Purpose:

The purpose of the Listening Sessions was to listen to the general public. What does the general public identify as the main issues concerning the future of water in Douglas County and what do they think are the solutions for those issues?

Main issues identified:

Attendees were asked to mention the main issues concerning the future of water in the County. Then they were also asked to identify the items that really resonated. The issues that were raised more than once can be categorized in 6 categories:

1. Groundwater (Reliance on ground water is too big)
   
2. Financing (how are we going to finance it?)
   
3. Infrastructure (Need for infrastructure)
   
4. Economic development (Cheaper water creates an economic advantage)
   
5. Planning (Plan now for the future)
   
6. The Integrated Water Resources Plan at Castle Pines North was not adequately considered as part of the City of Castle Pines land use planning process.

Ad. 1. Groundwater:

Comments:

• Reliance on groundwater and future of groundwater supply
  
• Some believe we only have a 20-year supply for a population of 250,000
  
• Private wells are at a high risk of losing their supply
  
• We have too much reliance on well water
  
• How much is available? Are well water levels monitored?

Ad. 2 Financing:

Comments:

• Financing new surface water supplies
  
• Where should we put money today?

Ad.3 Infrastructure:

Comments:

• Douglas County needs a renewable water supply throughout the county
  
• Every community in Douglas County needs water (33 water providers of which 4 are major providers)
  
• Need for infrastructure such as pipelines (Water transportation – how do we get water from Brighton, Greeley and other spots up north down to Douglas County and Highlands Ranch)
  
• There is not a true water shortage; the issue is where the water is and how to get it where it is needed

Ad.4 Economic development:

Comments:

• Cheaper water in other areas provides a competitive advantage to areas that don’t have to pay as much for rights, transportation, etc.
  
• 20/30/40 year water supplies impact companies who look to relocate and affect the job base; we need to be able to show the water supply is here in order to stay competitive from an economic development aspect

Ad.5 Planning:

Comments:

• Anticipation of any water shortage – if there is a shortage in 20 years and it takes 20 years to solve and plan for a shortage, we need to plan for the worst now
  
• Create certainty from uncertainty
  
• Need to look at water generationally

Solutions identified:

Each of the attendees was asked to identify solutions, and then identify comments that really resonated. The solutions that were voted on several times are listed below. Most of the solutions can be categorized in:

A. Own water,

B. Improve infrastructure,

C. Collaboration,

D. Education,

E. Finances,

F. Outside water usage,

G. New development,

H. Action,

I. Underground storage

Ad. A. Buy water:

Ideas:

• Buy water as needed
  
• Own water by having a one-time payment or limited payback time and remember to use the water or face losing the water right
  
• Buy and store water downstream of the confluence of St Vrain
  
• Pursue water exchanges: buying water form the north, but getting water south if south supply equals what is bought up north

Ad. B. Improve infrastructure

Ideas:

• Start planning for needed infrastructure

Ad. C. Collaboration:

Ideas:

• Find solutions for collaboration between agriculture and municipal water uses
  
• Avoid drying up the farms
  
• Lease water to the farmers
  
• Cycle the use between municipal use and farming use every X years
  
• Use fallowing as a technique to effectively use water for multiple uses
  
• During the years the farmland is allowed to fallow, cities can use the water for their drinking water supply
  
• Promote dryland farming
  
• Regional cooperation

Ad. D. Education:

Ideas:

• Educate the general public
  
• Education is needed for everyone involved from the homeowner to the water professionals
  
• Education programs – conservations, understanding costs, increasing schoolprograms
  
• Education programs in the schools should continue
  
• Change expectations through education
  
• Lack of public understanding and concern for the future

Ad. E. Finances:

Ideas:

• Identify where the funds are
  
• Identify how to obtain the funding
  
• People who benefit the most, pay the higher price
  
• Identify the impacts on the originating basin and whether funds will be needed for mitigation
  
• Bring tributary water to Douglas County
  
• Lease water to create constant payments

Ad. F. Outside water usage:

Ideas:

• Limit water used on landscape
  
• Sensors on sprinkler system
  
• Don’t allow watering in the rain
  
• Lot less grass lawns landscaping

Ad. G. New development:

Ideas:

• Until new water supplies are identified and obtained, Douglas County should create a moratorium on new subdivisions
  
• Create consistent water supply to attract industry

Ad. H. Action:

Ideas:

• Stop the studies and start building and doing
  
• Douglas County needs to take charge of our own water future and do not rely on other entities

Ad. I. Underground storage

Ideas:

• Increase underground storage
  
• Build more ASR (aquifer storage and recovery)
  
• Look for recharge opportunities

Other ideas:

• Water fees should be tied closer to usage.
  
• Re-adjust water budgets