History
Firming Water Supplies from the Original Windy Gap Project
The Windy Gap Project was first proposed in 1967 by the cities of Boulder, Estes Park, Fort Collins, Greeley, Longmont and Loveland. Built between 1981 and 1985 and located on the West Slope near Granby, Windy Gap consists of a diversion dam on the Colorado River, a pump plant and a 6-mile pipeline to Lake Granby, the largest storage reservoir in the Colorado-Big Thompson Project system.
The Windy Gap Firming Project, of which Chimney Hollow Reservoir is a main component, will improve the reliability of, or firm, water supplies from the original Windy Gap Project, which started delivering water in 1985. It was understood the original Windy Gap Project would require additional storage to achieve firm water supplies. The Windy Gap Firming Project has been reviewed under the federal National Environmental Policy Act. This review started in 2003. NEPA and Colorado's requirement for a plan focused on fish and wildlife are among several processes in place to identify mitigation measures that will address the project's impacts.
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2003
2003
Project participants enter the federal permitting process and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation holds three formal "scoping" meetings. -
2005
2005
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation published two reports, one describing the purpose and need, and one identifying a range of alternatives that could meet the needs. -
2008
2008
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation publishes the Draft Environmental Impact Statement. -
2009
2009
Municipal Subdistrict offers West Slope benefits to facilitate project implementation.
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2011
2011
State officials approve the fish and wildlife mitigation plan and voluntary enhancement plan -
2011
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation publishes the Final Environmental Impact Statement. -
2012
2012
Grand County and the Municipal Subdistrict board approve agreements to create improvements to the Colorado River. Grand County issues 1041 permit. -
2014
2014
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation issues its Record of Decision and signs a carriage contract to transport water to Chimney Hollow Reservoir. -
2016
2016
Colorado issues a 401 Water Quality Certification. -
2017
2017
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issues its final Record of Decision. -
2019
December 2019
The Board of Directors of the Northern Water Municipal Subdistrict chooses a contractor to build Chimney Hollow Dam. Barnard Construction Inc. of Bozeman, Mont., will enter into a $485.4 million contract that calls for the construction of a 355-foot-tall asphalt-core dam in the valley west of Carter Lake in southern Larimer County.
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2020
Dec. 10, 2020
Federal Court rules in favor of the Windy Gap Firming Project, clearing the way for construction of Chimney Hollow Reservoir near Berthoud. -
2021
April 21, 2021
The Subdistrict reaches an agreement several environmental groups settling the lawsuit and appeal. The $15 million settlement will benefit aquatic habitat on the West Slope. The settlement will allow construction of Chimney Hollow Reservoir beginning in August 2021. -
Aug. 6, 2021
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Aug. 16, 2021
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Oct. 1, 2021
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2022
January 2022
Foundation grouting begins on the main dam at Chimney Hollow Reservoir. -
Feb. 9, 2022
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Feb. 10, 2022
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April 4, 2022
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July 7, 2022
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Aug. 1, 2022
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Aug. 23, 2022
Dignitaries from across the region gather to celebrate the start of construction at the Colorado River Connectivity Channel located in Grand County. Led by U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, leaders of public agencies and private non-governmental organizations extol the value of the project that will reconnect two segments of the Colorado River above and below Windy Gap Reservoir. -
Sept. 15, 2022
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Oct. 15, 2022
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November 2022
Crews complete the main dam rock excavation after 15 months of work on this component. -
2023
March 10, 2023
Crews place first spillway slab. -
March 31, 2023
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March 31, 2023
Barnard Construction surpasses 1 million hours at the Chimney Hollow Reservoir construction site. -
April 1, 2023
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April 11, 2023
The main dam reaches original grade (elevation 5,545 feet), 50 feet up from the plinth. -
April 21, 2023
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April 27, 2023
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May 2, 2023
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June 26, 2023
The main dam at Chimney Hollow Reservoir hits 100 feet.