Castle Rock hears drought update and approves 250-AF WISE purchase; wastewater IGA amended

Town staff opened the council’s water items with a drought briefing: water director Mark Marlowe said mountain snowpack remains well below normal and that short-term forecasts are mixed. He emphasized the town’s water supply index and explained that the town would consider staged drought measures only once supply-demand conditions warrant voluntary reductions.

Marlo w/ Mark also reviewed upcoming water-quality maintenance beginning Feb. 2, which will temporarily switch the treatment disinfectant from chloramines to chlorine; staff noted outreach to critical customers (dialysis clinics and hospitals) and predicted increased phone contacts during the early changeover.

On water supply, staff presented an opportunity to purchase 250 acre-feet of WISE (Water Infrastructure and Supply Efficiency) subscription water from The Pinery for $2,138,000 (about $8,553 per acre-foot). Mark said adding 250 AF to Castle Rock’s existing WISE subscription (approx. 2,000 AF currently) would modestly lower the town’s average per‑AF cost; the purchase includes a delivery agreement giving The Pinery limited summer access if Castle Rock has water available, and the town will perform additional desalinization work as part of the subscription costs in future budgets. Council approved the purchase unanimously.

Staff also presented an amendment to the intergovernmental agreement with Douglas County for the Highway 85 wastewater collection and treatment system to incorporate additional project costs and repayment rules; the amendment was approved unanimously. Staff noted the project schedule anticipates construction complete in early 2027 and explained how system development fees will be applied to repayment.