 days after signing the agreement, which extends
the option through December 31, 1993 .
ATTACHMENT 4
RESOLUTION 2003-104
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
ADOPTING A WATER SUPPLY AND DEMAND
MANAGEMENT POLICY
WHEREAS,a Water Supply Policy was adopted by the City Council in December 1988 to help
direct the acquisition, development, and management of the City's water supplies since that time; and
WHEREAS, a Water Demand Management Policy was adopted by the City Council in April
1992, which set water use goals and provided for measures to help meet those goals; and
WHEREAS, there is a need to update the water supply and demand management policies to
provide guidance regarding the future development and use of the City's water supplies; and
WHEREAS,the Council has requested that staff develop an integrated water supply and demand
management policy; and
WHEREAS, the Fort Collins Water Supply and Demand Management Policy attached hereto
as Exhibit"A"and incorporated herein by this reference has been developed over the last several years
through discussions with interested citizens, groups, the Water Board and City Council.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT
COLLINS that the City Council hereby adopts the Fort Collins Water Supply and Demand Management
Policy attached hereto, to,provide general criteria for City decision making regarding water supply
projects, acquisition of water rights, and demand management measures.
Passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the Council of the City of Fort Collins held this 16th
day of September, A.D. 2003.
Mayor
ATTEST:
UAVAA
City Clerk
l
I
EXHIBIT "A"
Fort Collins Water Supply and Demand Management Policy
September 16, 2003
Policy Objective: To provide a sustainable and integrated approach to (1) providing an
adequate and reliable supply of water for the beneficial use by customers and the
community and (2) managing the level of demand and the efficient use of a scarce and
valuable resource.
1. Demand Management
a. Water Use Goals. The City will implement the necessary water conservation
practices and programs to reduce its water use to an average of 185 gallons per
capita per day (gped) by the year 2010. In addition, the per capita peak daily
demand will be reduced to 475 gpcd by the year 2010. These calculations are
based on the total treated water produced for use by City customers (adjusted for
large contractual customers and other sales or exchange arrangements) divided by
the estimated population of the City's water service area.
b. Educational Programs. The. City will have a continuous, comprehensive and
visible public education program that helps citizens and businesses use water
appropriately and efficiently. Examples of such programs include (1) working
with the schools to provide water conservation education, (2)promoting the use of
xeriscape landscaping for public facilities, businesses, homeowners, and others,
(3) helping the public to understand and utilize evapo-transpiration information in
determining their irrigation applications, and (4) educating water users on the
operation of sprinkler system controllers.
C. Rate Structures. The City will have water rate structures for all classes of
customers that provide an economic incentive to use water efficiently. Examples
of structures that may be utilized include (1) tiered structures with increasing
prices as water use increases, (2) seasonal blocks with higher rates during the
irrigation season, (3) water budget approaches based on appropriate targets for
individual customers, and(4) flat rate structures.
d. Incentive Programs. When determined to be cost effective, the City will
implement incentive programs that will assist customers in replacing outdated
plumbing fixtures or landscape features that use excessive amounts of water.
Examples for reducing indoor use are rebates for replacing showerheads, toilets
and clothes washers with water conserving models. Examples for reducing
outdoor use include rebates for' expenses related to irrigation scheduling
equipment and converting landscape to xeriscape.
a
e. Regulatory Measures. The City will maintain and/or adopt regulations that
promote water efficiency and reduction of water waste while recognizing the
benefits of adequate water to maintain an attractive and pleasant environment in
the City. Examples include regulations that require the amendment of soils with
organic materials and prohibition of homeowner associations banning the use of
xeriscape. The City will also review its Land Use Code for potential revisions
which would limit bluegrass turf on new landscapes and prohibit landscaping that
requires irrigation in certain areas such as medians, thin strips, and other small
areas.
f. Operational Measures. The City will establish practices and procedures to deliver
and use water in its facilities without excessive losses. Examples of such
practices are the leak detection program to reduce losses through the Utility's
water distribution system and the recycling of backwash water at the Water
Treatment Facility.
