HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 03/18/2025 - Memorandum from Lawrence Pollack re March 6, 2025 CFC meeting: Clarification of Natural Areas Reappropriation itemFinancial Services
215 N. Mason Street
PO Box 580, Fort Collins, CO 80522
MEMORANDUM
Date: March 11, 2025
To: Council Finance Committee members
Through: Kelly DiMartino, City Manager
Gretchen Stanford, Interim Finance Director
Katie Donahue, Natural Areas Director
From: Lawrence Pollack, Budget Director
Subject: March 6, 2025 CFC meeting: Clarification of Natural Areas Reappropriation item
During the March 6, 2025 Council Finance Committee meeting a clarification was requested
about the Reappropriation item for the Natural Areas Department compared to the
Enhancement Offer for Natural Areas included in the 2025-26 Budget. The difference between
each is described below.
Reappropriation item #13: Poudre River Health Assessment - $53,424
- This item originated from Ordinance 058-2024. That ordinance was for the 2024 annual
appropriation of the 2050 Tax, which included an Environmental Health offer called
‘Poudre River Health Assessment’ for $300k.
- Description: This offer funds the Poudre River Health Assessment project, a sampling
project that evaluates the health of the Cache la Poudre River from Gateway Natural Area
to I-25 using a suite of biological, chemical, and physical indicators. The project builds on
a previous effort completed by the City in 2017 and is a critical baseline for informing
potential large-scale water projects. The funding for this offer covers that cost of sampling,
analysis, and public outreach. The majority of the funds ($246,473) are allocated in an
existing PO with ICON Engineering for the sampling effort, with a portion of those already
used as matching funds for our partners at the Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed
(CPRW). CPRW is sampling the Upper and Lower zones of the watershed, while the City
is focusing on the Middle Zone. As of the end of 2024, spending toward sampling and
analysis have been addressed. The reappropriated funds will support development of final
products and public outreach.
2025-26 Budget Offer 72.1 - Poudre Flows Design and Permitting
- This offer included in the 2025-26 Budget is for $550k in 2025 and $300k in 2026,
including funding from the Natural Areas in the amounts of $185k and $100k for each year
- Description: This offer supports the health of the Cache la Poudre River by upgrading an
existing diversion structure to operate the Poudre Flows Project. Annually, stretches of the
Poudre River dry up due to the overallocation of water shares to support municipal,
agricultural and industrial uses. Through the launch of the Poudre Flows Project (PFP),
Docusign Envelope ID: 7CAF6D0F-659B-4671-B98E-3985317EABA4
regional partners, including Fort Collins, Greeley, and Thornton, will dedicate water rights
to alleviate dry-up conditions and flow depletions on the Poudre River. These water rights
will be used to protect instream flows while enhancing river health, water quality and
recreation. Upgrades to the Arthur Diversion on the Poudre River are needed to measure
and introduce the protected flows, as required by the state of Colorado.
Docusign Envelope ID: 7CAF6D0F-659B-4671-B98E-3985317EABA4