HomeMy WebLinkAbout6 - Recommendation to City Council on the Source Water Master Plan (SWMP) CITYOFBOULDER
WATER RESOURCES ADVISORY BOARD
AGENDA ITEM
MEETING DATE: January 12, 2009
AGENDA TITLE: Recommendation to City Council on the Source Water Master
Plan (SWMP)
PRESENTERS: Bob Harberg, Utilities Project Management Coordinator
Carol Ellinghouse, Water Resources Coordinator
Kun Hutton, Water Resources Specialist
Joe Taddeucci, Utilities Project Manager
EXECUTIVE SUNIIi'IARY:
Staff hand delivered an updated final draft of Volume I and a final draft of Volume II of
the SWMP at the November 17, 2448 meeting. During that meeting staff and WRAB
members discussed that the WRAB anticipates taking two meetings (Dec.15 and Jan.12)
to review, comment and make a final recommendation on the SWMP.
At the December 15, 2448 meeting staff and t7VRAB members discussed Volume II of the
SWMP. WRAB members provided input on a number of items. Those items and staff's
recommended resolutions are summarized below.
Item 1: SWMP Policy Implications:
a) WRAB members suggested staff clarify that unless specifically stated, the SWMP
does not supercede past policy actions and documents (i.e., 1988 RWMP,
conservation studies, etc.} but rather builds on them. WRAB members also
suggested staff identify items in the SWMP, if any, intended for policy direction
and council action.
b) WRAB members suggested staffclarify the SWMP recommendations concerning
remaining Windy Gap units.
Item 1 Resolution:
a) Section 5 of Volume I entitled "What Policy Recommendations are in the Source
Water 1Vlaster Plan?" and Chapter 2 of Volume II entitled "Purpose and Scope"
have been revised to add the following language:
The City of
Boulder was incorporated in 1871 and has over tithe developed a
stable administrative framework including policies that apply to management
of the source water system. In 1989 council adapted the RWMP, 1-vhich
provides policy direction on a number of items. The RWMP along with
AGENDA ITEM # 6 PAGE 1
numerous other city documents provide the policies that guide management
and operation of the source water system. The following list provides same of
the key documents:
• Raw Water Master Plan
• Treated Water Master Plan
• DroughtPlan
• Middle Boulder Creek Water Source Management Work Plan
• Water Quality Strategic Plan
• Water Conservation Futures Study
• Source WaterlmpactAssessment
• Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan
• Instream flow studies
• 2000 Water Conservation Futures Study
• Historic water system studies
The SWMP does not cl2ange previously established policy or direction but
rather includes recommendations ofpolicy-related items that will be brought
to City Council in the future. Section S of Volume I and Section 7.1 of ilolume
II of the SY~P includes a policy discussion that builds upon the
recommendations, policy directives and principles from the RWMP and other
documents that have guided water utility operations for over 20 years.
Section 7.1 of Volume II entitled "Policy Assessment and Recommendations" has
been revised as follows (see highlighted text):
Over time, the city of
Boulder has developed policies that guide the
management of the raw water system and source watersheds.
Recommendations in this section of the ST~Tj1l~IP address areas where
adjustments and~ar enhancements to tl2e established policies could be
considered. The Sf~t'11dP daceatyient itself will not implement any new policies as
these will require specific appe°aval by the City Councilor the City Manager
and designated staff as is appropriate. ~l-lore information on current city
policies regarding source water are included in sections 3.4 and 3.6 of this
SYY~IP.
Policies implemented as a result of the previous source water planning effort,
the 1988 RWMP, continue to provide focus to management of the raw water
system and source watersheds. In the past 20 years the city's water supply
system has changed and new information is available. Therefore, it is an
appropriate time to revisit some of the policies that will guide future raw
water system and source watershed management.
Many of the items described as steadies and plans later in this section tnay
have eventual polic}% implications following in-depth evaluation. The specific
AGENDA ITEM # 6 PAGE 2
direction such policies would take will not become appa~°ent until the studies
and plans are corrtplete. Table ?-1 presents the palicyr-r°elated items for tii-~l~ic1~
near-term council direction is needed.
TABLE 7- l , POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS
Continue taking
reasonable steps to
increase water supply
reliability and system System Wide Staff Water supply
quantity
flexibility without causing
negative economic impacts
to the water utility.
