Water supply and drought

Our supply situation is pretty stable going to head into the shoulder season here.

will the integrated water supply plan, um, come up with some strategies around this as well?

one of the greatest threats to the drinking water supply um in this area

are you sure there will be enough water for the anticipated increase in population

Um and also focuses on minimizing water waste as we're in a drought.

stockwater planning for drought resilience uh and supporting of diversified agriculture.

water in general um is something that I continue to have concerns about um given the uh water supply scenarios

preservation of critical water supply. Um, the team is also working to help the community transition from some of the thirsty

for water use um which of the um city's water supply scenarios were used

regarding our water supply that's inclusive of the severe option

I had questions about how water was considered. So just the back of the envelope for a hotel

whether Boulder will have enough water for our children's children's children

our team has quantified the impacts for our water supply in the July 2025 water supply study

The Colorado River one-third of our water supply is under threat.

Onethird of our water supply is currently at risk with the Colorado River

We own 16 acres of agricultural land. We own more water rights than we use.

the current threat to onethird of our drinking our water supply from the Colorado River

through the integrated water supply plan, um you know, they would be our utilities colleagues would be working with us

the quantity of rights are low, and based on what they're decreed for and where they're located, we really don't have a use for them

Just curious why it is that we're not interested in those water rights.

the city does not intend to acquire the Spring Valley Mutual Water Association's water rights, but may monitor related water court activity.

What percentage of our water supply is brown water?

to provide additional protections for the City of Boulder municipal watershed and water supply

I am continue to be concerned that our financial projections are not inclusive of our water supply

And then the second part of that is specific to the water scenarios that were presented

it got me thinking of the water supply scenarios

Water, particularly how water adequacy is determined, and how it takes into account climate change

the utilities department leads the citywide drought plan. Departments have drought plans

should there be a drought this year or next, it'll be different from the way we handled the park system in 2002

The snowpack this year is 60% below average, and climate scientists suggest drought years like this are becoming more likely, not less.

the quantity and the use of these decreed rights has very little value for the city.

For water rights, the City does not intend to acquire SVMWA's water rights, and we can talk about why that is later

Snowpack is well below average this year, and spring flow forecast, but also well below average.

The plan considers varying degrees of response to drought. Drought watch involves increasing communications around water conservation.

Here at the City, our water resources team handles operations and planning of the city's municipal water supply.

Water being one I know that you're interested in. So, how does water connect into the Climate Action Plan?

This lease is minimal. It does not in any way jeopardize the water demands that we have in the city

to provide additional protections for the City of Boulder municipal watershed and water supply

we would um have droughts a certain percent of the time we would have restrictions

in the water overview on the page that talks about our water supplies

I don't see any point in running the risk of having a system or city that can't supply all the water

By the numbers, you know, we have a drought plan, we have a mathematical formula that we use

Boulder has a good water storage situation. We have a diverse portfolio.

the city may have to look at ways of expanding its water rights

I went back to the water supply uh plan um report that was provided in July 2025

on our water supply and we looked at a number of different scenarios uh including um climate change

I didn't see an analysis of the impact of increased population and what impacts that would then have

so that we're looking at our water supply and the energy service to our community

One of the mechanisms for managing water reductions, if we were to declare a drought, would be

whether or not we should implement water use restrictions, declare a drought stage, and implement water use restrictions.

A lot can happen between now and when it really matters in early May

The city and county will partner with local ditch companies, farmers, and ranchers to upgrade our ag water delivery systems

Given the importance of both wildfire and water conservation and water issues generally

There will be less water in the future. And so, we must minimize ag water waste and maximize efficiencies

BRC C1 1981 related to landscaping, water conservation and wildfire resilience and setting forth related details.

I really appreciate that like water conservation, um, fire resilience, biodiversity.

BRC1981 related to landscaping, water conservation, and wildfire resilience and setting forth related details.

A water resource planning policy directs the city to use a variety of strategies to meet municipal and open space water resources

they live in the drought plan, the water supply plan that you heard about last month

Are you, well ensuring that implementation and the associated administrative burdens are sustainable?

advanced planning to protect source water supplies and infrastructure from the impacts of wildflower fire

the 2020 plan includes consideration of climate impacts in policies relating to floodplain management and water supply planning

primarily the state is in charge of negotiating on the Colorado River

When the demand bar is well below the water droplet, as it is in this case, that indicates we have a surplus in our water supply

Continued trends assumes climate change results in the Colorado Front Range as a whole, beginning to experience minor reductions in water supply.

