HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 03/24/2020 - LAND-WATER NEXUS-BUILDING A RESILIENT COMMUNITY LADATE:
STAFF:
March 24, 2020
Liesel Hans, Water Conservation Manager
Carol Webb, Deputy Director, Utilities
WORK SESSION ITEM
City Council
SUBJECT FOR DISCUSSION
Land-Water Nexus-Building a Resilient Community Landscape.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The purpose of this item is to discuss large-scale landscape transformations in Fort Collins. Large-scale include
areas like business landscapes and multifamily and HOA common landscapes. The topic will cover drivers of
landscape change, community experiences and challenges, local and regional programs and services, water use
of landscapes, role of landscapes in building resiliency to a warming climate, and how landscapes contribute to a
healthy ecosystem and connect people to nature. This is a trend across Colorado and the arid West; the Colorado
Water Plan identifies improving water and land use planning as critical to meeting the needs of the future.
GENERAL DIRECTION SOUGHT AND SPECIFIC QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED
This topic is largely an informational item. Staff is seeking direction on:
1. What supporting projects, services, or resources would City Council like to see prioritized?
BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION
Overview
The information is organized into the following sections:
A. Purpose
B. Key Drivers of Landscape Change
C. Programs and Services for the Community
D. Community Perspectives
E. City Opportunities
F. Related Work
G. Potential Next Steps
H. Examples from Other Communities
I. Strategic Alignment
A. Purpose
The purpose of this work session is to discuss large-scale landscape transformations in Fort Collins. Large-scale
include areas like business landscapes and multifamily and HOA common landscapes. The topic will cover
drivers of landscape change, community experiences and challenges, local and regional programs and services,
water use of landscapes, role of landscapes in building resiliency to a warming climate, and how landscapes
contribute to a healthy ecosystem and connect people to nature. This is a trend across Colorado and the arid
West; the Colorado Water Plan identifies improving water and land use planning as critical to meeting the needs
of the future.
The City of Fort Collins has a long history of environmental stewardship and high standards to support a vibrant
community. We are a community that strives to adapt and evolve to the needs of our residents and businesses
March 24, 2020 Page 2
both today while keeping an eye to the future. Based on available research and the recently completed Water
Supply Vulnerability Study (Fort Collins Utilities led study), we know we can expect hotter and drier conditions as
well as more variable precipitation patterns. We can expect drought and other causes of water shortages, like
wildfires. We can expect the cost of water to increasingly reflect the value, variability, and scarcity of water.
Current urban landscapes may impact our ability to thrive through those conditions.
We can support transformations of our urban landscapes into assets for resilience, rather than a source of risk.
Such transformations can also provide an opportunity for older landscapes to better serve the current or projected
use patterns of the surrounding community, business, and/or neighborhoods.
A resilient landscape is:
• Functional and beautiful
• Utilizes the right plants for the site and purpose
• Adapted to current and future climate conditions
• Drought and heat tolerant
• Efficiently irrigated
• Friendly to pollinators and supports biodiversity
• Lowers costs and maintenance long-term
A resilient landscape is not:
• All rocks
• Abandoned or barren
• Contributing to urban heat
• Wasting water
• Containing invasive species or noxious weeds
• A source of greenhouse gas emissions or pollution
B. Key Drivers of Landscape Transformation
The following trends and drivers related to large-scale landscape transformation are not unique to Fort Collins and
can be seen across Colorado and the western United States. The key factors have been consolidated into four
categories including: (1) water use and related costs, (2) purpose of place and aesthetics, (3) pollinators, wildlife,
and return to more naturalized conditions, and (4) recognition of current and future climate conditions. There are
likely other factors that play a role, too.
(1) Water use and related costs
• Water and landscape maintenance costs can be the largest expense category for Homeowner’s
Associations (HOAs) and multifamily housing complexes, which encompass most of the entities currently
motivated to transform their landscape. HOAs are typically tasked with managing large areas of shared
landscaped and amenity areas, and they rely on residents of the HOA to fund and manage the
installation, irrigation and maintenance expenses.
• As new subdivisions, apartment complexes, and commercial developments are approved, the developer
is required to meet the landscaping standards adopted in code. The developer (or future owner/HOA) is
responsible for continuing to maintain landscaping that was previously approved.
• Approximately 40-50% of all treated water in Fort Collins used is for irrigation of landscapes each year. In
hotter, drier years, it can increase to 50-60%.
