Severance staff brief council on Northern Colorado Water Alliance resolution

Planning Director Shaney Porter told the Severance Town Council on Sept. 9 that the Northern Colorado Water Alliance is a five‑year‑old, staff‑led group formed to “collaborate and educate for the protection of water resources and systems to ensure a resilient future for the Northern Colorado front range region.” Porter said the alliance’s packet includes a draft resolution member communities are being asked to adopt.

The resolution, Porter said, would be nonbinding and would “demonstrate our commitment to regional water security, economy, and quality of life.” She told council the alliance’s work is meant to be a statement of regional priorities, not a regulatory action: “Nothing that we’re proposing, nothing that we discussed is setting out rules and regulations. We can’t do that. We have absolutely no authority over somebody wanting to buy and sell water rights,” Porter said.

Porter described the alliance’s membership — planning directors, town managers, public works directors and special districts from municipalities across northern Colorado — and said several jurisdictions have already adopted or supported the resolution, including Little Thompson Water District, Timnath, Greeley, Windsor and Larimer County. She said the alliance meets bimonthly and has discussed ideas such as a regional water information bank to prioritize keeping available water shares in the region.

Council members asked clarifying questions about how the alliance differs from existing entities, costs, governance and possible market effects. Porter said the alliance’s work is narrower and more operational than the Northern Water Conservancy District’s conservation and basin‑level work: “This is probably a diving in deeper with a more intimate discussion with the folks at the table that are working in, for lack of better term, trenches every day in development opportunities.”

On funding and membership, Porter said Severance’s dues were $1,750 for the year referenced in the packet and that alliance overhead currently covers meeting facilitation and documentation; she said no funding for purchasing water shares had been identified. On whether the alliance could drive water prices, Porter said a coordinated approach could lower costs if jurisdictions pooled funds to buy shares together, but she also noted scenarios, such as a large new supply entering the market, could raise prices.

Council members — including Mayor Friess and Council Member Bruin — expressed general support for regional collaboration while emphasizing that any future steps requiring budget appropriation or elected‑official involvement would return to council. No formal council action was taken at the work session; Porter said the alliance will return a resolution for council consideration at a future meeting.

Porter asked council whether they wanted periodic updates; council requested continued notice and follow‑up reports when substantive developments occur.

Ending: The work session concluded and the regular meeting began at 6 p.m.; the resolution from the alliance may be placed on a future town council agenda if council decides to consider adopting it.