HomeMy WebLinkAbout20082538.tiff RESOLUTION
RE: STATEMENT OF SUPPORT FOR ALTERNATIVE TWO OF DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT STATEMENT(90,000-ACRE-FOOT CHIMNEY HOLLOW RESERVOIR)-WINDY
GAP FIRMING PROJECT
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, Colorado, pursuant to
Colorado statute and the Weld County Home Rule Charter, is vested with the authority of
administering the affairs of Weld County, Colorado, and
WHEREAS,the United States Department of the Interior has issued a Draft Environmental
Impact Statement(DEIS)for the "Windy Gap Firming Project" (WGFP), dated August, 2008, and
WHEREAS, the WGFP is being proposed by the Municipal Subdistrict of the Northern
Colorado Water Conservancy District, as a water supply project which will provide more reliable
water deliveries for fourteen Front Range and West Slope communities and industries, in an effort
to reduce the estimated 2050 water shortage of 110,688 acre feet, and
WHEREAS, Alternative Two of the DEIS is the "Proposed Action," which will involve the
construction and operation of a 90,000-acre-foot Chimney Hollow Reservoir, west of Carter Lake
Reservoir, and will provide an estimated firm yield of 26,567 acre feet, thereby reducing the
estimated 2050 water shortage for the fourteen communities and industries by 24 percent, and
WHEREAS, the Municipal Subdistrict and Larimer County have already purchased the
property necessary for the Chimney Hollow Reservoir and accompanying open space, and
WHEREAS,Chimney Hollow Reservoir will provide opportunities for non-motorized boating,
fishing, and hiking under Larimer County management, with 50,000 visitors expected annually,
thereby providing a boost to the local economy, and
WHEREAS, on the Colorado River below Windy Gap Reservoir, the WGFP will create no
adverse impacts to spring spawning rainbow trout, nor to fall spawning brown trout, because flow
reductions in the months of July and August will be infrequent, and
WHEREAS, changes in flow on the Colorado River expected from the WGFP are not
expected to cause measurable changes to stream morphology or to sediment transport and
deposition below Windy Gap Reservoir, and
WHEREAS, the additional water for the WGFP delivered from Grand Lake through
Reclamation Colorado Big Thompson hydropower facilities will generate additional electric power,
and
WHEREAS, the Municipal Subdistrict intends to mitigate other impacts that may occur
because of the WGFP, including, but not limited to, increased bypass flows on the Colorado River
late in the pumping season if studies show that such bypass flows will noticeably improve water
temperatures for fish, and
2008-2538
BC0038
/O-(2,8x-OF-
RE: STATEMENT OF SUPPORT FOR ALTERNATIVE TWO OF DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT STATEMENT - WINDY GAP FIRMING PROJECT
PAGE 2
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners now desires to express its support for
Alternative Two.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of Weld
County, Colorado, that it hereby expresses its support of the modified Alternative Two to the Draft
Environmental Impact Statement for the "Windy Gap Firming Project," dated August, 2008, and
requests its adoption by the United States Department of the Interior.
The above and foregoing Resolution was,on motion duly made and seconded, adopted by
the following vote on the 22nd day of September, A.D., 2008.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
• ei " 11 • WELD COUNTY, COLORADO
ATTEST: ! /f / ,ft �r, � CUSED
•
36{ IS.,4'';`,AraiI iam H. Jerke, Chair
Weld County Clerk to the B d Vtja
1 c•. \N
BY:L Af V • �':Robert D. asden -Tem
De y Clerk /the Board w
Willi F. Garcia
7ROV •
David E. Long
oun ttorney
ougla Rademac er
Date of signature: raiDg
2008-2538
BC0038
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