• Water costs in Fort Collins Utilities service area:
o Since the 1960s, the City has required Fort Collins Water Utility customers to meet Water Supply
Requirements (WSR). The WSR is a dedication of water rights or cash-in-lieu (CIL) of water
rights to the Water Utility to provide reliable water supply service to the customer. Commercial
taps (including taps that serve multi-family, HOA and other neighborhood common spaces) that
have met the WSR since 1984 also have received an equivalent annual allotment, which is the
annual volume of water a meter (tap) can use without being subject to an EWU surcharge (Code
March 24, 2020 Page 3
Section 26-129). If a tap uses more water than the annual allotment, the EWU surcharge is
applied to all water used over the allotment for the remainder of the calendar year. This charge is
in addition to the standard water use rate. The EWU provides revenue to acquire and develop
additional water supplies, such as through the purchase of additional water rights and/or
infrastructure projects to serve the customer beyond what was provided at the time of
development plus any additional allotment volume that has been purchased by the customer.
o The cost for exceeding the annual water allotment dramatically increased in 2018, with another
increase in 2020. It increased from $3.06 per 1,000 gallons in 2017 to the $10.09 per 1,000
gallons, effective 2020. This higher price signal revealed that some properties’ landscapes are
inefficiently and ineffectively managed. Some have taken steps to better track their water use and
work with their contractors to be more efficient. Many have utilized free tools and services
available through Fort Collins Utilities. The price signal also revealed that some properties’
allotments are undersized for their landscape, even when managed with landscape and irrigation
best practices. Staff created programs to help customers navigate these challenges, including the
Allotment Management Program described in Section C below.
o While the above describes what Fort Collins Water Utility customers face, the cost of water is a
driver and affects all Fort Collins residents, regardless of water service provider. The cost of
acquiring new water supplies has increased exponentially over the last decade, and water
providers are reflecting this in the cost to serve new customers. For example, a unit of the
Colorado-Big Thompson project water supply cost about $7,000 in 2010 and rose to $30,000 by
2018.
(2) Purpose of Place and Aesthetics:
• There is a trend toward more “Colorado-friendly” landscapes, including landscapes that utilize native and
adapted grasses and plants, and incorporate other landscape elements like boulders and pervious
hardscaping. One example of this trend in Fort Collins is the City Streetscape Standards (2013) which
ensure the streetscape environment is attractive and positively contributes to the Fort Collins identity.
This set of standards has beautified medians using diverse low-water and native landscaping.
o Well-designed landscapes can turn space into place. Residents and businesses are re-evaluating
how they use their landscapes and recognizing where they could transform the landscape to
reflect that it is a lesser-used area and/or transform to a higher purpose, like an outdoor gathering
spot or walking trail, for example.
(3) Pollinators, wildlife, return to more naturalized conditions:
• Humans and the urban environment have a large, often detrimental, impact on natural ecosystems,
biodiversity, and wildlife habitat. We can choose to live and use land in ways that continue to support or
even enhance our natural systems.
• Landscaping with a diversity of plants, especially native plants, helps pollinators and birds by creating
habitat within the urban environment.
• Access to nature has many proven health and wellbeing benefits. These community benefits are
articulated through several City Plans and Policies.
(4) Recognition of current and future climate conditions:
• “Climate change is also contributing to water-supply issues and experts warn that the regions that are
now experiencing the most growth in the country are likely to suffer the most from a warming climate. Not
only is climate change predicted to lead to more frequent and destructive precipitation-related disasters -
including floods, mudslides, and droughts - but it is also predicted to decrease snowpack, increase winter
rain, and further reduce flows in rivers and streams at low-flow periods due to increased evaporation.” -
excerpt from the Western Resources Advocates guidebook (link provided in Section H).
o Climate action and awareness has been a staple in Fort Collins for more than twenty years, at
least formally, and longer culturally. We are a community that recognizes that inaction is not free;
indeed, it is increasingly expensive.
o The community recognizes how weather impacts their everyday life and the cost of living. Hotter,
drier summers reduce water availability in the region and pose challenges for maintaining high-
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water-use landscapes or landscapes not well-suited to the Fort Collins semi-arid climate. High-
water-use turf requires significant supplemental irrigation, whereas adapted, native and xeric
plants require far less. Some require no supplemental irrigation after establishment.
Businesses and neighborhoods are taking action. The following are two examples of the positive impact
of landscape transformations that stemmed from some combination of the drivers above:
• A recent project at Larimer County building in Fort Collins transformed an outdated landscape and
unused turf areas to xeric shrub and perennial plantings. This reduced their water use by 75% and
eliminates over $3,000 per year on water bills. The project added pollinator-friendly plants and improved
the overall look and feel of the business entrance.
