Boulder County Open Space and Water Management agricultural water tour

On May 17, Boulder County Parks and Open Space (BCPOP) hosted its Agricultural Water Tour, shedding light on the intricate balance required to manage water resources for farming, preserve the ecological environment, and manage water rights in Boulder County.

Led by the BCPOP water group, the tour visited the Braly and Cottonwood properties, which feature improvements made after the 2013 flood. As these sites are not usually open to the public, attendees gained a rare, firsthand look at essential water system infrastructure such as reservoir dams, outlet works, and flow meters.

BCPOP has a portfolio of vast open spaces, protecting 107,861 acres of land. This includes 67,419 acres of public land and 40,442 acres of protected private land secured through conservation easements which are legal agreements between the landowner and the county that restrict development.

Darren Beck, the Water Program Supervisor for BCPOP's Agricultural Resources Division, spearheaded the tour. He detailed the vital role of collaboration between BCPOP and tenant farmers in managing water distribution, storage, and crucial water rights. Beck aptly described his five-person team as "wisely and responsibly managing the county's water rights for agricultural use," highlighting the team's stewardship over a remarkable $300 million in water rights.

The first tour stop was the Braly property at 12191 North 61st Street, which is a 112-acre area managed by Boulder County Parks and Open Space as part of the St. Vrain Creek Corridor Open Space Management Plan. The property, purchased by Mathias Wencel in 1899, is home to the Wencel Barn, built in 1903, a historic structure that was once part of a working farm. Boulder County acquired the property in 2000, and the Wencel barn was designated a historic landmark in 2018. The property was also heavily damaged in the 2013 floods.

The tour reviewed a series of ponds that store and reduce runoff from rainstorms and snowmelt, thereby aiding in water storage while implementing water rights for agricultural purposes. The St. Vrain watershed, where the Braly property is located, was particularly hard-hit during the 2013 flood. The ponds on the Braly property were breached, one pond after another, with the river flow peaking at 21,900 cubic feet per second (CFS) at South Main Street and the St. Vrain River in Longmont. This is approximately equivalent to 20,000 basketballs per second.

According to the Mile High Flood District, the 2013 flood was the second most destructive flood in the Denver region, resulting in ten deaths statewide and $3.9 billion in damages. It brought 18 inches of rain in the foothills and 12 inches in Longmont.

Remediation of the ponds, including measures to enhance resilience against future floods, totaled $20 million in costs. When the St. Vrain Greenway, running from Longmont to Lyons, is completed, the public will have access to part of this beautiful area. However, the timing of the completion of the Greenway has not yet been determined.

Next, the tour moved to the Cottonwood property, located at 6969 Ute Road, a 101-acre hay farm. Boulder County secured a conservation easement in 1996, together with a first right of refusal, and later purchased the property in 2024.

The Cottonwood property is used to grow grass hay and is maintained and harvested by a neighbor. The property is recognized for its irrigated agriculture, which includes substantial water rights. It features irrigation ditches and is characterized by a rural, farm-like setting with a farmhouse and outbuildings.

Beck shared that two additional tours are scheduled for August and will concentrate on tenant farming. He hopes these events will give residents a close look at the priority that Boulder County has placed upon preserving farmland and, hopefully, give people a chance to talk with the tenant farmers.

The individuals who joined the tour were, for the most part, long-time residents of Boulder County with a deep understanding of Colorado's complex water issues.

One tour participant said the event was outstanding, and the speakers were all enthusiastic and committed to the roles they had been entrusted to fill. She said, "It was great to see that residents of Boulder County who joined the tour are keenly aware of and knowledgeable about the issues and tradeoffs that are involved in managing a complex ecosystem where there are many competing interests."