July 31, 2024
Colorado River Connectivity Channel Construction to Resume
A major project to build a channel to connect two segments of the Colorado River in Grand County will get some major finishing touches in coming weeks.
The Colorado River Connectivity Channel, which will divert water around for the newly “right-sized” Windy Gap Reservoir west of Granby, has carried water since last October by way of a temporary diversion. In August and September, crews from CEI Inc. will install the permanent diversion gate to ensure smooth operations into the future. Construction was halted until the seasonal high-water runoff was complete.
Already, scanners installed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife have detected fish using the new channel to move around Windy Gap Reservoir to reaches of river upstream and downstream. A strong runoff season also moved sediment in the river and provided water to the newly planted willows along the channel’s banks.
In future years, the area will provide additional public access to anglers hoping to catch one of those fish and to others in the public who are drawn to nature.