Since voters increased their property taxes for a water conservancy district, taxpayer money has already helped leverage millions for the St. Vrain and Left Hand river basins.
St. Vrain and Left Hand Water Conservancy District Executive Director Sean Cronin explained in an update on the mill levy passed in 2020 that the district’s water plan is well into its implementation.
The conservancy district covers about 500 square miles along the St. Vrain and Left Hand creeks, including Longmont, Boulder County and surrounding areas. In 2020, the district asked voters to increase their property tax by 1.25 mills to fund the district’s water plan — with nearly 70% of constituents voting in favor.
“Leading up to the 2020 ballot question, I shared with our constituents that I believed the District could leverage their money and provide a dollar for dollar return on their investment,” Cronin said. “As a supporter of the District, I am proud to report to you that the return on investment has far surpassed what I thought possible. This return is in no small part due to our tremendous partnerships, and an extremely talented District staff.”
In 2022, according to a report from the district, $440,000 of the money raised by the tax was spent on the water plan which levied $2.9 million in matching funding for the basin. Within that, $120,300 was spent on wildfire mitigation and $112,700 on creek improvement facilities, along with smaller portions on snowpack enhancement, stream restoration, water quality improvements, public education, agriculture water use efficiency, urban water conservation and soil health.
There was also $224,000 spent on stream management plan initiatives leveraging another $2.1 million in matching funds, along with $216,000 committed to partner funding projects that resulted in $769,000 of match fundings.
The district has set aside $3.4 million so far for future projects.
