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Buena Vista approves permanent Clear Creek Reservoir storage agreement to support augmentation
Summary
Trustees on Oct. 28 approved a permanent water‑storage agreement allowing the town to store up to 200 acre‑feet annually in Clear Creek Reservoir; staff said the storage will support augmentation obligations for changed water rights and help manage winter return flows.
The Town of Buena Vista approved a permanent storage agreement on Oct. 28 to place up to 200 acre‑feet of water annually in Clear Creek Reservoir, staff reported. The resolution authorizes the town to pay an annual storage fee (staff cited $250 per acre‑foot as a baseline) subject to an escalation clause tied to Pueblo Water’s general customer rate changes.
Town water counsel explained the agreement is intended to support the town’s changing water‑right strategies, specifically to accommodate return‑flow and augmentation needs associated with the town’s purchase and planned change of the Bridal (Bray) water rights. Counsel said storage in Clear Creek Reservoir and corresponding exchanges would allow the town to move winter return flows into storage for later use in the municipal system.
Trustees voted to approve the agreement (Resolution 69) and authorized the mayor to execute it. Staff said the costs will be charged to the town’s water fund and that the agreement includes a pause mechanism and pro‑rata expansion language should reservoir expansion proceed in the future.
Supporters said the agreement secures a practical storage option for augmentation and is structured so the town shares in the existing customer‑rate escalation rather than a unilateral fixed rate.
Resolution 69 passed on roll call; staff will finalize contract documents and return as needed for ministerial signatures.