• A project at an entrance of the Poudre Overlook neighborhood transformed nearly an acre of unused turf
to a native/adapted seed mix and created a new neighborhood walking path, which has already reduced
water use by 50% and is expected to save even more once fully established. In 2020 the neighborhood
plans to add bird feeders and benches along the path to further improve their new amenity for residents
and enhance the natural ecosystem.
C. Programs and Services for the Community:
To meet the need and demand we see in the community a variety of programs and services have been developed
by City Staff, based on the drivers described above. The following information is not comprehensive but provides
a mostly complete view of the resources currently available. This information demonstrates that the community
need is greater than what City and regional services can support. A visual of the participation in the landscape
programs can be found as an attachment to this AIS.
This section is organized by first presenting the 1) commercial-scale programs and then 2) the smaller, single-
family residential-scale programs. Within each section, the programs are organized by sponsoring organization
like Fort Collins Utilities or City of Fort Collins Natural Areas.
(1) These programs support commercial customers (business and HOA/neighborhood scale):
Fort Collins Utilities programs:
o Allotment Management Program (AMP) (2020):
▪ This new program helps customers with allotments that are significantly undersized for
their landscape need. Participants receive a waiver from Excess Water Use surcharges
while implementing a landscape transformation project. Staff estimates about 50
customers could benefit from this program.
▪ 15 applications were submitted in 2019. To date, 8 projects have been approved and
accepted into the program. These 8 projects cover over 400,000 square feet and are
estimated to save over 3.5 million gallons per year, once established.
o Xeriscape Incentive Program for HOA and Commercial (2020):
▪ This new program is a grant-style program to support large-scale landscape
transformation projects. The projects estimated to be accepted in the program are
projected to transform over 500,000 square feet and save 4.5 million gallons, once
established.
▪ Funds are only available through 2021 via a state and federal grant. Most of the
participating projects in 2020 have agreed to serve as case studies to support one of the
grant objectives and ultimately help create resources for the community.
XIP for HOA and
Commercial
Applications Total Funds
Requested
Projects estimated to be
Funded
Estimated Funding
2020 season 19 $205,813 8 $72,850
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o Landscape Water Budget program (2018-ongoing):
▪ This service replaced the previous commercial irrigation audit service and is designed to
use data to help commercial customers navigate how much water their landscape actual
needs. It helps bring customers together with their landscape and irrigation contractors to
make informed decisions about a property.
Landscape Water
Budget program
Participating
Customers
(Accounts)
Area covered
(square feet)
Estimated savings
(gallons)
2018 17 (49) 2,626,800 22,002,800
2019 40 (77) 6,535,700 37,208,700
o City of Fort Collins Natural Areas - Nature in the City
▪ Rebooted in 2020, the Nature in the City Grants program funds projects that bring high-
quality natural spaces into a neighborhood and community, with the goal of connecting
people to nature and creating habitat for people and wildlife.
Below is information about Natural Areas’ neighborhood and community-scale categories:
Nature in the City 2020
season
Applications Total Funds
Requested
Projects estimated to
be Funded
Total Funding Available
Neighborhood-scale 12 $215,732 4 $100,000
Commercial-scale 8 $215,000 3 $100,000
City of Fort Collins Neighborhood Services programs:
o Vibrant Neighborhoods Grants (2017-18):
▪ The goal of this program was to help foster, enhance, and renew the characteristics of
Fort Collins Neighborhoods. The City Neighborhood Services department provided funds
over two years to help neighborhoods complete projects that align and support City
objectives. In 2017, three of the ten awarded projects were landscape projects. In 2018,
four of the eight projects were landscape projects.
o Sustainable Neighborhood program (2019-ongoing):
▪ This program is designed to empower residents to make their communities more vibrant
and livable and have five target areas: air, water, land, energy and people. There are
currently four neighborhoods active in the program, all of which have completed one or
more xeriscape or waterwise event or activity in their community.
Northern Water program (2019-ongoing):
o As part of a new focus on water efficiency and recognizing their ability to provide
programming to customer of any of the C-BT allottees, many of which cannot resource or
manage a program on their own, Northern Water started the Collaborative Water-Efficient
Landscape Grant Program. Northern Water also has funding to provide irrigation audits
and consultations for large-scale landscapes.
