Water in Larimer County

Larimer County is taking foundational steps on strategic goals to:

• improve long-term planning for water supply in unincorporated areas, promote water-sharing strategies to preserve agriculture, and sustain water supplies

• address risks and sustainability, and

• prepare responsive land use policies and standards.

The Water Master Plan will become an element of the Larimer County Comprehensive Plan and will help bolster Larimer County’s strategic planning for water, stormwater, and environmental flows. Keep in mind that Larimer County is not a utility provider, so the County may play specific strategic, coordinating, and collaborating roles to achieve water goals determined through the plan.

Summary of Current Work

Through a competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) process, Larimer County selected and has engaged SWCA Environmental Consultants (SWCA) and AE2S, to work with staff, other advisors, the public, boards and commissions, and the Board of County Commissioners to prepare a Water Master Plan. The consultant firms have capabilities to address cultural, natural, and water resources management, wildfire planning, regulatory compliance, and climate change. They also can address water challenges and risks such as future water demands and use of available water rights. The project is partially funded by the Federal Emergency Management Act’s (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP).

The summary of the project Scope of Work is attached: Water Plan Scope and Schedule Summary

Project Schedule

• Q3 2023: PROJECT START: Identification of stakeholders, invites to advisory groups, creation of a public engagement plan.
• Q4 2023: PROJECT UNDERWAY: Data inventory and gap analysis, identification of goals and visions.
• Q1 – Q2 2024: PROJECT MAPPING: Prepare watershed maps and begin analysis of water related risks and vulnerabilities to Larimer County.
• Q3 2024: PROJECT RESULTS: Develop strategies, implementation measures, and mitigation that will go into the Water Master Plan.
• Q4 2024: PROJECT DRAFT: Water Master Plan drafted and ready for review.
• Q1 2025: PROJECT FINISH: The Water Master Plan to be voted on by Larimer County Board of County Commissioners and ratified by Larimer County Planning Commission. If approved, the plan will be incorporated into the Land Use Code.

Upcoming Events & Ways to Get Involved:

• Sign-up to stay involved by sending your contact information to LC Water Plan
• Online questionnaire 
• Listen in to the Water Advisory Group webinars (please note: these meetings are open for the public to listen in, but not to participate)
• Next meeting: Wednesday, April 24, 2024 from 3:30 - 5:00 PM MST
• Please register here to get a Zoom link: https://larimer-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_HvwUdkbATImu3QOjZ2K3kw
• Join us at an Open House on Wed. May 1st, 2024 from 6:00-8:00pm on the first floor of the Larimer County Administration Building (Carter and Boyd Lake Room - 200 W Oak St. Fort Collins, CO 80521).

Public Engagement Overview:

The Water Master Plan will include a robust public engagement process. Staff and consultants will keep the public informed and provide opportunities for public input and comment throughout the process. Additionally, Larimer County staff and SWCA will collaborate with a Technical Advisory Group made up of water managers and staff from Larimer County and larger municipalities and will also involve a Water Advisory Group made up of other interested parties. In addition, the public engagement process will gather input from members of the public who are interested in, and potentially affected by, water management and policy in Larimer County and the region to help shape the final plan. The project team will use several strategies to maintain a transparent and open process with the public to encourage participation and provide the community with meaningful opportunities to engage.

• This webpage will be updated throughout the development of the Water Master Plan including with questionnaires and interactive components.
• At least two public open house events will be held.
• The team will check in with boards and commissions periodically.
• Staff can be available to attend your event.

The purpose of the vision and goals workshop was to share information about the overall project and issues the county faces related to water use and conservation, support dialog between diverse interested parties, and gather feedback on a vision statement and final set of tiered goals for Larimer County to use in guiding the creation of the Water Master Plan.

Please read through the materials created for the workshop:

• Vision and Goals Worksheet
• Vision and Goals Presentation.pptx
• Welcome and Overview Poster
• Background and Risks Poster
• Community Water Systems Poster
• Framing the Vision and Goals Poster

Last year as a precursor to the plan, Larimer County engaged a consultant, Brendle Group, to conduct the regional water Existing Conditions study and to facilitate work sessions and an open house to do initial visioning and goal setting. The Existing Conditions report and Executive Summary are below. The work from 2022 is foundational for the next stages of water planning. 

Larimer County Water Existing Conditions Report (6/6/2022)

Larimer County Water Existing Conditions Executive Summary

Task 2 - Vision and Goals Memo

Attachment A - County Staff Work Session Summary

Attachment B - Stakeholder Open House