Sean L. Blue

The meeting involved preliminary items, including agenda modifications and a decision not to hold an Executive Session. Key discussions on the consent agenda included the approval of minutes from the September 4, 2025, Board Planning Session and the September 11, 2025, Subdistrict Board Meeting. Action items covered a storage and delivery summary, the ratification of the Second Amendment to the Settlement Agreement for the Piney River Unit, and the adoption of Resolution MS-422-11-25, which created the Office of Dam Safety Officer and appointed Jeff Drager to the role. Reports for the Windy Gap Water Activity Enterprise included the acceptance of the September Treasurer's Report and the Expense Detail Report. For the Windy Gap Firming Project Water Activity Enterprise, treasurer and expense reports for September were accepted. A monthly project update addressed contract modifications, water utilization for system checks, and ongoing uranium mitigation efforts, alongside an update on Chimney Hollow Reservoir construction progress. Routine items included reports on Water Court Litigation and Operations and Maintenance, which covered recovery efforts post-Windy Gap Fire.

The joint meeting of the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District and the Northern Water Municipal Subdistrict addressed several key items. Preliminary discussions included agenda modifications noting that the ratification of the Second Amendment Settlement Agreement with Piney River Unit would be a preview item for the following week. Executive Session topics focused on legal advice concerning the Colorado Water Quality Control Commission's Rulemaking Hearing for Regulation 87, Chimney Hollow Reservoir Water Quality, and the Northern Integrated Supply Project (NISP) Eminent Domain appeal. Discussion items included a summary of the Board Business and Finance Committee meeting, which covered investment reviews, reserve portfolios, and updates on banking services RFP and rate studies. A report on water quality legal matters detailed updates on Regulation 87 and Regulation 31 hearings, and ongoing work regarding Chimney Hollow Reservoir and Grand Lake Clarity. The Boards unanimously approved Amendment No. 1 to the Twenty-First NISP Annual Interim Agreement, which extends annual funding commitments. A review of open rate assessments for Colorado-Big Thompson Project units was conducted, including forward guidance projections for 2027-2028. Discussions regarding the Colorado Water Conservation Board Instream Flow Program mediation/hearing, Chimney Hollow Reservoir Water Quality, the NISP property acquisition appeal, and the proposed resolution creating the Office of the Dam Safety Officer for both the District and the Subdistrict were previewed for the following meeting.

The meeting agenda included preliminary items such as roll call, public comment opportunities, and new employee introductions. Key discussion topics covered a legislative update, various allotment contract actions including name changes and transfers, standard inclusion updates for Boulder County, and reports on Colorado-Big Thompson Project storage and delivery, water supply outlook, and treasurer/expense details. Discussions were also scheduled regarding a proposed subcontract between the City of Boulder and the Town of Erie for C-BT Project Units, a potential conflict of interest requiring executive session, and enterprise reports for NISP, Southern Water Supply Project, Pleasant Valley Pipeline Project, and Hydropower Water Activity Enterprises. Routine items included the General Counsel Legal Report.

The agenda for the meeting focused heavily on the 2022 Colorado-Big Thompson Project Supplemental Quota determination, which involved compliance review, operational readiness assessment, water resources status and outlook, public comments, and a potential motion to modify the quota. The meeting also included routine items such as the consent agenda, which contained motions to approve or accept minutes from previous planning and committee meetings, and various contract approvals for projects like the Colorado Airborne Snow Measurement Grant and emergency watershed protection technical assistance. Further discussion items included updates on the 2022 Legislative Session, funding for the Children's Museum of Northern Colorado water exhibit, updates on post-wildfire restoration efforts for the East Troublesome Fire, source water protection planning, and modifications to the Defined Benefit Plan Asset Portfolio.

The Board meeting included preliminary items such as recognizing employee anniversaries for 25 and 40 years of service, and modifications to the agenda, including moving an item to allow a Director to vote on the Consent Agenda. The Board convened in Executive Session to receive advice from legal counsel regarding Grand Lake Clarity. The Consent Agenda was approved, which included the acceptance of minutes from prior planning and audit committee meetings, and approval of annual agreements for legal services, consulting services with Hydros Consulting Inc. (though one item was pulled for separate discussion), and services with Precision Security Team, LLC, along with IT recurring subscriptions with Infor and Microsoft 365 Enterprise. Discussion items included the appointment of Directors to FY 2026 Board Committees (Audit, Benefits and Human Resources, Business and Finance, and Legal and Legislative). Key operational reports involved the Colorado-Big Thompson (C-BT) Project Storage and Delivery Report and the Water Supply Outlook. The Board declared a 50 percent initial quota for the Water Year 2026 C-BT Project. Several actions were taken regarding Allotment Contract Change Applications for name changes, transfers, inactive account transfers, and fixed quota re-enrollments. Financial reports for August 2025 were accepted, and resolutions authorizing check signing and financial functions (D-1438-10-25 and D-1439-10-25) were adopted. The Annual Consulting Services Agreement with Hydros Consulting, Inc. was approved separately following the Executive Session discussion on Grand Lake Clarity. The Northern Integrated Supply Project (NISP) Water Activity Enterprise reported on resuming activities, receiving a grant for Poudre River work, evaluation of project downsizing options, and updates on land acquisition and utility relocations. An amendment to the Dewberry Engineers Inc. consulting agreement for NISP conveyance design was also approved. The General Counsel provided updates on litigation matters, including the Shoshone instream flow case, the dispute with Nebraska, and other cases. Division Directors provided updates on Engineering, Environmental Services, Finance and Administration, and Operations, noting continued work on the Chimney Hollow Reservoir Project and adaptive management efforts.