Broomfield Eyes $500K Purchase to Secure Golf Course Water Rights

UPDATE: Broomfield officials have just announced a critical move to secure the future of the Eagle Trace Golf Course by proposing a $500,000 purchase of vital water rights. This urgent decision comes as the course faces a severe water shortage, set to lose irrigation access after November 1, 2024.

During an update to the City Council, Jennifer Hoffman, Broomfield’s city and county manager, revealed that the city aims to acquire the water rights currently tied to the Eagle Trace Golf Course, located at 1200 Clubhouse Drive. The course has relied on the two Nissen Reservoirs for its irrigation needs for nearly 40 years. Without this acquisition, the golf course will need to find alternative water sources in just a matter of months.

The reservoirs are crucial to Broomfield’s stormwater drainage system, and the city is not seeking these rights for golf course irrigation but to maintain its infrastructure. Previously, city officials deemed the water rights overpriced, with an estimated value of $4 million, leading to a decision against purchase in 2024, according to Hoffman’s report.

In a significant development, the Eagle Trace Golf Club LLC sold the water rights to Owl Creek Investments last August. Currently leasing back the water, the golf course will lose access to its irrigation system under the new ownership, unless Broomfield secures these rights.

The Nissen Reservoirs, integral to the golf course’s operation, are fed by the Marshall shares and Clear Creek water right. These rights, sourced from Boulder and Coal Creeks, have been essential to maintaining the course’s lush fairways. The urgency is palpable as the golf course’s future hangs in the balance.

Community leaders are rallying around this issue. Bruce Erley, president of the Eagle Trace Homeowners Association, has formed a nonprofit, the Eagle Trace Community Development Corporation, aimed at preserving the golf course. The corporation plans to negotiate with Miles Scully, the out-of-state owner, to keep the land operational.

Erley indicated that two potential options for water supply remain: continuing to secure water through the existing FRICO ditch system or drilling a well. However, costs for these alternatives remain undetermined.

As the city moves forward with its purchase proposal, the situation is evolving rapidly. Residents and stakeholders are watching closely, knowing that any decision could have lasting impacts on the community and the golf course’s viability.

The City Council’s decision on this purchase will be crucial in the coming weeks, with public sentiment likely influencing the outcome as the deadline for irrigation access approaches. Stay tuned for further updates as this story develops.