Aurora committee hears water-storage update as snowpack improves modestly

City water staff told the Water Policy Committee on Feb. 18 that system storage stood near 59–60% as of Feb. 16 and that recent storms gave modest improvements to Colorado and Arkansas basin snowpack while South Platte basin storage remained comparatively low.

"As of the sixteenth, we're at 59% of storage," a staff presenter said during the meeting. Staff pulled a historical storage graph, noting an emergency storage line around 65,000 acre-feet and explained that, under an average runoff year, system storage would likely remain near the city’s caution/emergency threshold. Members asked what storage percentage would be considered 'safe'; staff said the emergency line is based on acre-feet and operational planning rather than a simple percent target and that the utility is watching conditions closely.

Committee members also discussed federal drought-monitor and seasonal-precipitation outlook maps, with one member noting apparent mismatches between recent heavy storms in California and some published drought maps; staff said some outlook products in the packet had not been recently updated. The update also covered ongoing monitoring of snowpack and an expectation that additional storms would influence storage in coming weeks.

The legislative packet and related discussion touched on bills affecting water infrastructure, including unmanned aircraft systems (a drone bill) and an outdoor recreation proposal that staff said Colorado Water Congress is monitoring because it could affect water rights and facility access. Staff said Aurora is in a monitoring posture and could seek amendments or take a formal position if necessary.

The committee did not take formal action on the water-supply report; staff asked members to share any follow-up questions and indicated ongoing monitoring and quarterly reporting.