I'm going to be talking to you about the municipal water supply, which is essentially water that we get from a source

So water budgets are just one drought response tool. Drought response really needs to be comprehensive in nature

After that devastating drought, there was a combined regional push to update planning, policies, and projections to be more resilient to drought

water budgets were started in 2007, after the 2002 drought

They were largely supportive of the ordinance and the approach to add more water conservation measures.

A complete water conserving and fireprotecting code would implicate and suggest rock and dirt everywhere.

This is related to matters related to landscaping, water conservation, and wildfire resilience and setting forth related details.

One of the best ways to conserve our water in Boulder is actually to fix leaking pipes

Also, gray water wasn't around when a lot of the water rights in Colorado were established

Our water comes from three watersheds and it matters uh dam construction that's happening outside of the city

in meeting the goal of enhanced water conservation to support Boulder's long-term water supply strategy

water conservation to support Boulder's long-term water supply strategy

we had that wonderful water supply conversation and and again I mentioned it at the our last agenda item

from our utilities department in terms of water planning, drought planning.

Our current way of life in Colorado is dependent on extensive water projects.

Developing new water supplies in the dry region we live in involves a few trade-offs to consider.

The most recent planning document governing the use of Boulders's water supply is the 2009 source water plan.

In Colorado river we have multi year supply is better able to do it.

and then there may be some situations where we have a water supply gap

we may need to consider additional water supplies to maintain or improve our current risk profile

it's attributable to water rights in the state. And so there's a designated amount of water and flow capacity that the state has associated

we're going to need one of the levers we're going to need is water conservation probably more heavily in the future

we'll be talking to the board in July about water supply and water supply policy

we have a water update that we wanted to get scheduled with you as well.

it makes more water available for water supply when certainly on on one level.

reminding us that we are in a mega drought

this particular water plant and the conveyance systems that deliver water to here are about 30% of the city's annual usage for water supply

the source water system as an overview is made up of 15 reservoirs

our water resources team will present on water supply planning and the Boulder Valley comprehensive plan update

Obviously, the water supply information. July 31st is a study session that comes right after our waterwise, landscaping, wildfire hardening update.

policies related to water as an example, were included in a lot of that discussion in terms of the drought plan.

We got about a 3rd of our supply from the Colorado River, and these are through contracts that we have through through the Cbt.

So we're in a good position for water supply this year, and we don't anticipate the need for water use restrictions.

that provides guidance on whether to declare drought. And if we do, how to implement water, use restrictions

basically focusing on emergency uh access into those areas and water supply.

we've determined that yeah, we've we've got a really strong water supply.

in the city's drought plan parks are actually protected now, because they, the irrigation, is critical

we have many water conservation programs you heard a little bit about that this evening

the manufactured home park owners are ultimately liable for their water supply and liable for a number of other things

the manufactured home park owners are ultimately liable for their water supply and liable for a number of other things

Water is a limiting factor for us. So I mean, many of the species that we're planting are more water, wise and drought, tolerant species

April is always the time that kind of heading towards May that we have a good picture of what the snowpack and everything is for the water supply update

the um water focused strategies will still remain in the water efficiency plan or the drought plan

from the city's work focused on water with the water efficiency plan and drought plan

really educating the public and practicing drought, water restrictions, so that people understand what it could mean if we're in a drought

to look at our existing regulations for landscaping in the goal of supporting water conservation

we've got some programs that we initiate through the water conservation program where we are looking at the higher water users

we also have great Community engagement that was done for the recent water efficiency plan that the city adopted

exploring updates that we can make that would further support water conservation through our Landscaping practices

what the water tradeoffs are going to be in our community and also with our neighbors

so related to uh the uh the Water Supply in Colorado River um I believe that we did provide some clarifications

so onethird of our water supply was not even considered in this conversation

the outcomes of that are less about the availability of of water, as it relates to an absolute number

The campus itself delivers about 30% of the city's potable water which makes it really critical for drought tolerance

So the city has the water rights in theory.

We have 3 primary sources, upper Colorado River diversions via Carter Lake, which is treated here at this treatment plant

our water supply can't handle this that the this is just outrageous

I was surprised to see in option D that we would start impacting our water supply that we we may have to have more frequent water shutdowns

Our water efficiency plan, our drought management, plan our grass lines

a lot of our our drought rules are based around the baseline use of like turf grass

we get onethird of our water supply from Windy Gap project and only hold Junior rights

on the water supply side the city has published search citing concerns around future

I actually appreciated a lot of the elements they look at when doing the housing assessment that included the the jobs housing balance the water supply element

as an example to your comment about efficiency, we have a drought plan

It really is that idea about, do we want to think about policy that would require limitations on water use

We actually have someone who is the section chief for water supply planning for the State of Colorado

what the people started with water conservation because of the one that came out the most

We can talk about water conservation, but we can talk about our buildings for energy conservation.