2. Water Supply for Municipal Use
a. Drought Criteria. The reliability of the Fort Collins water supply should be
maintained to meet at least the 1-in-50 year drought event in the Cache la Poudre
River Basin. Water rights and storage capacity should be acquired ahead of the
time it is needed to meet at least the 1-in-50 year drought criteria, so as to provide
enough time to seek and obtain water court decrees and diversion or storage
facilities, if needed, to use such water.
b. Raw Water Requirements (RWR). The City shall require developers to turn over
water rights, or cash in-lieu-of water rights, such that the total water supply
available for municipal purposes is adequate to meet or exceed a 1-in-50 year
drought over the long term. Cash collected shall be used to purchase additional
water rights, acquire or develop additional storage capacity, or enter into other
arrangements that will increase the long-term reliability of the City's supply
system.
C. Storage Capacity. The City will pursue the acquisition or development of storage
capacity which is needed to manage the City's water rights in an efficient and
effective manner and which will enhance the City's ability to get through at least a
1-in-50 year drought. New storage capacity in the range of 12,500 to 14,000 acre-
feet shall be pursued to (1) help meet return flow obligations incurred from ,
transfers of water rights from agricultural use to municipal use, (2) provide
carryover water from wet years to dry years, and (3) provide operational
flexibility, some redundancy and reliability. Storage options include the '
enlargement of Halligan Reservoir, the development of local gravel pits into
storage ponds, the acquisition of storage capacity in new or existing reservoirs, or
some combination of the above.
d. Use of Existing Supplies. The City will use its existing supplies to meet
municipal obligations with the following priorities: (1)to meet water demands by
the City's treated water customers, and (2) to meet raw water needs in the City
and to meet other obligations of the City. Raw water needs include use for such
purposes as irrigation of City parks, golf courses, cemeteries, and other greenbelt
areas. Other raw water obligations include primarily water transfers to other
entities because of agreements or exchanges made to manage the water supply
system more effectively. Water not needed for the above purposes is referred to
as surplus water and may be made available to others in accordance with decrees
and other policies that may apply.
3. Water Supply Shortage Response Plan
The City will maintain a plan for responding to situations where there are projected water
supply shortages, either because of severe drought conditions or because of disruptions in
the taw water delivery system. This plan may include measures to temporarily reduce
water use through media campaigns, various regulations, restrictions, rate adjustments
and others. The plan may also include provisions to temporarily supplement the supply
through interruptible water supply contracts, leases, exchanges and operational measures.
4. Use of Surplus Raw Water
To the extent the City has surplus raw water available after meeting the needs of its
treated water customers and meeting other raw water obligations, it will make water
available to entities or individuals at a fair rental market price that helps offset the City's
cost of owning such supplies. Other objectives or uses of the surplus water include, in no
particular order, .providing irrigation water to farmers to provide for the continued
production of agricultural crops in the Cache la Poudre River Basin and the Northern
Colorado Water Conservancy District, helping maintain open space and natural areas
supported by Fort Collins, and providing for other uses as opportunities arise.
5. Regional Cooperation
a. Working with Other Municipal Providers. The City will continue to work with
the water suppliers throughout the Northern Colorado Front Range to assure that
adequate supplies are maintained in the region. When benefits are identified, the
City will cooperate with area entities in studying, building, and sharing capacity of
water transmission lines, distribution systems, and storage reservoirs. Entities in
this area that have many common interests with the City and which the City has
the potential to cooperate with include the Soldier Canyon Filter Plant and the
associated water districts, the City of Greeley and the Northern Colorado Water
Conservancy District. In particular, the City should work closely with water
districts that serve Fort Collins residents to encourage similar policies regarding
drought protection and to provide mutual assistance during emergency situations.
b. Working with Local Irrigation Companies. The City will continue to cooperate
with local irrigation companies regarding the transfer, exchange and use of water
in the Cache la Poudre River Basin. As a major shareholder in many of the local
irrigation companies, it is necessary and desirable that the City work closely with
these companies.
C. Transferring Water Rights from Agricultural to Municipal Use, The City will
periodically transfer its water rights from agricultural use to municipal use on
those shares that come from areas upon which the City is growing, or from shares
where the irrigation of such lands has ceased. For water rights that were derived
from irrigated agricultural lands that remain in viable agricultural areas, the City
may transfer these water rights to municipal use when a need is identified or other
factors make it prudent to do so. To the extent that this water remains surplus to
the City's need, the City will continue to support the local agricultural economy by
renting this surplus agricultural water back to irrigators under the respective
irrigation companies.
