May 10, 2024

Northern Water to take bids on regional pool

BERTHOUD — The Northern Water Conservancy District will make 15,000 acre feet of water available through its Regional Pool Program.

Eligible Northern Colorado water users may submit sealed bids for the water by 2 p.m., May 16. Bid prices must be greater than or equal to $33 per acre foot, a floor price the Northern Water board selected based on the 2024 agricultural assessment rate.

The regional pool consists of water owned by Colorado-Big Thompson allottees who don’t have a need for it for this year. It is made available for lease to other water users.

The allocation will be available in two subpools of 7,500 acre feet each — one that delivers water from Horsetooth Reservoir and a second that delivers to water users south of Horsetooth Reservoir, including the Big Thompson River, St. Vrain Creek and Boulder Creek.

Northern Water said in a press statement that not every water user is eligible to bid, so those interested must first fill out a pre-approval form. Then, the potential buyer has to have authorization from the entity that will carry or deliver the water, such as a ditch company. The  carrier consent form is here. Finally, the sealed bid forms  need to be submitted by mail or by hand by the deadline. Emailed bids are not permitted.

Questions regarding the Regional Pool Program and bid submittal can be emailed to [email protected] or by calling Sarah Smith at 970-622-2295 or Water Scheduling at 970-292-2500.

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