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As County leaders, we must protect our region. Our quality of life is directly connected to our commitment to build a tomorrow that preserves the best of today. This vision includes protecting our natural resources, utilizing our county’s resources in a fiscally-smart manner, and wisely planning for our future. Thank you for standing with us.
Water Policy In 2022: A Rising Urgency for Action on County’s Water Needs
When it comes to 2022 water policy, the growing challenges facing Douglas County – and the entire Western U.S. – are sparking an increased urgency to act.
As Douglas County did with its forwarding looking investment in transportation to meet a rapidly expanding demand, the same blueprint can be followed with water.
This year, significant conversations took place about filling the county’s need for additional water resources.
Yet few were productive or insightful. The challenge citizens and policymakers faced in 2022 was to separate hyperbole and politically-charged falsehoods from an accurate picture of what our water needs are and how those needs can be addressed in the near term.
A solid step forward this year was the more than $30 million spent in ARPA funds on local infrastructure projects around the county with the lion’s share going to the Santa Fe Corridor.
This is much needed, but it misses the critical mark in investing in renewable water projects that will get our county once and for all off the nonrenewable Denver Aquifer
The drumbeat of daily headlines from Colorado and across the West throughout this year underscore the deepening water crisis:
Worsening drought conditions in Douglas County and along the Front Range caused water providers to institute significant local water restrictions. Many water providers have implemented drought restrictions and significant price increases for 2023.
Colorado taxpayers spent millions at the behest of San Luis Valley politicians to buy and dry up ranches and farms in the Valley, at rates well below what private-sector investors might have paid.
Lake Powell, one of the major sources of hydroelectric power in the West, is in danger of having to shut down power generation as water levels begin to drop toward “doomsday” levels.
Additionally, Denver, Colorado Springs, and Aurora -- the three largest water providers in Colorado -- are determining the extent of curtailment they will experience with cutbacks on the Colorado River. This matters to Douglas County, as Denver and Aurora, through WISE -- are the single largest providers of renewable water to Douglas County.
The above examples are just a few of the numerous and concerning stories about water that marked 2022.
Water remains a top-of-mind issue in surveys of Douglas County residents. Responding to this
citizen concern with forward movement on fiscally responsible, high-quality renewable water
projects in 2023 is likely to be a key agenda item for officials up and down the Front Range,
including in our area.
While 2023 is not expected to see a miracle turnaround in widespread water woes, it will take multi-year miracles to have any impact in recovering from 20+ years of drought.
Leadership and action must be the focus in the New Year.
Recent Headlines
Colorado Springs Utilities CEO leaving for California
Colorado Springs Utilities CEO Aram Benyamin is leaving to work for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.
...Benyamin is returning to a utility where he started as an entry-level engineer and worked until 2015, when he started at Colorado Springs Utilities as general manager of energy supplies. He has been CEO in Colorado Springs for four years. Benyamin said in the past he was not leaving over pay or the city's upcoming mayoral election.
County launches 18-month study to assess water supply and future development
Arapahoe County may triple the amount of water developers will be made to bring to any new subdivision they build, as a historic drought continues to grip the region and demographers project the county’s population to surge to more than 800,000 by 2050. The stricter limit, which would increase the required groundwater allocation for new development from the state minimum of 100 years to 300 years — known among water managers as the “300-year rule” — will be considered as part of an 18-month,$500,000 water study Arapahoe County is launching this month.
...Kevin Reidy, state senior water efficiency specialist with the Colorado Water Conservation Board, said it’s important to remember that water supply is just one half of the equation. Lowering demand and use is fundamental to making the supply last.
“There’s not enough work on that demand side,” he said. “We need to have everything on the table.”
Northern Water secures key federal permit for dam complex around Fort Collins
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on Friday approved the key federal permit sought by Northern Water since 2004 to build a controversial $2 billion reservoir and pipeline project around Fort Collins, bringing major changes to the Cache la Poudre and South Platte Rivers closer to reality.
Did You Know? The expected growth in our county's population is causing a serious issue for water providers. Parker and Castle Rock water districts alone are facing a water supply shortage of nearly 20,000 acre feet by 2050, according to Rebecca Tejada, Director of Engineering at Parker Water and Sanitation. Castle Rock alone, for example, has grown from 48,580 residents in 2010 to over 77,000 today, according to the state demographer.
Upcoming News from DCFF
Every other week, DCFF will report on important news and challenges impacting our community. We hope you will stay engaged and connected with us.