6. Raw Water Quality
The City will take a proactive role in protecting the quality of water in the various
watersheds from which the City's raw water is derived. The acquisition, development,
and management of the City's raw water will be consistent with the City's Drinking
Water Quality Policy and other applicable policies related to watershed protection.
7. Stream Flow and Ecosystem Protection
To the extent the City's use of its water rights and water resources are not adversely
affected,the City will cooperate with other local groups or agencies to encourage flows in
local streams to protect the ecosystem, in accordance with Colorado water law and the
administration of water rights in Colorado.
8. Recreational/Aesthetic Flows
To the extent the City's use of its water rights and water'resources are not adversely
affected, the City will cooperate with other local groups or agencies to explore projects or
measures that would provide flows in streams and water in reservoirs for recreational and
aesthetic purposes, in accordance with Colorado water law and the administration of
water rights in Colorado.
- 5
ATTACHMENT 5
RESOLUTION 2003-121
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
APPROVING THE EXERCISE OF THE CITY'S OPTION
FROM NORTH POUDRE IRRIGATION COMPANY
TO PROCEED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF
THE HALLIGAN RESERVOIR ENLARGEMENT PROJECT
AND AUTHORIZING OTHER RELATED ACTIONS
WHEREAS,in 1987,the City acquired an interest in the Halligan Reservoir Enlargement Project
and the associated conditional storage right,pursuant to Resolution 87-161,adopted by the City Council
on November 3, 1987; and
WHEREAS,the City conducted extensive engineering and environmental studies in 1989,which
have since been updated in 2002 and 2003, and such studies show the project to belfeasible and cost
effective; and
WHEREAS,in 1993,pursuant to Resolution 93-164,adopted by the City Council on November
2, 1993, the City entered into an agreement with North Poudre Irrigation Company("NPIC")through
which NPIC granted to the City an option to acquire all the property or other rights necessary to
proceed with the enlargement of the Halligan Reservoir(the "Option Agreement"); and
WHEREAS, on September 16, 2003, the City Council adopted Resolution 2003-104, which
approved a Water Supply and Demand Management Policy that provides that the City will pursue the
acquisition or development of 12,500 to 14,000 acre-feet of water storage capacity in order to provide
carryover water and to provide operational flexibility and reliability; and
WHEREAS,City staff has since that time determined that 12,000 acre-feet of carryover capacity
that would be available to the City in an enlarged Halligan Reservoir would meet the long-term needs
of the City; and
WHEREAS,Halligan Reservoir can potentially be enlarged to 40,000 acre-feet and the City and
other local entities are interested in pursuing a partnership to provide an environmentally sensitive and
cost-effective project that meets the regional needs of several entities within the Cache la Poudre River
Basin; and
WHEREAS, by working cooperatively with other entities, the City can advance significant
environmental benefits to the North Fork of the Poudre River that can be achieved through the Halligan
Reservoir Enlargement Project (the"Project"); and
WHEREAS, the City needs to explore partnership agreements with other entities and proceed
with a comprehensive permitting process to secure the environmental approvals required for the Project
and to improve the environmental sensitivity and cost-effectiveness of the Project; and
WHEREAS,the Option Agreement is scheduled to expire if the City does not exercise its option
to proceed with the Project (the "Option") by the end of 2003; and
WHEREAS,Ordinance No. 5, of the Board of the Water Utility Enterprise of the City of Fort
Collins (the "Board"), authorizing the issuance of a non-interest bearing water revenue bond to secure
said Enterprise's payment obligations for the benefit of NPIC (the "Revenue Bond") pursuant to the
Option Agreement, is scheduled for consideration by the Board on first reading on this 4th day of
November, 2003; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Article XIV, Section 18 of the Constitution of the State of Colorado,
Section 29-1-203 of the Colorado Revised Statutes, and Article H, Section 16 of the City Charter, the
City Council may authorize intergovernmental agreements through which the City may cooperate
together.with other governmental entities to provide any function lawfully authorized to each.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT
COLLINS as follows:
Section 1. That the City Manager is hereby authorized to take such actions as are necessary
to exercise the City's Option to proceed with the Project pursuant to the Option Agreement,contingent
upon the final approval of the issuance of the Revenue Bond by the Board.
