Jefferson County explains Conifer water rules, WAW model and referral process amid bike‑park concerns
May 31, 2024 | Conifer, Jefferson County, Colorado
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Jefferson County planning staff told Conifer residents that the county applies extra water policies to mountain area plans and uses a standardized Water Availability Analysis (WAW) to evaluate water supply for rezonings, plats and building permits.
"We have 16 additional water policies that we would look at when a development proposal comes in," Heather of Jefferson County Planning & Zoning said, describing the Conifer plan’s supplemental policies for groundwater, well testing and clustering systems.
She explained the Mountain Groundwater Overlay District (adopted in February 2007) applies mainly above about 6,400 feet and only where areas are not already served by a water and sanitation district (that is, where development relies on wells). For rezoning and special‑use reviews the county asks applicants for estimated water requirements, documentation of legal water availability, and plans showing how water will be obtained for future approvals. For plats and site‑development plans applicants must demonstrate legal rights to a water supply and perform water‑quality testing required under the regulations.
Heather described the WAW ArcGIS model the county uses to standardize water‑availability evaluations, including subbasin water budgets, existing allowed well capacities, and recharge estimates from the Turkey Creek Watershed Study. The WAW helps planning staff and commissioners compare proposed water use to available subbasin supply and to determine whether an aquifer test or additional mitigation is needed.
On building permits the county now requires a 4‑hour well yield test and may require 300 gallons of storage for wells with less than 1 gallon per minute sustained yield. The county also noted an ongoing "Together Jeffco" process to update the comprehensive plan and unify codes.
Residents pressed staff about referral processes for Conifer Commons, Conifer Heights and Shadow Mountain Bike Park. County staff said the Bear Creek Watershed Association is on the county’s referral matrix and receives referral packages, but some shorter or later‑stage referral steps may not trigger a formal association response. Staff encouraged residents to contact case managers for case‑specific referral histories.
Why it matters: Conifer’s overlay rules and WAW model shape what water information developers must provide, which in turn affects whether the county will approve rezonings, subdivisions or building permits. For high‑visitation projects, staff said wastewater thresholds (for example, state permits for facilities exceeding 2,000 gallons per day) and stormwater detention requirements are likely to be determinative.
Next steps: planning staff urged residents to follow TogetherJeffco updates, contact case managers for records of referral steps and submit comments during formal case review.
"We have 16 additional water policies that we would look at when a development proposal comes in," Heather of Jefferson County Planning & Zoning said, describing the Conifer plan’s supplemental policies for groundwater, well testing and clustering systems.
She explained the Mountain Groundwater Overlay District (adopted in February 2007) applies mainly above about 6,400 feet and only where areas are not already served by a water and sanitation district (that is, where development relies on wells). For rezoning and special‑use reviews the county asks applicants for estimated water requirements, documentation of legal water availability, and plans showing how water will be obtained for future approvals. For plats and site‑development plans applicants must demonstrate legal rights to a water supply and perform water‑quality testing required under the regulations.
Heather described the WAW ArcGIS model the county uses to standardize water‑availability evaluations, including subbasin water budgets, existing allowed well capacities, and recharge estimates from the Turkey Creek Watershed Study. The WAW helps planning staff and commissioners compare proposed water use to available subbasin supply and to determine whether an aquifer test or additional mitigation is needed.
On building permits the county now requires a 4‑hour well yield test and may require 300 gallons of storage for wells with less than 1 gallon per minute sustained yield. The county also noted an ongoing "Together Jeffco" process to update the comprehensive plan and unify codes.
Residents pressed staff about referral processes for Conifer Commons, Conifer Heights and Shadow Mountain Bike Park. County staff said the Bear Creek Watershed Association is on the county’s referral matrix and receives referral packages, but some shorter or later‑stage referral steps may not trigger a formal association response. Staff encouraged residents to contact case managers for case‑specific referral histories.
Why it matters: Conifer’s overlay rules and WAW model shape what water information developers must provide, which in turn affects whether the county will approve rezonings, subdivisions or building permits. For high‑visitation projects, staff said wastewater thresholds (for example, state permits for facilities exceeding 2,000 gallons per day) and stormwater detention requirements are likely to be determinative.
Next steps: planning staff urged residents to follow TogetherJeffco updates, contact case managers for records of referral steps and submit comments during formal case review.
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