Windy Gap Firming Project

Municipal Subdistrict: Windy Gap WINDY GAP FIRMING PROJECT

2015 chimneyhollow.org

THE WINDY GAP FIRMING PROJECT is a collaboration between 13 Northeastern Colorado providers to improve the reliability of, or Ƥrm, water supplies from the Windy ap Project, which started delivering water in 1985 and is operated by Northern Water’s Municipal Subdistrict. The Ƥrming project proposes to build a new East Slope reservoir called Chimney Hollow to provide dedicated storage, which would supply a reliable 30,000 acre feet of water a year for future generations.

WHO ARE THE PARTICIPATING WATER PROVIDERS, AND WHY DO THEY NEED THE PROJECT?

There are 13 participants: 10 municipalities, two water districts and one power provider. Northern Water’s Municipal Subdistrict is coordinating the permitting process for them. WHY IS BUILDING CHIMNEY HOLLOW RESERVOIR By 2050, the water providers’ combined population will have THE PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE? far more than doubled what it was in 2005, to about 800,000. Water demand projections show a shortage in supply of Participants reviewed 170 potential alternatives to provide the 64,000 acre feet in 2030 and 110,000 acre feet by 2050. supply they need. Constructing the 90,000-acre-foot Chimney Hollow Reservoir southwest of Loveland was the top choice To address this shortage, participants are relying on multiple for both the participants and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, approaches: conservation, reuse, and additional supplies – the lead federal agency reviewing the project. including the Ƥrming project. Chimney Hollow is a regional, cooperative solution, saving money and reducing environmental impacts by building just Firming Project Participant Boundaries one reservoir for the 13 providers to share. The

RAWHIDE POWER PLANT reservoir is designed

N to hook up to existing C-BT Delivery System infrastructure by storing NCWCD Boundaries water diverted into Windy ap’s system, HORSETOOTH C RESERVOIR a c h which pumps water into e l a Po ud re River Lake ranby and uses 7 4 FLATIRON r C-BT Project facilities for 1 RESERVOIR 10 ive R South Platte CARTER 11 delivery to participants. LAKE 9

Participant & firm annual yield The Ƥrming project 5 (in acre feet) would eƥciently BOULDER 1 PRPA Service area (5,150) RESERVOIR 13 2 Broomfield (5,600) Ƥll Chimney Hollow 3 Erie (2,000) 3 Reservoir using the Chimney Hollow site 12 4 Greeley (4,400) 6 original Windy ap water 8 2 5 Longmont (5,125) 6 Louisville (900) rights decrees. 7 Loveland (4,000) 8 Superior (1,500) Denver 9 Central Weld County Water District (100) Metro The reservoir is part of Larimer County’s open space plan and Area 10 Evans (500) would likely oơer Ƥshing and non-motoried boating. Larimer 11 Little Thompson Water District (1,200) 12 Lafayette (800) County owns the land adjacent to the reservoir site – an ideal 13 Fort Lupton (300) location for recreational trails and initiatives to protect habitat and vegetation. 2015 chimneyhollow.org

WHAT MITIGATION WILL BE PROVIDED? The Subdistrict has agreed to provide other beneƤts outlined in a 1041 permit and agreements with rand County, West Slope The Subdistrict, on behalf of stakeholders, Trout Unlimited and others. They include water “Grand County has supply for the Middle secured protections for project participants, spent years water quantity and quality negotiating measures to mitigate Park Water Conservancy in the Colorado River environmental impacts. Several District and more water that never would have for stream habitat. happened without the agreements with West Slope project and this permit.” and other stakeholders describe - Nancy Stuart, chair, additional, voluntary beneƤts the The Subdistrict also Grand County Commission Subdistrict will provide. reiterated its support for “The Subdistrict and Northern Water’s long- project participants are The Subdistrict worked with term commitment to to be commended for work with Reclamation their efforts to address our biologists to develop the state concerns and do the right Ƥsh and wildlife mitigation and rand County to thing for the river.” plan, which has operational address the existing - Mely Whiting, counsel for concern of clarity in Trout Unlimited considerations to mitigate higher stream temperatures, increased rand Lake. “I believe that this ƪushing ƪows to clean sediment mitigation plan The Subdistrict will comprehensively in the stream, and nutrient addresses impacts to removal to oơset water uality provide $2 million for Colorado·s Àsh and wildlife impacts in rand Lake and the construction of a bypass Colorado River below Windy Gap resources.” Colorado River. Federal reviews for Colorado River water - Colorado Gov. John through or around Windy ap Reservoir, if studies show a Hickenlooper incorporated the plan in the Final Environmental Impact Statement. bypass would beneƤt to the river downstream of the diversion. “CWF applauds the Windy Gap Firming Project The participants’ commitments leave a legacy that goes far agreement to restore The state also authoried a [the] health of the Upper voluntary enhancement plan to beyond the reuirement to mitigate for the Ƥrming project Colorado River.” fund future stream restoration alone. Their collaborative eơorts take a much bigger step and - Colorado Wildlife will improve Colorado River conditions from what they are Federation and habitat-related projects. today.