Northern Water Grant
Program
2019 season 2020 season
Applications 16 19
Funds Requested $182,000 $313,000
Projects Funded 12 15
Total Funding Awarded $132,000 $182,700
(2) These programs primarily support single-family residents:
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Fort Collins Utilities programs:
o Xeriscape Incentive Program (XIP) (2016-ongoing)
▪ This program re-booted in 2016. The previous version was known as Xeriscape
Design Assistance Program (XDAP). XIP is an education-based rebate program that
offers $0.75 per square foot, up to 1,000 square feet, for transforming high water use
residential landscapes to waterwise xeriscapes.
XIP -
Residential
Projects completed Area converted (square
feet)
Estimated water savings
(gallons)
2016 16 16,041 224,600
2017 39 50,397 705,600
2018 47 53,406 747,700
2019 65 81.169 1,136,400
o Garden in a Box (2017-ongoing)
▪ This program is delivered in partnership with Resource Central, based in Boulder,
CO. Customers purchase a box that contains a set of plants, 1-3 easy-to-follow
planting designs, and information about how to care for the new landscape. Starting
in 2019, Utilities partnered with NIC to design and provide a double discount on a
Fort Collins native plant box option. Fort Collins-Loveland Water District joined the
program in 2019 and is offering discounts to their customers.
Utilities - Garden in a
Box program
Number of Boxes
sold
Estimated Area (square
feet)
Estimated water savings
(gallons)
2017 158 11,172 116,170
2018 251 17,749 184,550
2019 297 21,002 218,370
o Sprinkler Audit Program (1999-ongoing)
▪ This flagship program for Fort Collins Utilities started in 1999. 6,475 residents have
participated, covering over 22 thousand square feet and estimated to save over 75
million gallons of water. Customers often pair this program with other landscape
programs as they navigate their irrigation system and how to efficiently water. Utilities
partners with Fort Collins-Loveland and East Larimer County water districts to bring
this free service to any single-family customer of any of the three water districts.
o WaterSmart water data and information customer portal (2018-ongoing)
▪ An online portal is available for customers to view and track their usage, as well as
set notifications and alerts. This service was first offered to commercial customers in
late 2018, then expanded to multi-family customers in 2019. Over 1,000 customers
have voluntarily signed up, included half of all the irrigation-specific accounts in the
Fort Collins Utilities service area have signed up. Some customers have even signed
their landscape contractors up to get water use notifications. This service will be
expanded to all customers in 2020.
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas - Nature in the City
o Rebooted in 2020, the Nature in the City Grants program funds projects that bring high-
quality natural spaces into a neighborhood and community, with the goal of connecting
people to nature and creating habitat for people and wildlife. Below is information about their
single-family residential scale category:
Nature in the City 2020
season
No. Applicants Total Amount
Requested
Projects
March 24, 2020 Page 7
Funded
Residential scale 18 $17,725 10 $10,000
Staff regularly receive requests to provide information and education to the community on a variety of topics.
Water Conservation staff alone delivered over 20 presentations to businesses, community organizations and
HOAs related to landscape and water topics in 2019 and was the most-requested topic for the year.
There are additional services and resources, like website content and classes, available through Gardens on
Spring Creek, Larimer County Office of Colorado State University Extension, Audubon Society, PlantSelect,
Colorado Native Plant Society, Denver Botanic Gardens, Colorado WaterWise, Resource Central, local nurseries,
and more.
D. Community Perspectives
The community often turns to the City organization for assistance and landscape transformation is no different.
Staff from a variety of departments have interacted with residents and business and have heard the following
issues and perspectives as they navigate their unique need to find solutions.
Where to start? Just like any other home or business improvement project, many are lost on where to start, what
to prioritize, what the options are, how to protect trees or other features that will remain, and more.
What about the irrigation system? The irrigation system is often a forgotten system of a property. Most of the
system is underground and it can be a mystery to the property owner. Irrigation systems are exposed to the heat
of the summer, freezing temperatures in the winter, and a series of foes like tree roots, digging, vandalism,
mowers and snowplows. These systems should be designed to effectively and efficiently irrigate the given
landscape. When the landscape changes, the irrigation system should be designed in tandem and be adapted to
meet the needs of the new landscape.
Who can help me? Small-scale projects can be handled by enthusiastic, motivated, do-it-yourself (DIY)
homeowners, but commercial-scale projects largely require professional resources like landscape designers and
irrigation contractors. Not all, but many “green industry” professionals’ businesses are centered around installing
turf in the form of sod, mowing that sod, and basic design and maintenance of overhead spray irrigation systems.
Different types of landscapes will require the green industry to evolve their skills and service offerings to support
high-quality installations and long-term maintenance. Those who can successfully support these types of projects
are booked far in advance and cannot accommodate the overall community demand.
