Windy Gap Firming Project

Project Status
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is expected to publish the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Windy Gap Firming Project by fall 2010 and issue a record of decision by spring 2011. If Reclamation approves the project, a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers would also be required before construction could begin.

Latest News: Collaborative Efforts Underway
Northern Water is working with several agencies and stakeholders to move the Windy Gap Firming Project forward. Those agencies are:

Federal agencies, including Reclamation, to finalize the National Environmental Policy Act review, which considers the role of mitigation in the project.

State agencies, including the Colorado Department of Wildlife, to develop a fish and wildlife mitigation plan focusing on both the Colorado River and the Chimney Hollow Reservoir site.

West Slope stakeholders, including Grand County, to review agreements on mitigation and potential added benefits to the Colorado River, the county’s stream management plan, and a range of studies.

Northern Water’s efforts with these agencies all focus on finishing the review process as soon as possible on behalf of the 13 project participants.

Project Overview
In 1985 the Northern Water Municipal Subdistrict finished constructing the Windy Gap Project near Granby, CO. Windy Gap diverts water from the Colorado River to the Front Range via the Colorado-Big Thompson Project on a space-available basis. During wet years when water is available for Windy Gap diversions, Lake Granby is often full with little or no space for the water. During dry years, the water right can be too junior to come into priority, so no water is available to pump. The Windy Gap Firming Project was proposed to store available water in a new Front Range reservoir to ensure reliable, or “firm,” future deliveries.

The Windy Gap Firming Project participants – those who are paying for and will benefit from the project – are: Broomfield, Greeley, Longmont, Lafayette, Louisville, Loveland, Erie, Evans, Fort Lupton, Superior, the Central Weld County Water District, the Little Thompson Water District and the Platte River Power Authority.

Population estimates for the project participants, excluding the power provider, have consistently projected increased growth. Without additional supplies, the combined demand of the participants would result in an estimated reliable water supply shortage of 64,000 acre feet by 2030 and 110,000 acre feet by 2050. The water supplies and future needs of these participants are detailed in the Windy Gap Firming Project: Purpose and Need Report.

The Windy Gap Firming Project would provide assistance to the participants by delivering a reliable yield of up to 30,000 acre feet each year.

Alternatives Review Efforts
In 2003, the Municipal Subdistrict evaluated 170 different alternatives that could accomplish the goals of the Windy Gap Firming Project and then narrowed those alternatives down to the seven most viable. They examined a wide range of options, including new or expanded water storage facilities located on both sides of the Continental Divide, changes to existing facilities and additional water conservation measures. This review is described in the Windy Gap Firming Project: Alternative Plan Formulation Executive Summary.

The participants agreed in 2003 to begin project review under the National Environmental Policy Act, triggering the need for an Environmental Impact Statement.

Environmental Review Process
Under NEPA, environmental evaluations must be prepared when proposed projects include certain types of federal actions. Because the Windy Gap Firming Project would require a permit to connect to the C-BT Project, NEPA compliance is required. As the federal operator of the C-BT Project, Reclamation is the lead federal agency responsible for related NEPA compliance.

The first phase of the environmental review process began in 2003, when Reclamation held meetings for the public to attend and provide input to Reclamation about what issues should be included in the EIS.

Information collected during the meetings included suggestions for new alternatives. Using a screening process developed with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Reclamation reevaluated the seven original alternatives as well as those identified at the meetings. The process used by Reclamation is described in the Windy Gap Firming Project: Alternatives Report.

The Municipal Subdistrict’s and participants’ proposed alternative is a 90,000 acre-foot reservoir, Chimney Hollow Reservoir. The draft EIS also identified this alternative as the preferred one. The reservoir would provide storage for Windy Gap Firming Project water once it arrives to the Front Range after moving through the C-BT Project’s Alva B. Adams Tunnel.

In the draft EIS, Reclamation evaluated five alternatives for a range of potential effects, including those to streamflow and reservoirs, water quality, wetlands, wildlife, threatened or endangered species, cultural resources, recreation, visual quality and socioeconomics.

Reclamation released the draft EIS in August 2008 and public comments were due in December 2008. Reclamation is reviewing those comments to prepare the final EIS.

After the final EIS is released, Reclamation will issue a record of decision on whether the Windy Gap Firming Project can move forward. In addition to Reclamation approval, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit will be required to build the project.

Design would take about two years and construction would take an additional three to four years.

Chimney Hollow Reservoir and Open Space
Chimney Hollow Reservoir would be located just west of Carter Lake. Larimer County would oversee recreation, which would include fishing and non-motorized boating.

Larimer County Parks & Open Lands and Northern Water's Municipal Subdistrict jointly purchased the property on which the reservoir would be located in 2004. The Municipal Subdistrict contributed $4 million for 1,600 acres to serve as a potential site for Chimney Hollow Reservoir, and Larimer County contributed $3.8 million with help from a grant from Great Outdoors Colorado to protect an additional 1,847 acres as open space.

The open space completes a vision of land protection within the Blue Mountain Conservation Area and connects more than 9,000 acres of protected land, providing an east-west wildlife corridor from Carter Lake to Roosevelt National Forest. The open space will include several miles of trails for hikers, bikers and equestrians.

Larimer County’s vision for recreation on the site is detailed on its Chimney Hollow Open Space website.

If you have questions about the Windy Gap Firming Project, contact Northern Water staff:

Dana Strongin, Communications Specialist	Jeff Drager, Project Manager
970-622-2239	970-622-2333
dstrongin@ncwcd.org	jdrager@ncwcd.org

If you have questions about Chimney Hollow open space, contact Larimer County staff:

Rob Novak, Education Coordinator, Department of Natural Resources

970-679-4561

rnovak@larimer.org