Since its founding in 1937, Northern Water has played a central role in developing, managing and safeguarding water resources for Northeastern Colorado. Established to contract with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Northern Water helped bring the Colorado-Big Thompson (C-BT) Project to life—a federally owned system that collects supplemental water west of the Continental Divide and delivers it to more than 1.1 million people for agricultural, municipal and industrial use.
Over time, Northern Water’s responsibilities have expanded beyond a single project to include a diverse portfolio of water supply initiatives, property interests and delivery infrastructure. In 1970, the creation of the Municipal Subdistrict by six Front Range communities marked a significant step forward in securing additional water supplies. This effort led to the development of the Windy Gap Project in the early 1980s and continues today with major investments in a new storage component with Chimney Hollow Reservoir.
Stewarding Water for Today and Tomorrow
Northern Water’s work encompasses the full lifecycle of water management—from collection and storage to delivery and long-term stewardship. This includes managing project lands and facilities, protecting and enhancing water quality, and safeguarding critical water supplies for current and future users. Equally important is the administration of water ownership and allocation, ensuring that water rights are managed responsibly and delivered reliably to meet the needs of communities, agriculture, industry and the environment.
The citizens of Northeastern Colorado have made extraordinary investments to secure a safe, sustainable water supply. Today, Northern Water carries that legacy forward through careful planning, innovative project development, and a deep understanding of the complex systems that govern water collection, storage, ownership and delivery.
