Windy Gap Project Participants Tour West Slope Infrastructure 

More than two dozen representatives of the communities served by the Windy Gap Project recently toured Windy Gap Reservoir, pump plant and other infrastructure to learn more about how the project operates.  

Water from Windy Gap Reservoir is pumped up to Lake Granby, where it is stored until it can be delivered to project communities on the East Slope. Because of limitations on the availability of storage for water in some years, 12 Windy Gap Project participants have chosen to build Chimney Hollow Reservoir to give them greater flexibility year to year for that water.  

In recent years, Windy Gap Reservoir has undergone a major change, with the reservoir’s dam being reconfigured to make space for the Colorado River Connectivity Channel. The channel allows Colorado River water to flow around the reservoir when water is not being diverted into the Windy Gap Project. During the June 24 tour, attendees were able to see the new diversion structure and channel, and they were able to learn about future needs to ensure the efficiency of the project for years to come.