HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Read Before Packet - 9/15/2020 - Memorandum From Alice Conovitz And Mariel Miller Re: Staff Report On Horsetooth Outlet Project (Hop) Impacts: Mandatory Restrictions And The Cameron Peak Fire
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222 Laporte Ave.
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522-0580
970.212.2900
V/TDD: 711
utilities@fcgov.com
fcgov.com/utilities
M E M O R A N D U M
DATE: September 15, 2020
TO: Mayor Troxell and Councilmembers
THRU: Darin Atteberry, City Manager
Theresa Conner, Interim Utilities Executive Director
Liesel Hans, Interim Deputy Utilities Director
Mark Kempton, Interim Deputy Utilities Director
Gretchen Stanford, Interim Utilities Deputy Director
FROM: Alice Conovitz, Water Conservation Analyst
Mariel Miller, Interim Water Conservation Manager
RE: Staff Report on HOP Impacts: Mandatory Restrictions and the Cameron Peak Fire
The Horsetooth Outlet Project (HOP) is an important maintenance project planned by Northern
Water and the Bureau of Reclamation to repair and upgrade the Soldier Canyon Dam outlet this
fall. This outlet supplies water to more than 220,000 residents and businesses in communities
served by the Fort Collins Utilities, Fort Collins-Loveland, East Larimer County and North Weld
County water districts. During HOP, Fort Collins Utilities will depend on the Poudre River for
source water. A backup pump system will provide an alternate delivery system for Horsetooth
Water should Poudre River water become unavailable. The backup pump system has limited
capacity based on typical winter demands that do not include irrigation or other warm season
uses. Water restrictions are a key tool to minimize potential risks associated with the HOP and
source water impacts associated with the Cameron Peak Fire.
The staff report to be presented will summarize the current HOP status and the decision to instate
mandatory restrictions on outdoor water use to minimize risks during HOP.
For questions, please visit fcgov.com/HOP or contact Alice Conovitz at aconovitz@fcgov.com.
DocuSign Envelope ID: F852380D-434C-455F-8B5E-97647F38971A
HOP Impacts: Mandatory
Restrictions and the Cameron
Peak Fire
1
Alice Conovitz
Water Conservation Analyst
9/15/2020
City Council Staff Report
2
Maximize water available during HOP
Be prepared for changing conditions
We need your Help: City and community
working together to reduce risk
HOP Need: Reduce treated
water demand to typical
winter (indoor) levels this
October.
Looking forward: Strengthen Horsetooth infrastructure now,
before anticipated fire-related runoff events in spring and after
impact Poudre River
•Reliance on Poudre River and reliable backup pump
system
•Limited capacity based on winter (indoor) use
•Cameron Peak Fire impacts to Poudre River increase
likelihood of backup pump dependence
•Ongoing hot and dry conditions driving high demand
Restrictions Address Changing Conditions
3
Water Restrictions
4
NOT ALLOWED OCT. 1 ~ NOV. 30
•Lawn watering (residential & inactive areas
of parks/fields)
•Vehicle washing at home
•Pressure/power washing hard surfaces
ALLOWED
•Drip and hand watering trees, plants, food
production
•Active/athletic fields, new sod/seed (permit)
•Raw water (registration)
•Indoor use
Full list of water restrictions at
fcgov.com/water-restrictions
Stay Connected
5
fcgov.com/HOP
970-416-8040
HOP@fcgov.com
Thank you!
fcgov.com/water-restrictions