Reaffirm or modify current
water supply reliability System Wide CSG Water supply
criteria quantity
Develop a policy guiding Water supply
the intended uses for System Wide CSG quantity & non-
conserved water. municipal uses
Develop source water Water supply
System Wide Staff
rotection olic or oals. uali
Do not pursue any further
sales of Windy Gap water
Colorado Water supply
until studies re-evaluating Staff
River quantity
its utility to the city are
complete
b) Regarding Windy Gap units, staff recommends the city evaluate whether or not to
keep them (the SVVMP had previously recommending keeping the remaining
shares). Therefore, the applicable language in Section 5 of Volume I and Section
7.1 of Volume II of the SWMP has been changed as follows (see highlighted
text):
Although City Council did not recommend a permanent yield reduction of the
city's water portfolio through sale of water in 1988, they did recognize that
the Windy Gap water was the city's most expensive and least reliable water.
Council recommended that staff attempt to reconfigure the city's water
portfolio through sale of Windy Gap water and replacement of the Windy Gap
water with water supplies and assets in the Boulder Creek basin that would be
capable of multiple uses and would enhance the yield of existing systems.
Based on these recommendations, the city sold 43 of its original 80 units. The
proceeds were used to purchase the Barker s}%stem, additional shares in ditch
companies, and joint ownership with Boulder County of Caribou Ranch.
AGENDA ITEM # 6 PAGE 3
Purchase of the Barker system in 2001 has increased the city's water rights
yield, increased operational flexibility, allowed improvements that increased
system reliability, allowed for instream flows inMiddle Boulder Creek and
provided additional hydroelectric generation. Given uncertainties in future
water yields due to potential climate change and other currently indefinable
factors, policy direction concerning retention of the remaining T~indy Gap
units should be ye-evaluated and updated. L.jnless more attractive alternative
water supply opportunities of°ise, staff recommends not pursuing any further
scales of the city's remaining TFlrindy Gap units until a re-evaluation of the yield
and utility of this water is completed.
Item 2: CWCB/Instream Flows:
WRAB members suggested that the recommended aquatic habitat studies consider the
desired flows prescribed by the CWCB.
Item 2 Resolution:
The description of aquatic habitat studies in Section 7.3 has been revised as follows:
EFFECTIVENESS OF THE CURRENT INSTREAM FLOW PROGRAM
(16) -The CSG considered it urgent for the city to update aquatic habitat
studies to assess the effectiveness of the existing instream flow program and to
identify options far further habitat advancement. In addition, the studies
should identify impacts, casts and benefits affurtl2er enhancement of instream
flows up to the desired minimum flows previously prescribed by the CT~CB.
Item 3: Other Comments
A number of other comments were provided by WRAB members at the December 15
meeting.
Item 3 Resolution:
The following changes were made to resolve those comments.
1. The description of the Town of Boulder Ditch was revised in Volume II,
Section 3.2.2.7 to describe the decree by which the point of diversion was
moved upstream.
2. Project costs were added to the discussion on Windy Gap in Volume II,
Section 4.3.2.1.
3. Staff confirmed that initial capital costs for city hydro plants were
presented in the SWMP (Volume II, Section 4.2, Table 4-4).
4. The discussion of the Barker Reservoir over-topping concern in Volume
II, Section 3.2.2.12 was revised to describe that the concern was addressed
by addition ofpost-tensioned anchors to Barker Dam.
5. The font spacing/pdf/typo issues that occurred in SWMP sections and
figures attached to the December 15 agenda item have been corrected.
AGENDA ITEM # 6 PAGE 4
6. The Water Conservation Futures Study was added to the Volume II,
Section 2.1.1 list of water supply affecting changes that have arisen since
the Raw Water Master Plan was adopted.
7. In Volume II, Section 3.2.2.7, staff added a reference for Silver Lake,
Island Lake and Goose Lake decrees and an explanation of the concept
that the water rights can be used to "exhaustion".
8. WRAB asked staffto define the term "cogeneration" that is mentioned in
the Section 3.2.2.13. The reference to cogeneration has been removed
from the SWMP because it is not part of the source water system.
Cogeneration is discussed in the wastewater treatment master plan.
9. Reference to which water rights were conveyed to the CWCB for ISF use
was made in Volume II, Section 3.2.2.14. The water rights are listed in
Table 5-7.
