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Home My WebLink About20082506.tiff nOtAl * WindyGap FirmingProject Noh nWater Fall 2008 • www.chinineyhollow.org 0.41 aill 1 r' . . ? .04 - _• I I . . Understanding the r-446-4641 _ draft EIS, page 3 jai -eis` - _ - WGFP & water - 't-t, conservation, page 4 A S '� • au._ is Making a comment on the draft EIS, page 4 I Jet 4 . a ,v - .- r -zur- _ i :1; : ; ... . . . ...s. _ t , ; INI.1 - . ,W7 :n. photo by Charlie Johnson tee,: ' Reclamation releases draft EIS . •, .mot . - ArS photo by Charlie Johnson., e draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Windy Gap Firming Project is now available to the public. Project . 4 ?• I ` 7 On Aug. 29, 2008, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation officially released the docu- .- . ment, which analyzes the need for the project and the potential environmen- '1 1 a' : tal impacts of it. There will be two public hearings on the draft EIS: Oct. 7 in _ Loveland and Oct. 9 in Granby. For more on the public comment period, see r - the back page. : '`� The Windy Gap Firming Project is a water project being proposed by the Mu- photopv Richard Snell nicipal Subdistrict of the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District on behalf of a dozen northern Front Range water providers and the Platte River These photos are of the Chimney Hollow Power Authority. property. Larimer County owns part of it and plans to protect it as open space. The Sub- district owns the other part, which is the site It would complete an existing project — the Windy Gap Project — and it woulc of the proposed Chimney Hollow Reservoir. provide a much-needed reliable water supply for municipal use in Northern Colorado. a / 0 (j C i //Z C- �� 2008-2506 � i 71 _D I By 2030, the Windy Gap Firming Project participants face a { _ ` combined water shortage of 64,000 acre-feet. That's the annual = �, `j, isamount of water that approximately 128,000 families need. !� All the participants face an estimated water shortage by or • '-a '41 �' before 2050. Along with water conservation measures, they must secure new ,�_. _r water supplies, including the Windy Gap Firming Project, to help a • Alternative 3: 70,000 acre-foot fill that gap Chimney Hollow Reservoir and 20,00 acre-foot Jasper Reservoir, which would be located west of Lake Granby on Colorado's West Slope in Grand The participants The process County. The Windy Gap Firming Project/ • Alternative 4: 70,000 acre-foot Chin J Because the Windy Gap Firming Proj- ney Hollow Reservoir and 20,000 acre Chimney Hollow Reservoir would ect would connect to the Colorado-Big foot Rockwell/Mueller Creek Reser- be funded entirely by 13 entities Thompson facilities, the Subdistrict along Colorado's Front Range that voir, which would be located south o1 g must obtain permission from the fed- Windy Gap Reservoir on Colorado's are participating in the project. eral government via the U.S. Bureau of West Slope in Grand County. Reclamation to build the project. • City of Loveland • Alternative 5: 60,000 acre-foot Dry • Town of Superior To comply with the National Environ- Creek Reservoir, which would be • City of Greeley mental Policy Act, Reclamation must located just south of the proposed • Town of Evans complete an extensive Environmental Chimney Hollow site, and 30,000 acr • City of Fort Lupton Impact Statement before deciding foot Rockwell/Mueller Creek Reser- whether to give permission to the Sub- voir, which would be located south o: • City of Longmont district for the project. The purpose of • Town of Erie the Environmental Impact Statement Windy Gap Reservoir on Colorado's • City of Broomfield is to analyze the need for the project West Slope. • City of Louisville and study the potential environmental • Central Weld County Water District impacts. Chimney Hollow • Platte River Power Authority The Environmental Impact Statement • City of Lafayette examines several options for the Windy After evaluating more than 100 poten- • Little Thompson Water District Gap Firming Project. The opti tial alternatives for making the Windy ons, known as alternatives, that are analyzed Gap Firming Project a reality, the These participants would own in the EIS include the following: Subdistrict is proposing to construct the water in Chimney Hollow Chimney Hollow Reservoir, which Reservoir and deliver it to homes, • Alternative 1 (no action): This al- would be located just west of the schools, businesses and other mu- ternative is known as the "no action" existing Carter Lake Reservoir ap- nicipal and industrial water users alternative. But it does not mean that proximately nine miles southwest of within their service areas. no action will be taken. Rather it looks Loveland. at what the participants will do to se- Chimney Hollow Reservoir also cure water they need if the Windy Gap The Subdistrict and Larimer County could provide 3,000 acre-feet of Firming Project is not completed. purchased the 3,500-acre Chimney storage capacity for the Middle Hollow property together, which in- Park Water Conservancy District, • Alternative 2: 90,000 acre-foot eludes includes the potential reservoir which provides conservation servic- Chimney Hollow Reservoir (this is the site and adjoining open space. es to Grand and Summit counties. Subdistrict's and participants' proposal). r 7?ve Aim t25 Mitigation What follows are some key portions of the draft Environmental Impact Statement The Subdistrict and the participants for the Windy Gap Firming Project. To view the executive summary and the com- believe the Windy Gap Firming Proj- plete document, visit www.usbr.gov/gp/ecao. ect is an important and worthwhile effort. It is environmentally sensitive and economically viable and pro- "Green" power for any of the alternatives ... Measur- vides much-needed water for Front able impacts to fish populations are not Range residents. However, there are The draft EIS says: The additional water expected because flow reductions in July some impacts to the environment. delivered from Grand Lake through and August would be infrequent. Reclamation C-BT hydropower facilities What this means: Aquatic life in the The Subdistrict and the participants would generate additional power under Colorado River will remain viable if the are committed to finding ways to all alternatives. Windy Gap Firming Project is built. reduce these impacts through mitiga- tion measures. They have generated What this means: There will be a net The draft EIS says: No