Section 2. That the City Manager is hereby authorized,upon the exercise of the Option,to
proceed with such investigation, planning, regulatory review processes, site acquisition, design and
construction work as he determines to be necessary to pursue the enlargement of Halligan Reservoir to
a capacity not to exceed 40,000 acre-feet, provided that the capacity and design shall be economically
feasible,shall comply with all applicable environmental standards and requirements and shall be subject
to semi-annual review by the City Council.
Section 3. That the City Manager is hereby authorized, upon the exercise of the Option, to
negotiate and enter into a written agreement with NPIC for the operation and maintenance of Halligan
Reservoir pending the enlargement project.
Section 4. That the City Manager is hereby authorized,upon the exercise of the Option, to
negotiate and enter into written agreements with NPIC, Fort Collins-Loveland Water District, East
Larimer County Water District, North Weld County Water District, and other local water suppliers
interested in acquiring capacity in the Project,through which the City may share the costs of engineering
and environmental studies,environmental mitigation,project management and design,and other Project
work with such other interested parties, in exchange for possible future rights to a portion of the new
Halligan Reservoir capacity to be constructed.
Section 5. That the City Manager is hereby authorized, upon the exercise of the Option, to
negotiate and enter into a written agreement with the City of Greeley providing for cooperation,
coordination and cost-sharing for environmental review, planning and permitting, and other work
mutually beneficial to the City for its Halligan Reservoir Project and City of Greeley for its proposed
Seaman Reservoir enlargement project.
Section 6. That the City Manager is hereby authorized, upon the exercise of the Option, to
negotiate and enter into one or more written agreements with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
providing for cooperation, coordination, investigation and analysis related to federal environmental
regulatory requirements applicable to the Project.
a
Section 7. That the City Manager is hereby authorized, upon the exercise of the Option, to
enter into negotiations with NPIC,Fort Collins-Loveland Water District, East Larimer County Water
District, North Weld County Water District, the City of Greeley, and such other local water suppliers
as may be willing and able to cooperate in the enlargement of Halligan Reservoir as set forth herein,and
to develop agreements providing for cooperative financing of construction and ongoing operation of the
Project in exchange for proportionally shared use of the new Halligan Reservoir storage capacity on a
long-term basis, which agreements shall be presented to the City Council at a later date for final
approval.
Passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the Council of the City of Fort Collins held this 4th
day of November, A.D. 2003. ,
ayor '
ATTEST:
City Clerk
3 /
Halligan-Seaman
Water Management Project
Update
City Council Work Session
July 14, 2009
I
Purpose
• Update Council on Halligan-Seaman
Water Management Project
• Address Council comments and
answer questions about the project
and the ongoing permitting process
CiTy o4
Halligan-Seaman Water Management Project
Regional Project with 6 water providers
Reservoir Participants
Halligan City of Fort Collins
East Larimer County Water District (ELCO)"
Fort Collins-Loveland Water District (FCLWD)'
North Weld County Water District (NWCWD)'
North Poudre Irrigation Company (NPIC)
Seaman City of Greeley
"Collectively known as the Tri-Districts c,Tyof
�t
Proposed Enlargements
• Enlargement of two existing reservoirs on the
North Fork of the Poudre River
— Halligan Reservoir from 6,500 to 40,000 acre feet
— Seaman Reservoir from 5,000 to 53,000 acre feet
rtrt-f
C
Proposed Enlarged
N gen Reurvon
,nrnr ru.mi
PmPosed ENerped
MJron Seeman Resenrorc
a...m
iuvariw.wr� � .
�rlrFl Wr Mrnwn 1.BPi .i..,ii
�fOrWCnn4yi
5
I .4
J
C
t
- - NI
y'
Topics
• Storage in Water Supply Planning
• Previous Council Actions
• Sizing Halligan Enlargement
• Triple Bottom Line for Enlarging Halligan
Ciry of
CoRins
r•�f�
Fort Collins Water • •
Relatively senior • portfolio
acquired over '•
• ' Wright Reservoir
constraints— Only reservoir owned and operated by City
— About 6,500 acre feet of active capacity
— Physical • to
about 3,500 acre feet
Other Storage
10
• Horsetooth Reservoir
— Not the City's reservoir
— Operated by Northern Water
— City cannot store its Poudre supplies in Horsetooth
— Northern Water policy limits carryover storage
year-to-year
• Ditch Company Reservoirs
— Partial ownership with little control of use
— Most downstream of treatment plant
Fort Collins
Why is Storage Important?
