[2024 AR] How We Fund Our Activities - Page 2

Summary of Recommended PRFs

2025-2034 Budget Projects ($1000s)

 
*No cost split information is available. Project partnerships and participation are still being developed and determined.
2024 Report

How We Spend Our Funds

The 2025 budget includes over $4.2 million in new revenues and CCBWQA is mandated to spend at least 60% of the annual revenues on Pollution Abatement Projects. As expenditures and revenues are often not matched each calendar year (because implementation and timing of project costs can vary significantly from year to year) the CCBWQA Board tracks the 60% funding requirement as a multi-year mandate, as opposed to a single-year requirement. This interpretation allows CCBWQA to fund larger projects – a crucial element to CCBWQA’s success. The Board has determined that "Pollution Abatement Projects" include:

  • Any physical structure or facility that is planned, designed, and intended to directly reduce nutrients or other pollution in the Cherry Creek Reservoir or the Cherry Creek Watershed (colloquially referred to as a Pollution Reduction Facility or PRF);
  • The acquisition and/or interest in a property, including easements for the purpose of controlling or reducing nutrient loading or pollution in the Watershed; and
  • The development of any new approach, analytical tool, educational approach, or other innovative methods for treating or controlling nutrient loading or pollution in the Watershed.

In 2024, CCBWQA spent over $2.6 million on Pollutant Abatement Projects. In addition to funding capital improvements, CCBWQA conducts operation and maintenance activities for certain PRFs in and near the State Park. Activities include inspections, identification of maintenance needs, and funding maintenance projects to make sure that PRFs continue to provide their intended functions. Colorado Parks and Wildlife partners on maintenance in the State Park. In 2024, CCBWQA entered into a multi-party inspection and maintenance agreement for the Peoria Wetland Pond adjacent to the park.

The 2025 budget plans on spending a minimum of 60% of current year revenues on Pollution Abatement Projects. The Board’s goal is to meet the 60% mandate over a five-year rolling average. As the summary of recommended PRFs shows, $13 million is planned on structures and facilities over the next ten years. The remaining 40% of revenue is allocated towards monitoring, modeling, special studies, planning documents, technical reports or memoranda, and administrative costs.

More information on the CIP program can be found here.