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Consultants report groundwater inventory and draft timeline for Douglas County water plan
Summary
Will Koger of Forsgren Associates told the Douglas County Water Commission that consultants have quantified Denver Basin groundwater in the county under Senate Bill 5 criteria and are reconciling provider projections with differing demographic forecasts.
Will Koger of Forsgren Associates briefed the Douglas County Water Commission on Sept. 22 about progress on the county water master plan and groundwater analysis.
Koger said Forsgren has compiled provider survey responses and is working to reconcile differing growth projections from the state demographer and the county comprehensive plan. The team has completed a Denver Basin groundwater volume computation for Douglas County using the state’s Senate Bill 5 criteria and has categorized more than 9,450 Denver Basin wells in the county by aquifer and usage type.
Koger told commissioners the project will move from Phase 1 (demand and supply analysis) into Phase 2 (land‑use policy analysis). Forsgren examined Colorado case studies for county and municipal policies around conservation and is drafting recommendations for Douglas County staff review. He said the consultants plan to vet material with focus groups before public release and expected a public‑facing draft in the spring following that vetting. In the meeting Koger said the team is still assembling some provider inputs but expects to discuss draft recommendations with county staff in a meeting scheduled the following week.
Commissioner Trisha Bernhardt asked whether the plan’s policy work would include discussion of growth and land‑use policies; Koger responded that the current scope focuses on water‑use and conservation policies and that “as for the growth policies, that's not really on the table for our discussion on water issues.” Bernhardt replied that land‑use and growth policy were important to water outcomes and urged the consultants and county staff to consider the connection.
Commissioner Clark Hamillman asked about timing and outreach. Koger said the team’s plan is to present draft materials to focus groups and to prepare a package for commissioners and stakeholders to use for local briefings in the spring.
Ending: Forsgren will continue integrating provider projections with demographic inputs, finalize the groundwater calculations already completed under SB‑5, and prepare focus‑group briefings ahead of a public draft expected after early 2024 vetting.