• City water supply is from as is runoff
— Arrives quickly during spring runoff
— Amount can vary widely year to year
• Storage enables the City to meet demands:
— Throughout the year
— During drought years
• Storage protects the City against system
vulnerability
Foi. Irt,��s
Average Poudre River Flows
:..
..
..
1,200
I
...
:..
...
0.
0.
•
Date
C
Poudre River Flows
4,000
""0 -Wei Year —
3,000 (1980)
_2.500
U
0 2,000 - <— Average Year
" 1,500 - - - - (1993)
1,000
soa
0
a m W o 0
g Q cn z o
Date
13 Source: Cache la Poudre River at the Mouth of the Canyon Gage(USGS 06752000)
C
Water Supplies and Demands for Fort Collins Utilities
180
160
140 130%of Average Pou6:e
River Plows(1986)
120 - - - - ----- -- - - -- - -
6100 --- -- — ------
0 80 -
U.
60
40 y+�
20
0 --- — - -- - - —
> U C 1] d
Z 0 LL Q2 Q (J O
14 - - - - - - - - - Date - - - - - - - - -
LODireot Flow Rights_ Water from Storage —2008 Actual Demands
7
Water Supplies and Demands for Fort Collins Utilities
180
160
140 % of Average Poudre
River Flows (2002)
120
`c�i100
o 80
LL
60
40
20
0
z o u- ¢ ' '� '� m O
15 Date
0 Direct Flow Rights Water from Storage —2008 Actual Demands
Storage Balancing Effect
Store Extra
in Wet Year
Use in
Dry Year
m
d
m
C_
O
E
Wei Year Average Year Dry Year
16 i Yield [=Extra Yield =]Added Yield —Demand
J
8
C
ImpactsSystem Vulnerability
Impacts• Pine Beetle
Change• Infrastructure Failures
• Climate
ollins
Wildland Fire
• Fire dramatically changes watersheds
• Affects runoff timing and water quality
• Hayman fire during the 2002 drought
• Fire in the Poudre or CBT watersheds is
a concern for City water supply
F
0
;a A
4 .
• Similar to fire, changes runoff=''''"�� ''� . .
� characteristics '
• Excessive pine needles a concern for
water quality
• Coulcl`[mp�rct �ity's ability to effectively
° ;i�se alf of ids P�ot�dre River or C,�T w ter
Infrastructure Failures
• Pipeline to Horsetooth destroyed by
1976 • • •
Without• pipeline, • • reservoir
leading to a slope failure at City's water
intake
• Aggravated water supply problems
during 1977 drought
Climate Change
"...climate change will challenge the
traditional assumption that past
hydrological experience provides a
good guide to future conditions..."
Climate Change and Water, Tech Paper IV,
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, June, 2008.
Climate Change
• Likely effects on water supply and demand '
