HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 08/12/2025 - Memorandum from Jill Oropeza re Northern Colorado Water Alliance Guiding PrinciplesOne Water Utilities
700 Wood Street
Fort Collins, CO 80521
970-568-6808
joropeza@fcgov.com
CC: Jen Dial, Sr. Manager, Water Resources Division
MEMORANDUM
Date: July 29, 2025
To: Mayor and City Councilmembers
Through: Kelly DiMartino, City Manager
Tyler Marr, Deputy City Manager
Nicole Poncelet-Johnson, One Water Executive Director
From: Jill Oropeza, Senior Director, Water Sciences & Planning
Subject: Northern Colorado Water Alliance Guiding Principles
BOTTOM LINE
The purpose of this memo is to inform City Council about the work of the Northern Colorado
Water Alliance and specifically, the recent development of a set of principles intended to guide
future actions of the group. Staff plan to bring a resolution in support of the principles as a
consent agenda item at an upcoming City Council meeting.
BACKGROUND
The Northern Colorado Water Alliance (NoCo WA) is an outgrowth of the former Regional
Leadership Initiative “StratOp” group, which was established in 2019 as a forum to discuss
regional water issues. Today, the NoCo WA has grown beyond the original four communities to
include over 17 different entities including regional municipalities, Larimer County, water
districts, special districts, and is facilitated by the NoCo Foundation. A full list of Alliance
members is included here as Attachment A.
In recent years, the work of the NoCo WA has focused on identifying water-related challenges
that could benefit from broad collaboration and action. The Alliance members have identified a
shared goal of keeping water in Northern Colorado to support the vitality, resilience and well-
being of Northern Colorado communities, rather than allow the unimpeded purchase and
transfer of this limited resource to Denver metro or other out-of-basin communities.
Docusign Envelope ID: F8512EDE-6A59-48BE-9358-DF30466A0756
Due to the unique needs and missions of the involved organizations and the complexities and
challenges of water ownership and management in Colorado, a set of guiding principles for the
NoCo WA was developed as a first step. These principles do not bind members to specific
actions, but rather aim to:
• Articulate the shared interest of the member organizations of retaining water in the region
for local beneficial use by Northern Colorado communities.
• Express the intent that when out-of-basin transfers do occur, the group will work to
ensure appropriate mitigation for the loss of those resources.
• Acknowledge each entity’s right to engage in water markets in ways that support their
interests, while acting in good faith, to achieve the stated goals.
• Encourage members to work together in good faith, through collaboration and
transparency.
The guiding principles reflect the intent of the signing members to work together on complex
water issues that impact the future of Northern Colorado communities. These principles are
consistent with the City's current and past work and Council priorities such as providing
affordable housing, promoting regional collaboration, investing in the local economy, and taking
a proactive and collaborative approach to managing our water resources and systems.
NEXT STEPS
The NoCo Water Alliance Principles are attached for review (Attachment B) and City staff are
available to discuss or answer questions, as needed. Unless directed otherwise, staff plan to
bring forward a resolution in support of the principles as a consent agenda item at an upcoming
City Council meeting.
ATTACHMENTS
A. Northern Colorado Water Alliance Description & Membership
B. Northern Colorado Water Alliance Principles
Docusign Envelope ID: F8512EDE-6A59-48BE-9358-DF30466A0756