May 10, 2024

Regional Pool Allocation Set at 15,000 Acre-feet; Sealed Bids Due 2 p.m. Thursday, May 16

The Northern Water Board of Directors allocated 15,000 acre-feet of Regional Pool Program (RPP) water during its May 9, 2024, Board meeting. RPP water is available for lease by eligible Northern Colorado water users, with sealed bids due 2 p.m. May 16, 2024. Bid prices per-acre-foot must be greater than or equal to $33, a floor price the Board selected based on the 2024 agricultural assessment rate. Late bids will not be considered.

The allocation will be available to bidders from 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.

The following forms are required to submit a bid: 

  • Pre-Approval Form - To confirm eligibility, interested bidders must email or mail the Pre-Approval Form to Northern Water. A new Pre-Approval Form is required each year. 
water flower in Hansen Feeder Canal
  • Carrier Consent Form – If the RPP water will be delivered by a carrier, such as a ditch or reservoir company, bidders and their carriers must complete the Carrier Consent Form or provide a signed agreement stating that the carrier will deliver the RPP water to the bidder. This form must also be emailed or mailed to Northern Water. 
  • Bid Form – Sealed bids will be accepted at Northern Water’s headquarters through a “self-serve” process. Bidders will sign in at a kiosk in the lobby and print a bid label for their sealed bid envelope. The label will identify the bidder name, date and time stamp, and bid number. Secure the label to the bid envelope and place in the drop box. Sealed bids may also be mailed to Northern Water, but bids must be received before the deadline.  

Sealed bids are due by 2 p.m. Thursday, May 16, at Northern Water’s headquarters, 220 Water Ave., Berthoud, CO 80513. As described above, sealed bids can be mailed or hand delivered; email and fax bid forms will not be accepted. RPP leases will be awarded based on highest bids per acre-foot. Sealed bids will be opened 2:10 p.m. Thursday, May 16, in the South Platte Conference Room of Building H at Northern Water, 220 Water Ave., Berthoud.   

Questions regarding the Regional Pool Program and bid submittal can be emailed to regionalpool@northernwater.org or by calling Sarah Smith at 970-622-2295 or Water Scheduling at 970-292-2500.