How will I pay for this project? Landscape and irrigation transformation projects can be expensive up front and
HOAs or small businesses may not have the means to fund a project. In a 2018 survey conducted by Water
Conservation staff, financial resources were the number one identified barrier across respondents. Some are
further challenged by paying for high water bills and other costs to maintain their existing landscape while trying to
resource an investment in a new landscape.
Do my fellow residents understand the need? A single person or small group of people may be responsible for
property decisions, yet they would like to get buy-in from their larger community or neighborhood. It can be hard
to get a large group to agree on the issue, the need, and ultimately the solution. Different preferences and values
can further exacerbate decision-making.
It won’t look great right away - how to manage the transition? Some projects are not instant gratification
installations but instead take time for the seeds and plants to establish and mature. Like “Do my fellow residents
understand the need?”, if there are differing opinion about the right solution, a longer installation/establishment
period may fuel negative opinion around the project. A landscape project is highly visible and affects not only the
immediate residents, but any passersby, too. Not everyone may realize what is occurring and confuse an
establishing landscape with a mismanaged landscape.
How do I navigate City requirements? Some residents may not be aware that commercial properties, including
HOA common spaces, have an approved landscape plan that corresponds with the approved development plan.
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Like any other change to the plan, like a parking lot change or a building addition, a landscape project must go
through the applicable City Development Review processes. This ensures that any changes are reviewed by
affected departments and held to current City Code standards. These processes may not be obvious or easy to
navigate for a property manager, HOA board member, or small business owner.
How do I make sure it’s installed correctly? Like the issues described in “Who can help me?”, a different
and/or more diverse landscape requires different installation and establishment methods. The average resident is
likely less familiar with what to expect and how to hold their contractors accountable for a high-quality installation.
Once traditional turf sod is rolled out, it largely looks as it will for years to come, whereas other landscapes have a
longer establishment period and require longer monitoring and potentially interventions like weeding.
How do I take care of my new landscape? Like the issues described in “Who can help me?” and “How do I
make sure it’s installed correctly?”, a different and/or more diverse landscape requires different maintenance
methods. The average resident is likely less familiar with what to expect and how to hold their contractors
accountable for high-quality care and maintenance.
E. City Opportunities
City staff are navigating how to best serve the community, address the growing trend and drivers of landscape
transformation, while maintaining high standards. The following are some identified opportunities to improve as a
public service organization.
Alignment of Land Use Code with current Policies, Plans and Programs: The Land Use Code (LUC) guides
and sets standards for new development and re-development within Fort Collins. The current Land Use Code was
adopted in 1997, with annual amendments and more significant updates adopted periodically over the past 22
years. There are opportunities to update the LUC to align with new or newly updated plans and policies that have
been more recently adopted by City Council.
Gap in community awareness of City processes: As described in “How do I navigate City Requirements?”
above, some may not be aware of the required processes for changing previously approved landscape plans. The
City needs to ensure that code standards are met and that landscapes are well maintained into the future.
Landscape industry capacity and ability: While the City can be a resource of information, these landscape
transformation projects ultimately need to be well-supported by the local landscape industry, too.
Varying preferences, expectations and desires across community: Preferences vary across the community.
Residents within a single neighborhood may have a hard time agreeing on the optimal use of a neighborhood
space or the ideal landscape look and feel.
Understanding of and patience for establishment processes: Establishment of native/adapted seed and xeric
plantings can take longer than simply rolling out a sod-form of turfgrass. Without knowledge, passersby may not
understand what is happening with the landscape or why it looks the way it does. Residents may complain about
the establishment period.
Customer experiences and expectations: Residents may reach out and contact any number of City Staff and
departments. They may get different advice or messages and may feel that they must navigate several contacts
to get their answers addressed. City Staff strive to work collaboratively to meet the needs and expectations of the
community. City staff hear a variety of opinions, preferences and concerns around landscaping choices and
aesthetics.
F. Related Work
There are related projects and efforts that tie to this topic. Here are the key areas of effort currently:
• Water Supply Requirements and Land Use Code provisions for new development: Staff recognized the
need to better align water supply requirements (WSR) with the actual water projected to be needed by the
development, based both on the landscape type and the type of residence or business. Further, the WSR
March 24, 2020 Page 9
needs to be aligned with the allotment and rate structures. The LUC will need to be amended to support any
changes in this area, too.