- More rain, less snow
- Earlier runoff conditions
- Longer periods of drought
- Increased demands
- More variability in conditions than we have
seen in recent past
• In Colorado "...could reduce the reliability
of many water supply systems..." 2
1 Ecological Impacts or Climate Change, The National Academy of Sciences,2009.pg 6.
2 Climate Change and Colorado.EPA 230-F-97-006f. 1997.pg 3.
r —�
J
Climate Chancien
More Drought The National of
More Wildfire More Dis ase
"Waters le Co.. -
. - . -
forests in the Rocky Mountains catch fire..."I
City af
fta
23 1 The Associated Press,June 16,2009, reporting an Testimony by Fort Whns
Rick Cables,CGiel Forester,Rocky Mountain Region belore House
Panel on Natural Resources
Addressing Vulnerability in
Water Supply Planning
• Accomplished through a safety factor
• Safety factor is like insurance to protect
against unpredictable events
• Commonly used engineering principle to
account for uncertainty
24
12
Topics
• Previous Council Actions
city [tins
Council Actions Related to
Enlarging Halligan
• Resolution 87-161: Acquired interest in enlargement
of Halligan Reservoir
• Resolution 93-164: Entered into agreement with
North Poudre Irrigation Company to purchase
Halligan Reservoir for the enlargement
• Resolution 2003-104: Water Supply & Demand
Management Policy (update planned for 2010)
• Resolution 2003-121: Approved authority to exercise
option to proceed with enlarging Halligan, enter into
agreements with other participants
r
- Why Enlarge Halffgan . `� v
• Existing reservoir
• Strategically located
— above treatment plant
— in a Afferent watershed
• Collaboration with other Poudre water suppliers
• Opportunity to improve flows in the North Fork
• Meets many "Smart Storage" guidelines'
• Cost effective (especially with partners)
Facing our Future:A Balanced Water Solution for Colorado,by Trout Unlimited,
Western Resource Advocates and Colorado Environmental Coalition,2005,pg 54
Costs to Enlarge Halligan Reservoir
• Estimated Total Project Costs $60 Million
• Shared Project Costs through 2008
— Fort Collins $1 .8 Million
— Tri-Districts $2.4 Million
— North Poudre Irrigation Co. $0.7 Million
Total: $4.9 Million
• Each entity has some unshared costs for its own
consultants or other purposes
�rt�s
C
Fort Collins Utilities
Price per Acre-Foot of Additional Firm Yield
$18,000
$16,000
$14,000
$12.000 - -
o $10.000
U
'c $8,000
$6,000
$4.000
$2,000
$0
CBT NPIC Halligan Res.
29
Water Source
Adverse Impacts of Enlarging Halligan
• Altered flow and sediment regime
• Potential loss of
— about 4.5 acres of wetlands
— about 2.5 miles of stream channel
— up to 87 acres of potential Prebles
Meadow Jumping Mouse habitat
• Permitting process will identify and
address environmental consequences
30
1s
Permitting Process
Corps• Status
• its consultantsanalyzing project
evaluating- City Staff providing information and data
- Corps using a "common technical platform" for
•. • NISP
Halligan-Seaman• expected - •- 1 1
permitted, project operational by about 2015
Cltyof
ort Collins
31
Shared Vision Planning (SVP)
• Collaborative approach to water solutions
• First ever use during NEPA permitting
• Designed as experiment with limited
scope and budget
• Local and national involvement
• Will help balance water supply and
environmental objectives envisioned for
the Halligan-Seaman Project
32
16
Topics
• Sizing Halligan Enlargement
City of
ollin$
K
Basis for Storage Calculation
• Water Demand
— Population at build out about 153,000 for Utility
Service Area (current population about 130,000)
— Long-range planning based on 161 gpcd
• Water Supply
• Drought Protection
— 1 :50 year drought (based on prior Council actions)
• Vulnerability
— 15% safety factor
Fort Collins Utilities
GPCD to Halligan Size Relationship
111
1 rlr ® SIZE
140 9,900
r/r120 00
10,000
----------------
5,000
1
11 180 160 / 120 100
GPCD
35
GPCD Less of a Factor Now
• Storage driven by factors other than conservation
• Annual releases to meet obligations
36
18
— Legal return flows
— Contractual water demands
• 15% Safety Factor
— Maintain 15% of annual demand in storage
— Equal to about four months of indoor only
water use
r�rt,f
Halligan Partners' Storage
• Halligan partners (ELCO, FCLWD, NWCWD and
NPIC) have done similar calculations
• Both ELCO and FCLWD provide water to Fort
Collins citizens not served by Utility
— Currently about 18%of households within City limits
— By 2035 about 36% of households in future City limits
• An enlargement of Halligan to 40,000 acre feet is
projected for Fort Collins and surrounding rural
areas City of
,�t�ns
Ideas to Reduce Storage Size
• Additional conservation
• Use more agricultural water
— Temporary Transfer
— Buy more water rights
• Change safety factor or drought criteria
�tll`
1
Fort Collins Utilities
Gallons Per Capita Per Day (GPCD) Water Use
250
Pre-drought around 200 gpcd
200
0
150
Water Restrictions
$ Block Rates Post-drought around
d 100 155 gpcd
Lower gpcd primarily from
50 — less outside watering
0 --- -r
rn m m rn rn rn o 0 0 0 0 0 0 o g
Year
39
Landscape and Conservation
• Fort Collins has been a Tree City USA
award recipient for 30 years
— Forestry department maintains about 40,000 trees
— another 300,000 on private property
• Fort Collins known for its parks and
recreation programs
• Continued reduction in outside watering
could begin to impact trees and turf
— lost benefits related to carbon footprint and GHG
— more herbicide use/maintenance cost for turf areas
— could change recreational use and activities in parks
40
J
20
- a
Summary on Conservation
• Ad �rvati
will reduce, but not
eliminate need for
storage
•, Additional conservatjon
bias consequences (GHG,
' grbon footprint, wildlife.
