Consultants update Douglas County water plan: population projections, provider survey and Denver Basin groundwater study

Consultants working on the Douglas County 2050 water plan updated the Douglas County Water Commission on June 23, outlining population-projection scenarios, the status of a countywide water-provider survey and early results from a Denver Basin groundwater study that uses a PETRA geophysical-analysis tool.

The presentation matters because county planners will use the combined population and groundwater analyses to recommend water-supply policies, limits on groundwater use in unincorporated areas and monitoring needs that could affect development approvals and well-permitting decisions.

Will Koger, a consultant with Forsgren Associates, told the commission the technical team is compiling population and demand projections through 2050 and will reconcile figures from multiple sources. "There's the State Demographer's Office, which is projecting about 467,000 for Douglas County by 2050, and the county comprehensive plan shows a different series of projections," Koger said. He said Forsgren will "mesh" those sources with water-provider forecasts and present a recommended projection for analysis.

Katie (county staff) said the water-provider survey is roughly halfway complete: 14 of 31 providers have returned surveys, 12 are in process and four providers…