Major new reservoir approved for Northern Water

BERTHOUD – The Bureau of Reclamation has issued a record of decision paving the way for construction of a new reservoir west of Carter Lake in what is known as the Windy Gap Firming Project, marking a milestone in the 12-year effort.

The project, proposed by the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District, involves building Chimney Hollow Reservoir, which would store as much as 90,000 acre feet of water. An acre foot equals 326,000 gallons, enough to serve 2.5 households annually.

The $223 million project will deliver 26,000 acre feet of water annually to cities and towns in Northern Colorado.

SPONSORED CONTENT

The many benefits of simple, coordinated healthcare

Kaiser Permanente combines health care and coverage in one connected system to maximize employee health and minimize employer costs.

Originally built in 1985, Windy Gap Reservoir provides water to the Front Range. Northern Water completed a study on expanding the project in 2003, and negotiations over the past several years culminated in Friday’s record of decision signed by Bureau of Reclamation Great Plains Regional Director Michael Ryan.

With the federal agency’s approval, Northern Water will begin designing the project next year, said Northern Water General Manager Eric Wilkinson. Officials expect to begin construction on the project in 2018.

The project “has taken one very large significant step toward reality,” Wilkinson told a crowd that attended Northern Water’s Berthoud headquarters for a ceremony where officials signed contracts related to the project. “We have witnessed a milestone in the development of the Windy Gap Firming Project.”

Twelve Northern Colorado water providers, including 10 municipalities, and the not-for-profit utility Platte River Power Authority, will receive water from the project. Broomfield has the largest share of the project, said David Allen, director of Public Works for the city and county of Broomfield.

“This project is instrumental for us in meeting our long-term needs,” Allen said.

The project will divert Colorado River water from Windy Gap Reservoir in Grand County. Northern Water will deliver that water through Colorado-Big Thompson Project infrastructure.

Grand County elected officials endorsed the project in 2012 after officials negotiated releases of Windy Gap water stored in Lake Granby to benefit aquatic life in the Colorado River.

Grand County Commissioner James Newberry called that provision of the deal “priceless.”

“It’s something we were able to achieve out of this,” Newberry said.

The following cities and towns will receive water from the project: Boulder, Broomfield, Erie, Estes Park, Fort Lupton, Greeley, Lafayette, Longmont, Loveland and Superior. Northern Water still needs permits from the state of Colorado and from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers before the project can move forward, Wilkinson said.