• Nature in the City-focused Land Use Code Evaluation project: To address a series of land use-related
goals in the Nature in the City strategic Plan, City Planning and Natural Areas staff have partnered on a third-
party evaluation of ways the Land Use Code could be amended to help new and redevelopment achieve
Nature in the City goals, including options to encourage more naturalized landscape that support wildlife
habitat. Some of the strategies and tactics could overlap with water conservation and efficiency goals, too.
• City Vegetation Team collaboration and projects: Staff from several City departments meet regularly to
discuss issues and ideas related to vegetation. One collaboration project is an update to the City Plant List,
which is a public-facing list of acceptable plants for the Fort Collins community. It is old, outdate, and not user-
friendly. The goal is to make this more accessible and useful for the public and developers. It will also
consolidate several plant lists that were each created for a variety of purposes across the City over the years.
G. Potential Next Steps
How can the City organization best support the community moving forward, given the drivers of landscape
transformation and the growing need?
• Expand City support for community landscape projects: Current programs and services cannot keep up
with the demand from the community, and funding for some existing programs are only based on one-time
grants and are not currently resourced long-term. Uncertainty in program availability challenges customers
given that landscape projects require significant planning.
• Reimagine Water in the Land Use Code: There are a variety of ways to integrate water efficiency into a
LUC. The current LUC speaks to waterwise principles but does not contain specific requirements or
standards. The LUC also could be updated to reflect more current knowledge and best practices around
landscape options.
• Training, workshops, and/or certifications for landscape industry: Staff and other across the community
see the need to have a skilled and trained landscape industry who can support high-quality landscapes from
design to installation to long-term maintenance. This area of work could take the form of developing trainings
and workshops, but there is precedence for other industries, like plumbing or electrical, where the City
requires certified contractors to complete the work. A certification program could be developed; this is a
common need across the state of Colorado, so it makes sense to keep in line with trends at the state level,
too.
• Use City sites as case studies and demonstrations: Some newer City facilities, like the Utilities
Administration Building at 222 Laporte, or Parks, like the new Crescent neighborhood park, have utilized
waterwise landscapes and principles into their design. This could be incorporated moving forward as a best
practice for City sites.
• Explore collaboration with neighboring water providers: Depending on the funding source, some
programs are only available to customers within the Fort Collins Utilities service area. This could be re-
evaluated but would require participation and funding from either the partnering districts and/or the City
general fund.
H. Examples from Other Communities
Other communities across the Front Range and the arid West face similar challenges of water costs/scarcity,
population growth and development patterns, maintaining livability and vibrancy, protecting natural habitat, and
climate change. Each community addresses challenges and opportunities uniquely. The following is a sample of
ways communities manage some of these challenges. It is not comprehensive and is intended to provide a variety
of regional examples.
• Water dedication in new development: East Larimer County Water District, City of Fountain, and the City of
Westminster all determine the water supply requirement at time of development based on the actual
landscape type. Landscapes that utilize less water result in a lower tap fee.
• High-water-use turfgrass limits: The City of Aurora limits the amount of high-water-use turf to 40% in new
residential homes, and to 33% in commercial developments. The City of Thornton limits high water use turf to
50% of landscaped area. The Town of Parker sets a cap of 15% in new commercial developments. The Town
March 24, 2020 Page 10
of Castle Rock doesn’t allow any high-water-use turf, but only low or moderate water use turf and seed
varieties.
• Irrigation standards: In the Town of Castle Rock, overhead spray irrigation is not allowed in areas,
parkways, or medians less than 10 feet wide. This helps avoid a typical culprit of overspray, often-damaged
equipment, and ultimately water waste. In Austin, TX landscape irrigation systems may only be installed by a
licensed installer registered with the city.
• Development incentive systems: Boulder utilizes a Green Points system where a developer must earn a
minimum number to develop but can choose from a set of options. Shade trees, xeriscaping, water efficient
fixtures, rainwater harvesting/low impact development are all possible ways to earn points.
• Water neutral development programs: In some communities, like Morro Bay, Santa Barbara and many
others in California, any developer must offset its projected water demand, often at a ratio of at least 2:1.
They typically do this through funding retrofits for existing water utility customers.
