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Board adopts 2025 drought emergency plan update with no change to trigger levels
Summary
Consultant Doug Jeevins presented the 2025 update that leaves existing drought triggers and percentage reduction targets unchanged; the board adopted the update and delegated minor administrative edits to staff. The plan emphasizes CBT quota impacts, a two-year recovery target and equitable outdoor irrigation reductions.
The Greeley Water and Sewer Board voted Nov. 19 to adopt the 2025 update to the city’s drought emergency plan after a presentation from consultant Doug Jeevins of BBC Research and Consulting.
Jeevins summarized the update’s findings: Greeley’s retail water use remains near 21,300 acre-feet annually and the city’s water budget system continues in place. The update reaffirms the plan’s drought-declaration triggers and corresponding outdoor irrigation reduction targets (roughly 15% for mild drought, 25% for moderate, 50% for severe and 70% for catastrophic scenarios) and keeps the existing annual-supply evaluation process (performed each April). The plan continues to target a two-year recovery period for supplies to return to normal.
A focal point of the discussion was Colorado-Big Thompson (CBT) quota variability: Jeevins noted the difference between a 1.0 quota and a 0.5 quota can change Greeley’s annual yield by more than 11,000 acre-feet given the city’s holding of nearly 23,000 CBT units. The update does not change trigger levels but emphasizes messaging, targeted outreach using the city’s advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), tailored approaches for large commercial or institutional customers, and efforts to ensure equity across single-family, multifamily and nonresidential sectors.
Following the presentation, a board motion to adopt the 2025 update passed by voice vote and delegated limited authority to the director to make minor administrative adjustments. Staff indicated they will continue annual supply evaluations and return to the board if the modeling or quotas suggest adjustments to triggers or targets.
What happens next: The updated plan will be implemented through annual April supply evaluations, targeted messaging using AMI and customer information systems, and routine reporting to the board.