TIMELINE: WHAT’S HAPPENED SO FAR December 2014 Federal approvals 1985: Windy Gap Project construction completed 5eclamation &ompleted modiÀcations to e[istinJ Windy Gap carriaJe contract wKicK includes procedures and fees 2003: 13 water providers entered formal federal process for for Windy Gap water to move tKrouJK &-%7 facilities ÀrminJ project 6uEdistrict puElisKed alternatives report de- tailinJ evaluation of 1 metKods to potentially accomplisK 5eclamation siJns 5ecord of 'ecision on project project Joals and Kow tKey were narrowed down to seven WHAT’S LEFT – ANTICIPATED DATES 2005: 5eclamation puElisKed two Ney reports one descriE- inJ tKe purpose of and need for tKe project and one identi- 2015 fyinJ a ranJe of alternatives tKat could meet tKe needs 86 $rmy &orps of (nJineers permit to Euild

2006-2008: 5eclamation puElisKed more tKan 1 paJes 2015 of tecKnical reports detailinJ resource impact analyses &olorado 'epartment of PuElic +ealtK and (nvironment 1 water Tuality certiÀcation 2008: 5eclamation puElisKed tKe '(,6 wKicK details tKe project·s purpose and need and identiÀes mitiJation for impacts County agreement /arimer &ounty ParNs and 2pen 6pace 5ecreation plan for 2009: 6uEdistrict offered West 6lope EeneÀts to facilitate &Kimney +ollow 5eservoir manaJement project implementation neJotiations EeJan 2015-2017: Project desiJn June 2011: 6tate ofÀcials approved tKe ÀsK and wildlife miti- Jation plan and a voluntary enKancement plan 2018-2021: Project construction November 2011: 5eclamation puElisKed tKe )inal (,6 FOR MORE INFORMATION: chimneyhollow.org 2012: Grand &ounty commissioners and tKe 6uEdistrict Project Manager Jeff Drager Eoard approved a 11 permit alonJ witK several aJree- --333 [email protected] ments for &olorado 5iver improvements and otKer EeneÀts “The Subdistrict and project participants are to be commended for their efforts to address our concerns and do the right thing for the Colorado River.” – Mely Whiting, counsel for Trout Unlimited The Windy Gap Firming Project and the Environment Looking Back: Mitigation for the Original Windy Gap Project