Additional References:
Water providers in Colorado are required to have a Water Efficiency Plan that has been approved by the
provider’s leadership as well as the Colorado Water Conservation Board. In 2019, the state added a new
requirement that each entity consider and report on how they are implementing water conservation and demand
management through land use planning efforts.
https://dnrweblink.state.co.us/cwcbsearch/ElectronicFile.aspx?docid=208193&dbid=0
Western Resources Advocates and the Pace University Land Use Law Center partnered to develop a
comprehensive guidebook of how to integrate water efficiency into their land use planning efforts, policies, codes,
and incentives. <https://westernresourceadvocates.org/land-use-planning-for-water-efficiency/>
I. Strategic Alignment
This topic aligns with the following City Plans and Policies, as well as statewide efforts:
• City Strategic Plan (2018)
o 1.6 Protect and preserve the quality of life in neighborhoods
o 4.5: Develop strategies to improve the community’s climate resiliency.
o 4.6 Provide a reliable, high-quality water supply
o 4.8 Protect and enhance natural resources on City-own properties and throughout the
community.
• City Plan: (excerpts)
o Water Resources: Policies seek to ensure that water is used wisely and our community is
prepared for a changing climate.
o Promoting sustainable development practices: Policies seek to reduce net energy and water
use in new and existing development.
o Coordinating climate adaptation and resilience planning efforts: City Plan provides a
coordinated and cohesive set of policies to support ongoing climate adaptation and resilience
planning throughout the community.
o Resource Management and Conservation: Managing impacts to the community’s natural
resources will continue to be a major focus of City Plan. Conservation of wildlife habitats,
community separators, urban and exurban forests, the Poudre River corridor and the integration
of nature into the urban fabric ensures enjoyment by future generations. These efforts are
particularly important as the region’s population continues to grow.
o Increasing access to Nature in the City: Policies see to increase the number of residents to
have access to natural areas, parts and/or open spaces with a 10-minute walk of their home,
emphasizing existing gaps and areas planned for intensification.
o Principle ENV 1: Conserve, create and enhance ecosystems and natural spaces within Fort
Collins, the GMA and the region.
o Principle ENV 6: Manage water resources in a manner that enhances and protects water quality,
supply and reliability.
March 24, 2020 Page 11
o Principle LIV 9: Encourage development that reduces impacts on natural ecosystems and
promotes sustainability and resilience.
• Water Efficiency Plan: This plan establishes a goal for water efficiency in our community, and the
strategies and tactics to achieve that goal. This goal is influenced by and referenced in the overarching
Water Supply and Demand Management Policy, which guides water management efforts like water
efficiency and conservation programs, as well as how we conduct water supply planning for the future.
The 2015 Water Efficiency Plan goal is to reduce use through conservation and efficiency to 130 gallons
per person per day by 2030. This effectively means we need to achieve a 10 percent reduction in average
use over the next 10 years. This plan is not only approved an adopted by our local City Council but is also
required and approved by the State of Colorado. We are also required to update at least every seven
years. During the 2015, staff identified five key areas of opportunity and each one connects to this area of
effort.
• Nature in the City: In 2015, City Council adopted the Nature in the City Strategic Plan, which established
a vision, goals and policies to enhance habitat within our urban environment and access to nature for all
community members. The Nature in the City program aims to create and expand pockets of nature
throughout the community, and particularly on private property. There are opportunities for property
owners and managers to support healthy environments for people and wildlife, while also reducing overall
water use. This effort originally came about as a reaction to the trend in development toward infill and
redevelopment. The changes in development and land use patterns have the potential to affect habitat for
plants and animals and human access to nature and less-urban feeling environments. The Plan includes
a variety of strategies around land use and development.
• This topic also connects to overall sustainability efforts like the Municipal Sustainability and Adaptation
Plan, the Climate Action Plan, and the current planning effort known as “Our Climate Future”.
• Colorado Water Plan
o “As Colorado grows, land-use planning and water planning will become more closely connected.
The manner in which Colorado develops into the future will have a strong influence on Colorado’s
future water supply gap, and vice versa. One objective of Colorado’s Water Plan is that by 2025,
75 percent of Coloradans will live in communities that have incorporated water-saving actions into
land-use planning.”
o To this end, the Colorado Water Conservation Board and Department of Local Affairs have
teamed up to help water and land use planners work together. The City of Fort Collins has
participated in some of these efforts including the Growing WaterSmart workshops.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Landscape Projects Location Map (PDF)
2. ResilientLandscapes_Mar24Council_mainslides (PPTX)
ATTACHMENT 1
1
Resilient Landscapes
Liesel Hans, Fort Collins Utilities Water Conservation Manager
3-24-20
What is a resilient landscape?
right plant for the
purpose/place
efficient, low-
water biodiverseusing
functional beautiful
drought/heat
tolerant
What it is not:
3
Overview
• Strategic Alignment
• Question for Council Consideration
• Drivers of Landscape Transformation
• Examples
• City Landscape Programs & Services
• Customer Perspectives
• City Opportunities
• Related Work
• Opportunities to Consider
4
5
Strategic Alignment
City Plan
Colorado Water Plan
Water Efficiency Plan
Water Supply &
Demand Management
Policy
City Strategic Plan
Resilient
Landscapes
Questions for Council
1. What supporting projects,
services, or resources would
Council like to see prioritized?
