Lafayette updates council on water supply, storage and an integrated drought plan

LAFAYETTE, Colo. — Lafayette’s public works and water-resources staff on April 22 gave city council a technical update on current water-supply conditions, storage capacity, longer-term projects and a new integrated water efficiency and drought-response plan that staff will bring back for council review later this year.

Jeff Arthur, public works director, said the update was intended to give council a broad overview rather than immediate action recommendations. "We're not here tonight with any immediate recommendations for council action," Arthur said, and added staff would remain "vigilant" and ready to move quickly if conditions change.

Water resources manager Carrie Gishoff, water-resources analyst Mitch Zombek and other staff walked council through Lafayette’s portfolio. The city draws about 80% of its supply from the Boulder Creek Basin — diverting to Goose Haven and Baseline reservoirs and then to the Baseline treatment plant — and roughly 20% from the Upper Colorado River Basin via Colorado-Big Thompson (CBT) and Windy Gap allotments through Northern Water.

Gishoff explained how Colorado’s prior-appropriation…