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Colorado Springs Utilities outlines multi‑decade Arkansas Basin plan, emphasizes conservation
Summary
Colorado Springs Utilities staff told Lake County commissioners they are opening long‑term communications across the Arkansas Basin, said no immediate changes are planned at Homestake Reservoir, and outlined storage and conservation targets—including a 10,000 acre‑foot supply goal and an 8,000 acre‑foot conservation target over coming years.
Colorado Springs Utilities representatives told the Lake County Board of County Commissioners they want to build an ongoing, multi‑year dialogue with counties in the Arkansas Basin as they develop long‑range water plans and project concepts.
Kim Gortz, manager of water resources for Colorado Springs Utilities, portrayed the outreach as a bid for transparency and local input. She said the utility’s integrated system can “serve about 95,000 acre feet,” with current demand generally around 70,000 acre feet, and outlined a portfolio approach that pairs supply projects with conservation to manage growth.
Gortz said the utility is targeting roughly 10,000 acre‑feet of additional supply over the next decade to 15 years through a mix of projects and yield improvements. She cited plans including an enlargement of Montgomery Reservoir near Alma and work to firm yields on the Blue River side, estimating the Blue River work could provide as much as about 4,000 acre‑feet. Lower‑Arkansas agricultural water‑sharing and irrigation‑efficiency investments were described as additional sources that could contribute roughly 7,000 acre‑feet to the system.
On conservation, Gortz highlighted appliance and outdoor‑watering measures the utility uses to reduce demand. She described rebate programs, water‑wise landscaping education and a proposed shift to water‑budget rate structures to encourage efficient use. The utility also cited an internal conservation target of roughly 8,000 acre‑feet of demand reduction as part of the balanced portfolio.
Local commissioners raised community concerns about Homestake Reservoir and rumors that a future project would “flood the whole Homestake Valley.” Utilities staff responded that the existing Homestake Reservoir and valley would not be inundated under the concepts being discussed and emphasized that any enlargement or new reservoir proposal would require extensive environmental permitting, intergovernmental coordination (including Eagle and Lake counties) and likely take decades to reach a permitting stage.
Staff also discussed other possible projects and partners: a potential Clear Creek (San Juan) reservoir concept (noting the dam needs rehab before enlargement could be pursued), and regional efforts such as an indirect potable reuse option with neighboring jurisdictions to help manage groundwater stress. The presenters said Colorado Springs Utilities contributes funding to regional cloud‑seeding programs and offered to provide Lake County with the cloud‑seeding report summarizing activities and perceived benefits.
The county asked for follow‑up materials, including cloud‑seeding data, details about Montgomery and Clear Creek concepts, and engagement on coordination for Turquoise Lake and newly purchased ranch properties that might affect Lake Fork Creek flows. Utilities staff agreed to return with project specifics and to continue building the communication channel between the utility and basin counties.
Next steps: county staff and Colorado Springs Utilities will share requested reports and continue periodic coordination as project concepts mature.