6
Drivers
Water use and related costs
Purpose of place & aesthetics
Pollinators, wildlife, return to more naturalized conditions
Recognition of current and future climate conditions
7
8
Examples
Poudre Overlook
9
Before
“We wanted to create a natural space for various
plants and creatures and were excited to create a
place for people to enjoy and be inspired.”
– Poudre Overlook Resident
10
Poudre Overlook – Establishment Year 1
June 2018 July 2018 Sept 2018
Poudre Overlook
July 2019 July 2019 11
0
100,000
200,000
300,000
400,000
500,000
600,000
700,000
2017 2018 2019
Annual Water Use (Gallons)
2017 2018 2019
Pre-Project
Year 1: Project Start
Year 2:
Establishment
Larimer County
12
Before After
Larimer County
13
0
100,000
200,000
300,000
400,000
500,000
600,000
700,000
800,000
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Annual Water Use (Gallons)
Water Use Allotment
Pre-Project
Year 1: Project Start
Year 2: Establishment
Established
Annual savings: ~$3,000
Allotment
Commercial Water Allotments
Allotment
• Water Supply Requirement
equivalent for taps installed after
March 1, 1984
• Annual volume of water a tap can
use before being subject to
Excess Water Use surcharge
14
Excess Water Use Surcharge
• Surcharge for all water used over
the allotment
• Utility to develop additional water
supplies
• Increased from $3.06 in 2017 to
$10.06 per 1,000 gallons currently
Water Supply Requirement
• Dedication or cash-in-lieu of water
rights to ensure reliable water
supply service to the customer
Commercial Water Allotments
15
Excess Water Use
(EWU) Surcharge
+ $10.09 per 1,000 gal
Allotment is
exceeded.
Regular Use Rates
Winter: $2.21 per 1,000 gal
Summer: $2.77 per 1,000 gal
Programs & Services
17
Landscape
Program
Participant
Locations Commercial:
• Allotment Management
Program
• XIP for HOA and
Commercial
• NIC Grants
• Northern Water Grants
• Neighborhood
Services Programs
Residential:
• XIP Residential
• NIC Grants
More Landscape Examples
Native-like Landscapes
City of Fort Collins
19
Utilities Administration
222 Laporte
After
Before
19
Native-like Landscapes
City of Fort Collins
20
During Establishment Crescent Park
After
XIP residential example
21
Before After
XIP residential example
0
10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
70,000
80,000
2016 2017 2018 2019
Annual water use (gallons)
Year 2: Establishment
22
Year 1: Project Start
Pre-Project
Colorado Springs
Information Courtesy of Eric Becker, Colorado Springs Utilities
Community Perspective
Where to start?
What about the irrigation system?
Who can help me?
How will I pay for this project?
Do my fellow residents understand the need?
It won’t look great right away – how to manage the transition?
How do I navigate City requirements?
How do I make sure it’s installed correctly?
How do I take care of my new landscape?
24
City Opportunities
25
Alignment of Land
Use Code with
current Policies,
Plans and Programs
Gap in community
awareness of City
processes
Landscape industry
capacity and ability
Varying
preferences,
expectations and
desires across
community
Understanding of
establishment
processes
Customer
experience
26
Water Supply
Requirements
Nature in the City:
Focused Land Use Code
evaluation
City Vegetation Team:
Plant list and other
projects
Related Work
Opportunities to Consider
27
Expand City
support for
community
landscape
projects
Reimagine
Water in the
Land Use Code
Trainings,
workshops,
and/or
certifications for
landscape
industry
Use City sites
as case studies
and
demonstrations
Collaborate with
neighboring
water entities
What related and supporting projects, services, or resources would you like to see prioritized?
“Overall, the best place in the world to live. We
strive for excellence in all areas. Fort Collins has
been a community that believes there’s no standing
still—you’re either moving forward or falling behind.
Fort Collins chooses to move forward.”
-Fort Collins resident (quoted in City Plan)
Questions for Council
1. What related and
supporting projects,
services, or resources
would Council like to see
prioritized?
29
Thank You
estimated to be
Total Funding
available/awarded