A very common theme was actually water conservation that came up a lot alongside electrification

we are still in a severe drought and in a stage, 2 fire status

Hey, we are going to update our water efficiency plan. Next year.

where things like water, quality, water, quantity, we talk about drought, those all live in their own plans

Are you also looking at other models of how dry cities around the country currently conserve their water

it will help us determine if the existing water supply is sufficient to meet the needs of both the existing area

analysis specifically of water supply and infrastructure to ensure an inclusive decision-making process

So what are some of the species that we can select that help us be more resilient in terms of drought

as we are increasing our drought resistant landscape and um increasing absorbent

that we do in water resources and utilities is look at uh sort of long-term water supply planning

to determine the existing water supply and the proposed water supply needs

in an extended drought. When when there's water sales are down or things like that

If we got to a point in the future where we're starting to get tight on the rights.

even as a council yes we have senior water rights in Boulder but we are also in

one on really thinking more deeply about water. Water rights, long term planning around water

could we add some things in around water and some of the other elements that relate to climate.

thinking about our water supply and how we need clean water for the city right

or the 2022 drought plan. 2022 comprehensive flood and stormwater plan and the 2023 water efficiency plan.

And now just a little bit more graphical on each of those water supply systems.

This being the source water system really is where the where we acquire the water rights up in the watershed

if there were any kind of scenario forecasting on different types of you know drought points or something

as well as the water supply, and both both for treatment and for downstream users.

we use it as a backup water supply and can't feed it with other sources are not available for other reasons.

is it nature, or is it just our water supply?

We're not anticipating needing to go to declare a water a drought stage or water use restrictions this year.

about 2 thirds of our water supply comes from those basins. We've got series of reservoirs and pipelines in the Boulder Creek basin

The companies own separate vested water rightites that divert from the north bank of Boulder Creek

I'm here tonight in my capacity as councel for the Boulder and Lefthand Irrigation Company

study our water supplies. That's that was your suggestion. And how this will impact our community going forward

I would love to have water information and feedback and guide us when we're making decisions related to those areas.

We do have senior water rights on paper.

use of the 119 acres in water rights by the utilities department for the mitigation of impacts from the flood project

what plans have you made to protect Boulder's municipal buildings utilities and water supply in case of threat

acquiring additional water rights for the properties or and or creating additional mitigation

the city cannot acquire land and water rights from CU until utilities has a fully approved

30.2 ditch shares of Dry Creek ditch number two water rights will be acquired by the city from CU and managed by osmp

the water that is historically been used to irrigate farmland throughout Boulder County

The 3 companies that I'm representing each have water rights that take water from that location.

I was disappointed not to hear and see anything about water we have significant senior water rights

we had a significant drought in Boulder in 2,002 and across the front range of Colorado that occurred

we talked about the Water conservation plan and other matters

talk about water supplies, and demand from last year as well as some utilities project highlights

So Ours is a water supply that's consumable water so that makes it a little bit more complex.

really looking for that Innovative design team who will help us think about low water use and drought

drought another driver and people like why would you think when it's rainy you have more problems

if there's water supplies and Sewer infrastructure that can either sustain the land use changes

to have the ability to determine that they have enough water supply and and water and sewer infrastructure

the difference between the amount of water produced at the treatment plants and the amount of water that is metered at the end user

2,002 was the drought year when we imposed mandatory water restrictions

implementing the city's water conservation program in a way that's compatible with the city's water supply system

if we stretch towards that there's water supply issues

a water conservation program update from our water resources team.

and really built that into the technical analysis and planning of our water supply

some of those acquisitions are university assets that will change hands to the city like plan and water rights

this policy will have severe negative impacts on future Water Resources while the fire risks

SB 23213 will put additional strain on depleting Water Resources

water resources are under strain in Colorado the Colorado River is already overdrafted

development may be limited because of water infrastructure challenges water supply water infrastructure

so the determination of whether to declare a drought is informed by the city's straw plan

we develop and plan our water supply system according to our 1,989 reliability criteria, which are level of service goals

After relying primarily on reservoir storage to meet municipal demand

And if we don't have water, we don't have anything

then every April we have a whole water supply update

We look through a lens of you know what what is compatible with our city's water supply system

So our April meeting every year is generally a a big part of that is a water supply update

does a lot of our water rights accounting

You know it's really to treat canopy and drought and all of this components we need to keep in mind

large trees actually do play a a great role in some level of water conservation.

working to update our Bpr drama plan to ensure that we are in alignment with the city's new drought restrictions, and being good stewards, our water resources.

our water efficiency plan which another name for water conservation plan it's a regulatory requirement

I can say that in terms of the the water rights and the ditch. I don't think that we mentioned anything there

there are probably a number of water rights associated with the pond and the irrigation. The dry Creek ditch number 2 that could be of concern

the city would be taking over most, if not all of the shares of Dry Creek Number 2 ditch. and so the city.

is there a known water supply issue in this area that would be impacted by the number of polling units

in the summer, we would use boulder fear canal, not Boulder reservoir.

