You are receiving this newsletter because you are a recognized Douglas County community leader and stakeholder.
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.
A Bold Step Forward for Douglas County
“There is no higher priority for the Douglas County Commissioners than partnering with our water providers to secure dependable and sustainable water supply – our focus for more than a decade to make sure there’s water today and for generations to come.” – Douglas County Website
Recognizing the growing county-wide concerns about ensuring a sustainable, renewable water supply, Douglas County Commissioners have taken a bold step forward.
Our Commissioners began the process of authorizing the creation of a county water Commission, charged with developing a comprehensive water plan for our community.
Commissioner Abe Laydon and Commissioner George Teal have proposed that the Commission be modeled on similar long-range comprehensive plans the county has created for transportation, open space, and land use. The Water Commission is expected to be comprised of business and community leaders, water experts, and other constituents.
Commissioner Laydon highlighted that water is consistently a top priority for the county and its residents.
The Douglas County Commissioners believe that clean, renewable and most importantly secured water supply is essential to citizen health, safety, and welfare. It is essential to engage in “thoughtful, long-range planning.”
Commissioner Teal noted that there are several disparate plans in various parts of Colorado, but Douglas County needs a plan that “brings it all together for our county’s future.”
“We need an expert, informed plan that guides us toward a secure water future,” he said.
Commissioners tasked county staff with creating a framework for the Water Commission that will be considered at a future public meeting.
Recent Headlines
Why heavy winter rain and snow won't be enough to pull the West out of a megadrought
..."Everybody is so eager to make an early call on this," said Brad Udall, a water and climate researcher at Colorado State University. "Invariably, you'll get caught with your pants down if you think you know what's going to happen."
The Colorado River is in crisis, shrinking at the hands of climate change. A 23-year "megadrought" has created the region's driest conditions in 1,800 years. That has created a yawning supply-demand imbalance for a multibillion-dollar agriculture sector and large cities — such as Denver, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas and Los Angeles — that depend on the river's water.
Skipped Showers, Paper Plates: An Arizona Suburb’s Water Is Cut Off
RIO VERDE, Ariz... Earlier this month, the community’s longtime water supplier, the neighboring city of Scottsdale, turned off the tap for Rio Verde Foothills, blaming a grinding drought that is threatening the future of the West. Scottsdale said it had to focus on conserving water for its own residents, and could no longer sell water to roughly 500 to 700 homes — or around 1,000 people. That meant the unincorporated swath of $500,000 stucco houses, mansions and horse ranches outside Scottsdale’s borders would have to fend for itself and buy water from other suppliers — if homeowners could find them, and afford to pay much higher prices.
Almost overnight, the Rio Verde Foothills turned into a worst-case scenario of a hotter, drier climate, showing what happens when unregulated growth collides with shrinking water supplies.
“We are not going to be afraid to litigate” to protect Colorado’s water rights, AG says
...Attorney General Phil Weiser, who was just re-elected to a second term, said his office needs to be prepared for litigation or negotiation with other stakeholders to defend Colorado’s water rights.
He’s not asking for an overhaul of the office — his ask to the Joint Budget Committee is for two new positions, and water and natural resources make up an overall small percentage of his office’s total budget — but he noted that “the challenges with water are heating up.”
Did you know? In 1962, when the resort of Vail was first being constructed, six water districts and two sanitation districts went through a series of consolidations to form the Eagle River Water & Sanitation District. The ERWSD is responsible for regional water and wastewater operations in a service area encompassing approximately 54,400 acres in Eagle County, Colorado.
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.
