Loveland approves 40-year deal to convey city water through C-BT
The contract covers up to 16,200 acre-feet of non-project water a year, but does not guarantee capacity and deliveries can be interrupted for higher-priority uses. The excess-capacity charge starts at $157,140 in 2026, with separate maintenance and power charges.
Loveland’s Water Enterprise Board approved a 40-year contract Oct. 6 that would allow up to 16,200 acre-feet of Loveland’s non-project water annually to move through Colorado-Big Thompson Project facilities.
The contract does not guarantee capacity for those deliveries. A contracting officer will determine available excess capacity in consultation with the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District. Loveland’s deliveries can be interrupted for higher-priority Colorado-Big Thompson Project and Windy Gap deliveries.
The new contract replaces Loveland’s 2001 conveyance agreement, which expires Oct. 31. The ordinance’s findings say the Colorado-Big Thompson Project was designed to deliver an average of 310,000 acre-feet to east-slope beneficiaries. They put its average historic yield at about 230,000 acre-feet annually, leaving capacity unused at times.
The Water Enterprise must pay annually for 16,200 acre-feet of contracted conveyance: initially upon execution, then by July 1 or within 30 days of an invoice if none arrives by June 1. The excess-capacity charge is $9.70 per acre-foot, or $157,140, in 2026 and $29.02 per acre-foot, or $470,124, in 2065. An initial $2.50-per-acre-foot operations, maintenance and replacement charge is subject to annual adjustment; a separate power-interference charge varies with deliveries and power rates. The staff report says the Water Enterprise Fund covers the costs within the Water Utility Enterprise operations and maintenance budget.
The city and Water Enterprise must carry out environmental commitments under the contract, or the contracting officer may stop non-project water deliveries until they do. The contract’s environmental exhibit says expansion of Green Ridge Glade Reservoir and realignment of County Road 29 would affect approximately 0.85 acres of existing wetlands. The commitments call for a final wetland mitigation plan, a minimum 1-to-1 mitigation ratio and annual monitoring and reports until the Corps determines the wetlands are viable and self-sustaining. They also call for a deer bridge across the Charles Hansen Feeder Canal, a vegetated buffer north of the expanded reservoir and deer-crossing signs along the realigned portion of County Road 29.
The contract takes effect on the date of the contracting officer’s digital signature. Its payment schedule runs from 2026 through 2065.