What are some potential harms to the reservoir? The drinking water water supply? that could happen.

the city receives about one-third of its annual water supply or drinking water supply from the Colorado River

it provides guidance for recognizing droughts that will affect the city's water supply and also responding

second reading of ordinance 8547 about policies and procedures in the event of a drought that's going to be a public hearing

these two plans the flood and storm water master plan and the drought plan

these are agreements that are actually required by the boulder revised code when you have a larger water supply

the water rights that that go with that property that is really critical for us

we need the water rights in order to be able to restore the habitat that has been inside the levy

the exchange of land and water rights is there anything that council would like to ask about

water rights will also be conveyed to the city in exchange for City irrigation plant investment fees and water supply

secret negotiations just like with the muni pif fees exchange for water rights no there's a Priceless value of water

CU Boulder does currently own water rights on the land and these will be permanently conveyed to the city

our water precious water rights are used for uh growing hay for raising cattle

and that does include also the water rights for dry creek ditch number two that runs through the site

the drought information system collects indicators of drought and they may be monitored from different sources

the water rights portfolio is excellent as is the reservoir storage volume and all three water treatment plants have excess capacity

that is the bitter pill of water conservation pay more for less is the result

we're actually doing a master plan of all our water rights but specifically B for the valuation and assessment of

i worry about the heat stress and drought um this is sort of the climate change concern

what is really at stake here is it water rights if this is a concern about maintaining water rights let's sell those water rights

what impacts they might have on the city's water supply

how is this going to affect all this irrigation that's going to go on where's the water coming from

we actually don't have water rights to do so um so those

we did not buy water rights with that property so in those cases they do not show up as irrigable

water rights come into play more when the during drier conditions but that is a requirement of the state

so for storm water there there are water rights in Colorado and and every like Boulder Creek

the water rights are not tied to the property and can be sold off and have acquired for uses other than irrigation

the property includes one and one quarter shares in South Boulder and Bear Creek ditch

AND ALSO TIES THE ASSOCIATED WATER RIGHTS INCLUDING FARMERS ANSWER LIKE TO SHARE SHARES TO THE PROPERTY.

WHEN WE'VE HAD DROUGHT CONDITIONS IS THE TREES DYING EVEN RICHER TREES

CITIES FROM BOULDER TO FREDERICK HAVE BOUGHT UP IN NEIGHBORS' WATER

HOWEVER IF IT WERE A DROUGHT YEAR AS SHOWN BY THE RED LINE

what is the value of those water rights as an asset and how do we assess the use of those rights

WE NEED TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE OUR IRRIGATED AGRICULTURAL LANDS AND PRECIOUS WATER RIGHTS

THE FIGURE FROM THE FIELD TRIP WAS THAT THE OPEN SPACE HAS ONE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF WATER RIGHTS

WHEN YOU LOSE WHEN WARMING COMES HERE YOU'LL LOSE YOUR WATER SUPPLY FAST

so with the dry creek ditch number two water rights come into this sort of analysis

in exchange for providing our own water rights to deliver potable water to the site

to ensure that we don't run into water rights issues

SEE IF WE CAN DO SOMETHING TO PICK UP THE EXTRA WATER RIGHTS FROM CU

WILL THERE BE SUFFICIENT WATER IN THERE WHO OWNS THE WATER RIGHTS TO A CREEK DITCH TOO

if we see changes in timing of snowmelt or frequency of droughts or fires that impact our watershed

IS IT WOULD BE A RIP RAPPED AREA WHICH MY STALL LIKE VERY MUCH.

THAT DRILLING PLATFORM COULD HAVE A SIGNIFICANT EFFECT ON THE CITY'S WATER RIGHTS

TO GET MORE INFORMATION ON THE WATER RIGHT AND WHERE WE HAVE WATER RIGHT WHERE WE DON'T

AND SO IT WAS UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE WE COULDN'T THEN USE THOSE WATER RIGHTS TO IRRIGATE THE LAND

ensure the availability of the water to irrigate the property it would also allow the city

the proposed acquisition includes valuable water rights used to irrigate the farms expansive agricultural fields

as well as significant water rights this project also offers the opportunity to acquire