Windy Gap Firming Overview
The Windy Gap Firming Project would greatly improve the Windy Gap Project's reliability by firming its existing water rights. The firming project's key feature is a new reservoir called Chimney Hollow. It would store water for the future needs of 13 water providers.
The Windy Gap Project diverts Colorado River water and pumps it to Lake Granby. From there, Colorado-Big Thompson Project facilities transport Windy Gap water to the East Slope, where it is delivered to Northeastern Colorado cities and businesses.
Project StatusThe U.S. Bureau of Reclamation released the Windy Gap Firming Project's Final Environmental Impact Statement, which details project impacts and related mitigation, in November 2011.
Reclamation is expected to release a decision in 2012 on whether the project should be built. The project will require other approvals, including permits related to water quality and construction.
Other important reviews, including development and acceptance of the state fish and wildlife mitigation plan, are already complete.
The Need The Windy Gap Firming Project would benefit 10 cities, two water districts and an electric power provider. Northern Water staff members, on behalf of Northern Water’s Municipal Subdistrict, are coordinating the permitting process for these participants.
These residential providers face a serious lack of water supply as the region continues to grow and develop. Although they continue to increase and expand water conservation measures, conservation alone cannot meet projected demands.
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Project Participants
Map shows the locations of the 13 participants in the Windy Gap Firming Project.
Click map to view it. |
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The site of the proposed Chimney Hollow Reservoir with
Carter Lake on the right. View the
Chimney Hollow Reservoir map.
A Dedicated Storage Reservoir The firming project would meet a need recognized 25 years ago by Windy Gap participants: a dedicated reservoir to store Windy Gap water.
Because of the project’s junior water rights, Windy Gap water cannot be diverted in years of low runoff. Conversely, during some wet periods storage space in Lake Granby is not available for Windy Gap water.
Chimney Hollow Reservoir would change the project’s reliable annual yield from zero acre feet of water to about 30,000 acre feet, improving the reliability of water deliveries to participants and, ultimately, water users.
Chimney Hollow Reservoir The 90,000-acre-foot Chimney Hollow Reservoir would be located southwest of Loveland and just west of Carter Lake.
The reservoir would be filled using Windy Gap’s original 1980 water rights decrees with appropriation dates of 1967, 1976 and 1980, and diversions would adhere to previously-agreed-upon limits.