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San Miguel County to provide $10,000 match for Norwood Water Commission CWCB planning grant
Summary
The Board of Commissioners approved a $10,000 county contribution Dec. 5 to help the Norwood Water Commission meet a 25% local match requirement for a Colorado Water Conservation Board planning grant.
The Board of Commissioners approved a $10,000 county contribution Dec. 5 to help the Norwood Water Commission meet a 25% local match requirement for a Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) planning grant.
The grant and match • CWCB award: Norwood Water Commission received a CWCB capacity grant that will fund planning work to evaluate long‑term water supply and storage options. The water system currently relies on a contractual water right to Girard Reservoir and faces supply risks by the 2030s under several growth assumptions. • Match requirement: The CWCB grant requires roughly a 25% local match; the total match needs were estimated at about $48,000. Norwood requested $10,000 from the county; commissioners approved that request and said the county would source the funds from general fund reserves unless another general‑fund saving is identified.
Scope of the CWCB planning work • The planning grant will evaluate multiple options: moving or changing conditional water rights, adding storage, and identifying construction and operations costs (including O&M and power to pump water to higher elevations). Norwood staff and the commission emphasized attention to both construction and ongoing operation and maintenance costs. • Norwood will use the planning deliverables to compete for larger federal funding to implement a chosen solution.
Vote and next steps • Motion: Commissioner Anne Brown moved to approve the $10,000 contribution; motion seconded and carried unanimously. • Staff direction: County staff will finalize the grant paperwork and release the matching funds upon the Norwood Water Commission meeting any administrative requirements. Norwood said it will also complete a rate study and consider growth‑related fees to help fund long‑term O&M.
Ending: Commissioners praised the water commission for securing the CWCB planning award and said the county will continue to work with Norwood as the planning and grant work progresses.