measurable ef- a list of potential mitigation inea- positive gain for the "green" hydropower feet to angler user days on the Colorado sures that may be used, including the generated by the additional water deliv- River or associated economic effects following: ered because of the Windy Gap Firming were identified for any of the alterna- Project. tives. • Opportunities for improve- ments to aquatic life habitat in the What this means: Fishing on the Colo- Colorado River and mitigation of The Colorado River rado River should not be affected by the impacts to fish will be coordinated Windy Gap Firming Project. with the Colorado Division of The draft EIS says: In many years, the flows in the Colorado River below The draft EIS says: The changes in flow Wildlife, Grand County and other Windy Gap Reservoir would be un- expected from the Windy Gap Firming agencies. changed, but in wetter years, diversions Project are not expected to cause mea- would increase, with a corresponding surable changes to stream morphology • The Subdistrict will commit decrease in Colorado River flows. or to sediment transport and deposition to continued participation in and Colorado River average annual flow in the Colorado River below Windy Gap funding of ongoing water quality below the Windy Gap diversion would Reservoir. studies in Lake Granby and Shadow decrease by 8 percent (12,000 acre-feet) What this means: The flushing flows Mountain Reservoirs and Grand under the No Action alternative com- that help move sediment in the Colo- Lake to better understand water pared to a 14-percent (21,000 acre-feet) rado River will remain adequate if the quality issues in the Three Lakes decrease for the action alternatives. Windy Gap Firming Project is built. system and provide guidance for In dry years, there would be no change addressing water quality concerns. in flow from existing conditions. Water quality • The Subdistrict will curtail What this means: If the Windy Gap Firming Project is built, in some years Colorado River diversions during The draft EIS says: There would be no the annual Big Gore Race, typically there likely will be a reduction in the change in water clarity as measured by ffl amount of water that flows in the Colo- the third week in August, if flows the Secchi-disk depth for any of the al- at the Kremmlin gage are below rado River below Windy Gap Reservoir. ternatives in Shadow Mountain or Lake g g g If the Windy Gap Firming Project is not Granby reservoirs. 2,200 cubic feet per second. built, there will still be less flow than now because the participants will take Secchi-disk depth would decrease under I • The Subdistrict will consider increasing deliveries of Windy Gap wa- all alternatives in Grand Lake. increasing bypass flows late in the ter in the future as their water demands pumping season if studies show this continue to grow. What this means: The clarity of the wa would noticeably improve water ter in Lake Granby and Shadow Moun- The Windy Gap Firming Project would tain reservoirs will not be affected by the temperatures for fish. not reduce the flows in the Colorado Windy Gap Firming Project. Clarity is River below Windy Gap Reservoir at all • Permanent wetland impacts will dry years such as 1997 and 2002. Predicted to decrease slightly in Grand during Lake under the No Action and Chimney be replaced by purchasing credit in Hollow Reservoir alternatives. The draft a wetland bank and on-site wetland The draft EIS says: No adverse impacts EIS states that the Secchi-disk depth — a creation. to spring spawning rainbow trout or (continued on back page) fall spawning brown trout are predicted (continued from previous page) Your comments matter measure of water clarity — will decrease 3.8 percent with or without the The public comment period for the draft Windy Gap Firming Project. EIS will end Oct. 28. The public is invited to review the document and submit corn- The draft EIS says: All of the alternatives would increase local and regional ments to Reclamation through Oct. 28. employment and construction-related spending. What this means: The Windy Gap Firming Project would generate eco- There will be two public hearings during nomic activity in the region during construction. Chimney Hollow Reservoir which people may make an oral corn- would also generate spending in the Larimer County area as visitors come to ment or submit a written comment. recreate on the body of water. ► Tuesday, Oct. 7 East Slope recreation McKee Medical Center 2000 Boise Ave., Loveland The draft EIS says: Chimney Hollow Reservoir would provide nonmotorizec Open house 6 to 7 p.m. boating, fishing, and hiking opportunities under Larimer County manage- Public hearing 7 p.m. ment, with 50,000 visitors estimated annually. ► Thursday, Oct. 9 What this means: Chimney Hollow Reservoir would offer boaters, anglers Inn at Silvercreek and picnickers a prime spot for recreating just west of Carter Lake Reservoir. 62927 US Highway 40, Granby Open house 5 to 6 p.m. Water conservation & the project Public hearing 6 p.m. The water providers who are participating in the Windy Gap Firming Project People may also submit a written com- have in place progressive water conservation and water efficiency programs that ment to Reclamation anytime before Oct. include the following: 28. Send comments to: ► Requirements and rebates for water-efficient fixtures and appliances Will Tully U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Regulations and incentives to reduce outdoor water use through limits 11056 West County Road 18E on outdoor watering, Xeriscape programs and educational campaigns Loveland, CO 80537 ► Leak detection programs Fax: 970-663-3212 ► Pipe replacement and lining E-mail: wtully@gp.usbr.gov ► Technological improvements at water treatment and wastewater facilities « All 14 Project Participants have diversified, substantive, and active conservation programs and they continue to evaluate opportunities _arms: to strengthen those programs. ,, 8 vim — Chapter 8, WGFP Purpose and Need Report, Reclamation 'iragninr° 411 Co %h4szar �eGt4 n ino-t o -on4frt e- Jill Boyd Jeff Drager Visit www.chimneyhollow.org to read about the pro- posed Chimney Hollow Reservoir and open space ; Communications Project view photos, maps and timeline for the project: Specialist Manager access resources for members of the media and more. Northern Water Northern Water Subdistrict Subdistrict www.chimneyhollow.org 970-622-2248 970-622-2333 jboyd@ncwcd.org jdrager@ncwcd.org Hello