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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWater Adequacy Petition 4_22_25_Utilities2 FinalImpacts Discussion of Citizen Proposed Water Adequacy Petition April 22, 2025 Key Topics 2 1.Current Water Adequacy Policy 2.Current Water Supply Snapshot 3.Realized and Projected Supply Expansion 4.Citizen Proposed Water Adequacy Policy Amendment 5.Impacts of Citizen Proposed Water Adequacy Amendment Current Water Adequacy Policy 3 Current Water Adequacy •Current Policy went into effect in 1984 •Requires that projected water demand of new development be offset by one or more of these options: •Reduce demand with water conservation systems and techniques •Pay cash-in-lieu of water rights and City acquires the water rights •Bring useable water rights to the City Water Supply Tracking Tool •Bozeman has a Water Supply & Optimization Tool that allows the City to proactively forecast and manage its water supplies. This tool tracks: •Current water demands •Projected water demands for new projects, including projected savings from water conservation systems and techniques associated with projects •Current water supply Current Water Supply Snapshot 6 Development within Bozeman is most Water Sustainable Gallons per Capita Day Water Use •Bozeman = 114 GPCD •Others in Montana = 163 GPCD (average) •Comparable Cities = •Boulder, CO: 133 GPCD •Denver, CO: 140 GPCD •Bend, OR: 157 GPCD Gallons per Household Day Water Use •Bozeman: 188 GPHD •National average: 254 GPHD •Arid Western states: 314 GPHD •City has the experts to efficiently develop water supply, water rights, and conservation to stay in front of development demands Percentage of Total Basin Surface Water Rights in Bozeman Municipal Use 8 Approx Bozeman use of Surface Water Rights in Gallatin Valley Basin 19 cfs or 0.1% of Total Total Surface Water Rights in Gallatin Valley Basin 15,000 cfs (cubic-feet-per-second) Current Water Supply Snapshot Hyalite Creek Watershed 40%Bozeman Creek Watershed 40% Lyman Spring 20% How much water does Bozeman have today? Legal Water Rights af/yr Reliable Supply af/yr Today’s Total Supply 16,517 11,920 2024 Actual Use 7,100 (43%) 7,100 (60%) •af/yr = acre-feet/year •1 acre-foot of water is approximately 1-foot of water over an entire football field. •1 acre-foot of water supplies approx 4 single family homes or 8 condo/apartment units per year. •Reliable Supply is the amount available via the City’s existing rights reduced by the impact of a 1 in 50 year drought (similar to what occurred in 2021) How much water does Bozeman have after accounting for currently approved, but not yet built development? Legal Water Rights (af/yr)Reliable Supply af/yr Total Supply 16,517 11,920 2024 Actual Use 7,110 (43%)60% 2024 Actual Use, including Approved Dev of 993 af/yr 8,103 (49%)68% •These projections are conservative and do not account for additional water supply development included in Conservation and the Capital Improvement Plan over next 5 years. 2025 Unused Water Rights 8,423 (51%)3,814 (32%) Realized and Projected Supply Expansion 12 Realized and Projected Supply Expansion 13 Projected Supply Expansion The projected additional volume of water that will be realized through supply projects outlined in the next 5-year CIP is 1,575 AF. Realized Supply Expansion Through supply development projects, the City has realized 1,334 AF of water since 2013. Citizen Proposed Water Adequacy Policy Amendment 14 Citizen Proposed Water Adequacy Policy Amendment Language – 1st part Citizen Proposed Water Adequacy Policy Amendment Language – 1st part Citizen Proposed Water Adequacy Policy Amendment Language – 2nd Part Citizen Proposed Water Adequacy Policy Amendment Language – 2nd Part Impacts of Citizen Proposed Water Adequacy Policy Amendment 19 Impacts of Citizen Proposed Water Adequacy Policy Amendment •Time for developers to obtain useable water rights = 3-8 years without cash-in-lieu of water rights option. Water rights must be developed in conjunction with water supply projects. •Would developers provide a well for each project that the City would then own/maintain? This is highly inefficient. Much more efficient to develop water supplies that serve larger areas of City, not just one development. Impacts of Citizen Proposed Water Adequacy Policy Amendment •Pressure on Bozeman’s water supply, and other infrastructure systems, will continue to increase as commuters will still come to Bozeman as MSU and other services, such as healthcare continue to expand. •Water demand less efficient outside Bozeman. Overall water system impact in Gallatin Valley be heavier impact from residential uses. Impacts of Citizen Proposed Water Adequacy Policy Amendment •Eliminates water conservation incentives for new development •Implementing/installing any water efficient processes, systems, fixtures, or outdoor landscaping within an existing development (‘offsite offsets’) •Offsite offset projects must save water in perpetuity through the installation of water efficient processes/fixtures. I.e.- fixing a leak would not qualify as an offsite offset. •Offsite offsets are a win-win-win because they allow for water-neutral growth. 1)The applicant can meet water adequacy requirements and gain approval 2)Existing property owner(s) benefit from zero-cost efficiency improvements, resulting in lower utility costs long-term and improved performance of processes/fixtures etc. 3)The City can accommodate growth without impacts to its water supply Unintended Impacts of Citizen Proposed Water Adequacy Policy Amendment •May create an unfavorable marketplace from which to buy reasonably priced water rights •Will affect City budgets and City ability to meet citizen water service needs cost effectively •Developers will not be able to meet the requirements to use the cash-in- lieu program - City Economic Development will provide financial discussion Improvements Since Last Water Supply Estimate 2022 •Development of the Water Supply & Optimization Tool provides the City with improved data to proactively manage water supplies •Current demands •Projected demands associated with approved development projects (instead of assumed growth rate) •Legal & reliable water supply •Creation of the Drought Management Plan •New demand reduction policies •Permanent mandatory watering restrictions •Water efficient landscape ordinance •Recent supply projects •Additional shares acquired in Hyalite Reservoir •Use of non-potable water for irrigation •Sunset Hills Cemetery •Sports Park