To: Honorable Mayor and Members of Town Council
Through: David L. Corliss, Town Manager
From: Mark Marlowe, P.E., Director of Castle Rock Water
Tim Friday, P.E., Assistant Director of Castle Rock Water
Title
Resolution Approving and Adopting an Update to the Town of Castle Rock Source Water Protection Plan [Entire Service Area]
Body
________________________________________________________________________________
Executive Summary
The purpose of this memorandum is to request Town Council approval of the Updated Source Water Protection Plan (SWPP) (Attachment A). The main objective of source water protection planning is to minimize potential contamination threats to public drinking water supplies. This is achieved throughout the planning process by identifying and implementing “best management practices” that will protect Castle Rock’s specific source water area. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), in conjunction with the Colorado Rural Water Association (CRWA), offers guidance, assistance and grants to Colorado communities in preparing Source Water Protection Plans (SWPP). Attachment B shows a fact sheet about Colorado’s source water protection program. In 2021, the Town expanded its source water protection areas (SWPA) to encompass both the East and West branches of Plum Creek, which expanded the watershed from 142 to 277 square miles. The plan has been updated to reflect this expanded watershed, and is recommended for adoption by CR Water staff and the CR Water Commission (Exhibit 1).
Notification and Outreach Efforts
The SWPP included outreach to various stakeholders within the source water protection area during its initial development in 2017. Review by the CR Water Commission was the first step in public outreach and more outreach was conducted with the community in combination with the Drought Management Plan and Water Use Management Plan update in the first quarter of 2018. Castle Rock Water conducted an Open House on February 7, 2018 to provide a water update to the community, including the Source Water Protection Plan. Approximately 75 residents attended the open house, asked questions and toured the Plum Creek Water Purification Facility. There were no further revisions to the plan after the open house. The original plan also has been posted on the Town’s website (<http://crgov.com/2323/Plans>) and is accessible to the public. Education of our citizens on the importance of source water protection and what each of us can do to assist with this effort, is an ongoing process.
Since adoption of the original plan, “Drinking Water Protection Area” signs have been placed at strategic locations along East Plum Creek and more signs are planned for the expanded watershed. Repeated messaging about the importance of protecting our drinking water sources is a critical aspect of the SWPP.
History of Past Town Council, Boards & Commissions, or Other Discussions
The CR Water Commission recommended approval of the original plan and it was discussed at the December 2017 and January 2018 Commission meetings, and unanimously recommended by the Commission at its February 2018 meeting for adoption by Council.
Town Council adopted the Source Water Protection Plan on March 6, 2018.
CR Water Commission reviewed the updated plan at its April 27, 2022 meeting and unanimously (5 to 0) to recommended Council approval and adoption by resolution.
Discussion
Developing and implementing a Source Water Protection Plan is a voluntary activity encouraged by CDPHE for the purpose of minimizing potential contaminant threats to public drinking water supplies. Castle Rock Water developed a SWPP in 2017 with assistance from the Colorado Rural Water Association for this purpose. The plan was developed with stakeholder involvement and staff support, and was presented to the community in an open house event conducted on February 7, 2018. Writing the SWPP is just the beginning as implementing source water protection measures (best management practices) is what will truly protect our drinking water supplies. Castle Rock depends largely on deep groundwater for water supply, but has expanded its source water to include renewable supplies, including surface water and alluvial groundwater found in the Plum Creek watershed, as the major source of drinking water. These renewable water supplies are more susceptible to influence by human activities. Protecting these sources is in the best interest of our community.
The protection planning process includes:
• Stakeholder involvement;
• A steering committee to develop and implement the plan;
• An inventory of all ground and surface water intakes;
• Reviewing state source water assessment for potential sources of contamination;
• An inventory of potential sources of contamination and local issues of concern;
• A map outlining the source water protection area;
• Best management practices that address each of the potential sources of contamination and issues of possible threats to our source water; and
• A contingency plan to ensure a safe drinking water supply in the event of an emergency.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) in conjunction with the Colorado Rural Water Association (CRWA) offers guidance, assistance and grants to Colorado communities in preparing Source Water Protection Plans (SWPP). Attachment B shows a fact sheet about Colorado’s source water protection program. Although a SWPP is not required, CR Water chose to develop this plan and began the process in December 2016 by soliciting help from CRWA and applying for a grant from CDPHE. A $5,000 grant was approved in January 2017 and the planning process kicked off in that same month. An internal steering committee was formed with CR Water staff and a stakeholder list was developed, contact was made with potential stakeholders and a stakeholder committee was formed. A series of monthly stakeholder workshops was held from March through July 2017 to gather stakeholder input and then the Source Water Specialist with CWRA compiled all information and drafted a SWPP. The plan has been reviewed by CR Water staff and the steering committee members, and it is now in final form.
Budget Impact
Preparing the SWPP had minimal budget impact as it only involved staff time and no additional expenses. CRWA provided assistance at no charge to CR Water since they are funded through grants from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and CDPHE to help rural communities with Source Water Protection. Their role is to provide technical assistance in order to coordinate and facilitate the process of developing a Source Water Protection Plan and to promote communication and collaboration between communities and government agencies. Implementation of best management practices will include some expenditures associated with public education, coordination and information sharing with other agencies and response to any human caused or natural disasters that may affect our drinking water supplies. The education, coordination and information sharing activities should incur minimal costs (<$10,000) while responses to human caused or natural disasters will vary depending on the severity of the situation.
Staff Recommendation
Staff recommends approval of the Updated Source Water Protection Plan and is supported by the CR Water Commission in this recommendation.
Proposed Motion
“I move to approve the above Resolution as introduced by title.”
Alternative Motions
“I move to approve the Resolution as introduced by title, with the following conditions: (list conditions).”
“I move to continue this item to the Town Council meeting on ___date to allow additional time to (list information needed).”
Attachments
Attachment A: Resolution
Exhibit 1: Updated Source Water Protection Plan
Attachment B: Source Water Protection Program Fact Sheet