SPDSS_Task5_KeyMuniUser_FtCollins

• Title: SPDSS Task 5 - Key Municipal User, City of Fort Collins
• Description: The City of Fort Collins has been identified as a key municipal user for the South Platte Decision Support System ‎(SPDSS)‎ consumptive use and surface water modeling efforts. The purpose of this Task 5 memorandum is to document physical, legal, and operational aspects of those key structures identified.
• Decision Support - Doc Type: Task Memorandum
• Date: 2/5/2005
• DSS Category: Surface Water
• DSS: South Platte
• Basin: South Platte
• Contract/PO #: C153954
• Grant Type: Non-Reimbursable
• Bill Number: SB01-157, HB02-1152, SB03-110, HB04-1221, SB05-084, HB06-1313, SB07-122
• Prepared By: Leonard Rice Engineering

potential loss of yield from needing to make bypass releases from their storage units, these
entities worked with USFS to develop the JOP, under which all entities are able to benefit.
The operations of Fort Collins, Greeley, and WSSC have changed since winter 1994-1995
under the JOP. The winter operations of these entities were modified to meet the objective of
releasing 10 cfs down the Cache la Poudre River to the canyon mouth over the November 1
through March 31 period:
• Fort Collins releases 3 cfs from its Joe Wright Reservoir or WSSC's Chambers Lake;
• Greeley releases 7 cfs from its Barnes Meadow Reservoir or WSSC's Chambers Lake.
Since Fort Collins received its special use permit, it has been required to pass the lesser of 1
cfs or the natural inflows through Toe Wright Reservoir during the winter. In addition, under
the JOP, Fort Collins moves 600 ac-ft of storage water from Joe Wright Reservoir to
Chambers Lake before the end of October. The transferred storage water is used to make up
the remaining 2 cfs of delivery over the winter months for Fort Collins. The use of Chambers
Lake by either of the municipalities is provided for by WSSC. The City of Fort Collins
diverts its 3 cfs at the Old Pipeline. The City of Greeley diverts its 7 cfs at the Bellvue Filter
Plant.
Consumptive Ilse
The consumptive use of the City's potable diversions associated with the Reuse Plan decree
(Case No. W-9332-73) are summarized in Table 7. LIRFs associated with the use of the South
Side Ditches were adjudicated in the Fort Collins change case (No. 92CW 129) based on 17.5
percent of the South Side ditch diversions attributed to outside uses as averaged over the
previous 10-year period.
The consumptive use rate for in-house uses by the City of Fort Collins that are not attributed to
the Reuse Plan are 5 percent. LIRFs associated with diversions not included in the Reuse Plan or
from the South Side Ditches (i.e., under the Old Pipeline water rights) have not been quantified
or adjudicated.
Water Supply
The changed direct flow rights and the requirement of a water supply dedication as a prerequisite
of obtaining water service for the last forty years have positioned the City well to address the
growing needs of the municipality. The City's adjudicated direct flow and changed water rights
are summarized in Table 2 and Table 3, respectively. The order of operations for the City of Fort
Collins's water resources generally follow the pattern described in more detail, as follows:
1) Direct Flow Rights,
2) Changed Direct Flow Rights,
3) Exchange from a Reservoir or Ditch,
4) Transbasin Water, and
5) Storage Releases.
Winter demands (November-March) are generally met from the 3 cfs of JOP releases and 15 cfs
of the Fort Collins Pipeline senior water rights. Any remaining winter demands are generally
City of Fort Collins Operating Memorandum.doc 18 of 20 January 5, 2005