10. The discussion of Wolford Mountain Reservoir was revised in Volume II,
Section 3.2.2.11 to provide more background information on why the
reservoir was built.
11. Staff confirmed that the reliability criteria are presented in the SWMP
(Volume I, Section 9 and inVolume II, Section 5.1.1.4).
12. An explanation of the use of water rights that were obtained from PSCo
when the city purchased the Boulder Canyon Hydro/Barker Project was
added to Volume II, Section 3.2.2.1.
Analysis:
The Source Water Master Plan (SWMP) is intended to be a foundation document that
will allow informed decision-making regarding one of the city's most important assets,
its water supplies. Boulder's founders recognized the importance of a reliable water
supply and began developing a water supply system for the growing city in the late
1800's. Careful planning for the city's future water needs now can help assure that future
Boulder citizens also inherit a reliable and sufficient water supply. The SWIVIP
documents the current status of the city's water resources and raw water facilities and
defines issues to be addressed to provide for the city's future water supply needs. The
SWMP and its recommended projects and programs provide a framework for sustainable
management of the city's source waters so that future water supply needs are met through
drought periods without violating adopted reliability criteria.
One of the important questions raised during the SWMP process was "Does Boulder have
enough water for its municipal system?" Past and current studies predict that as long as
current supply and drought management strategies remain in place, the city will have
enough water in the future to meet the reliability criteria, even with climate change and
predicted population increases. While staff intends to keep a close eye on future climate
change science and water supply modeling, the focus of the SWMP is not, "t~'here does
the city find more water?" The focus is rather on the future steps and considerations
needed to manage the existing source water system, including its aging infrastructure. To
that end, the scope of the SWMP includes several different efforts, such as:
• Defining emerging issues that affect how the city will manage and operate its
source water system in the future.
AGENDA ITEM # 6 PAGE 5
• Recommending future studies and actions that should be undertaken.
• Providing general budgeting information and project prioritization to guide
development of the twenty-year Capital Improvements Program (CIP) so that
source water deliveries are dependable.
• Compiling existing information about the city's source water system including
background information, a review of the city's raw ~~~ater system assets, current
operation and maintenance practices, agreements, and other legal constraints on
the city's raw water operations.
• Reviewing water use levels and water rights yields to assist in re-evaluation of
future demands.
• Recognizing and being compatible with the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan,
growth projections and other city master and strategic plans.
The SWMP contains two volumes. The first volume provides a summary level of detail
aimed at a general audience. Volume I is consistent with other city master plans and
planning documents in terms of format, content and level of detail. The second volume
contains much more detail on background, system management, issues and
recommendations. Volume II provides the details necessary for future execution of
programs and projects. Volume II also documents critical system information in one
place in a way that has never been done before, which will be valuable to current and
future staff. The second volume is prepared more for an audience having or desiring
detailed institutional knowledge of the source water system.
The current project schedule is as follows:
• January 12, 2449 -Final WRAB recommendation concerning the StVMP.
• February 2449 (tentative) -Planning Board review/recommendation of the
S W1VIP
• April 2449 (tentative) -City Council review/recommendation of the SWMP
Fiscal Impacts:
Budgetary: Funding sufficient to complete the master plan is available in the
Utilities Division budget.
Staff Time: Staff has taken the responsibility for developing background
information to reduce consultant costs. Project stafftime is a part of the normal
work plan.
Other Impacts:
Environmental: None directly attributable to the planning effort.
Economic: Recommendations presented in the final SWMP will be considered in
developing the Capital Improvement Program for the next 24 years.
Community: Staff conducted a public process with a Community Study Group
comprised of various members of the public representing a variety of interests
related to the source water system. The group included some WRAB and City
Council members.
Other Board and Commission feedback and public feedback:
AGENDA ITEM # 6 PAGE 6
• October 2007- February 2008 -Four community focus group meetings were
conducted
• September 2008 -City Council Study Session
• November 200$ Review by internal city master plan review group
• 2008 WRAB meetings - Ltpdates provided in Tul_y, August October and
November
• December 2008 -WRAB discussion of S~~'I~~IP - Vohime II and public hearing
• January 2009 -WRAB recommendation and public hearing
Staff recommendation: Utilities staff recommends that the WRAB accept the Source
Water Master Plan.
Attachments: None
AGENDA ITEM # 6 PAGE 7