recreation, chemical use)
Wit. rit _
Agricultural
21
• Buy more agricultural shares
City Doing Something Similar
to Temporary Transfer
• City owns water
- rent to farmers during wet years
- used by City during dry years
• Has been done for years with
our surplus water
• Boulder has a similar program'
• Only difference is ownership and control
�F�rtr n5
43 by Trout Unlimited.Western Resource Advocates and
Coloreds Environmental Coalition 200.q.log 41
Buy More Agricultural Water
• Expensive
22
• Competes with Halligan-Seaman partners
• Limited benefits for Utilities' water system
C.
Water Supplies and Demands for Fort Collins Utilities
180
160 - - - - -
140 3010 of Average Poudre
River Flows (2002)
Period of
120 Additional
Ag Right
�100 - Yields
0 80
LL
60
40
20
0
Z a LL ¢ '� n O
Q 0
45 _ Date
LO Direct Flow Rights__ _Water from Storage —2008 Actual Demands-
Water Supplies and Demands for Fort Collins Utilities
180 ---
160
140 130'.of Average Poudre
River Flows(1986)
120
ii 100 Water already owned that
could be stored
o 80
LL
60
40
20 mow, v , ,.__ •{-
o -
z° i Q g ¢ O
46 Date
LO Direct Flow Rights Water from Storage —2008 Actual Demands
C-
23
Summary on Ag Water
• Can provide alternate income for irrigators
• Allows crop land to rest periodically
• However, for Utilities doesn't satisfy
— Winter demands
— Return flow and contractual water demands
— Drought year demands
— Safety factor
�F�t�t`
Change Drought Criteria and Safety Factor
• Drought criteria selected by prior Council based on
innovative analysis developed in conjunction with
CSU
• Safety factor consistent with factors used by other
Front Range communities
• Reducing these factors would reduce storage, but
increase risk
Topics
• Triple Bottom Line for Enlarging Halligan
Utility for the 21St Century
Sustainability Initiative
Triple Bottom Line:
Business practices that
optimize economic, social
and environmental
considerations aonoM
MPAR
The sweet spot rs a
balanced approach
,.F�rtfl
Fr N_
Triple Bottom Line Considerations
Environmental__
Negative Positive
Impacts to wetlands and Maintain urban landscape and
riparian vegetation at reservoir wildlife populations
Impacts to Prebles and other Consolidates storage with our
wildlife at reservoir partners
Reduced North Fork peak flows Improved winter North Fork
and altered sediment regime flows
Reduced flows in Poudre river Benefits to agriculture and
below confluence open space
Others as determined through permitting process
51
Triple Bottom Line Considerations
Social
Negative Positive
Reservoirs are unacceptable for Health and safety aspects of a
some citizens reliable water supply
Lost use of inundated resources Urban quality of life issues
Regional cooperation
Others as determined through permitting process
52
J
26
C
Triple Bottom Line Considerations
Economic
Negative Positive
Permitting cost(particularly if Very low price per acre foot
not approved)
Capital cost to build Reliable supply of high quality
water important to business
and industry
Operation and maintenance Helps maintain urban
cost landscape and its related
values
Others as determined through permitting process
53
Closing Thoughts
continues- City staff • work with project
partners, Corps and stakeholders to analyze
appropriate • Halligan-Seaman
negativeProject, and determine and address
•.
continue- Staff will • provide quarterly
written updates regarding Halligan-Seaman
• will schedule • •
updatesdesired
•rt Collins
C
27
Questions?
• With this update on the project, what
comments or questions do you have on
— the project? or
— the ongoing permitting process?
Fro I` ns