The original Windy Gap Project, which was built in the 1980s, Chimney Hollow site, with Carter Lake to the right went through its own federal process to determine mitigation measures for direct project impacts, in addition to negotiations for voluntary enhancements. The resulting environmental Engage in cooperative agreements and other measures included minimum streamflows, stream VOLUNTARY ENHANCEMENTS gauging, salinity studies and water for the West Slope. • Provide (through cooperation with other Colorado River water users) a permanent source of 5,412.5 acre ADDITIONAL MITIGATION feet a year from Lake Granby for the Upper Colorado River • $550,000 for endangered fish species Endangered Species Recovery Program • Agree not to oppose the Colorado River Cooperative • $420,000 for water and wastewater treatment facilities Agreement between Denver Water and West Slope entities • Minimum streamflows in the Colorado River from Windy • Participate, through the Windy Gap Project, in the Gap to the Blue River Shoshone Outage Protocol to benefit streamflows • $500,000 for archaeological work THE WINDY GAP FIRMING PROJECT • $10,000 to EPA to construct wildlife islands Enhance the Chimney Hollow area WILL PROVIDE WATER SUPPLY FOR VOLUNTARY ENHANCEMENTS MITIGATION FOR IMPACTS • $10.2 million payment the West Slope used toward FUTURE GENERATIONS WHILE • Provide revegetation and weed control in construction construction of Wolford Mountain Reservoir (in lieu of area building Azure Reservoir) IMPROVING CONDITIONS ON • Contribute $105,000 to a wetland mitigation bank • Minimize air quality and noise impacts to wildlife • $500,000 to upgrade new pumps and provide for THE COLORADO RIVER • Restore habitat affected during construction downstream rancher diversions • Enhance habitat per Larimer County recommendations • 3,000 acre feet of water per year for the Middle Park Water • Establish hunting access on property per state and Larimer County recommendations • Provide education to minimize human impacts to wildlife FOR MORE INFORMATION • Implement a migratory bird plan during construction 220 Water Avenue, Berthoud, CO, www.chimneyhollow.org • Implement seasonal restrictions and buffer zones during [email protected], 800-369-7246 construction The Windy Gap Firming Project Improve streamflow & aquatic habitat Provide West Slope water supplies and the Environment MITIGATION FOR IMPACTS VOLUNTARY ENHANCEMENTS THE WINDY GAP FIRMING PROJECT IS A Stream temperature for fish health For the Middle Park Water Conservancy District COLLABORATION BETWEEN 13 GROWING • Reduce or curtail diversions when stream temperature • Provide a reliable water supply of 2,300 acre feet per year NORTHEASTERN WATER PROVIDERS standards are exceeded • Provide 700 acre feet per year on average through additional to improve the reliability of water supplies from the Windy • Install real-time temperature monitoring devices pumping Gap Project, which started delivering water in 1985 and is Flushing flows to move sediment and improve habitat • Allow for 3,000 acre feet of carryover capacity operated by Northern Water’s Municipal Subdistrict. The • Provide for flushing flows of 600 cubic feet per second For Grand County firming project proposes to build a new reservoir called (150 cfs more than original Windy Gap mitigation provides) • Offer ability to use to up to 2,300 acre feet per year of unused Chimney Hollow to provide dedicated storage that would • Provide 1,200 cfs every six years under certain Middle Park supplies help supply a reliable 30,000 acre feet of water a year for conditions, by curtailing pumping and/or making reservoir • Provide 500 acre feet per year on average of pumped water future generations. releases • Provide the ability to pump up to 3,000 acre feet per year of additional Windy Gap water, when it is available VOLUNTARY ENHANCEMENTS • Allow for 4,500 acre feet of carryover capacity The project formally entered the federal permitting Stream restoration for habitat process, the National Environmental Policy Act, in 2003. • Provide $4 million for aquatic habitat restoration in the NEPA and Colorado’s requirement for a plan focused on Colorado River from Windy Gap to the Kemp-Breeze Protect the Colorado River State Wildlife Area fish and wildlife are among several processes in place to VOLUNTARY ENHANCEMENTS • Engage in a cooperative, ongoing process to maintain, identify mitigation measures that will address projects’ • Participate in a stakeholder plan for management in lieu of restore and/or enhance the aquatic environment in areas direct impacts. federal wild and scenic designation in stretches of the river of the Colorado, Fraser, and Williams Fork river basins • Provide, through Northern Water and its Subdistrict, up to Bypass to benefit stream below Windy Gap diversion $250,000 for the wild and scenic process endowment fund • Fund a $250,000 third-party study to determine the potential • Support a Colorado Water Conservation Board instream flow benefits of building a bypass for water around or through on the Colorado River between the Blue and Eagle rivers Windy Gap Reservoir • Agree not to acquire new or existing water rights or construct • Provide $2 million toward construction of a Windy Gap new water supply facilities in Grand County without consent Reservoir bypass, if the study recommends one • Provide $2 million toward aquatic habitat restoration efforts in the Colorado River, if a Windy Gap bypass is not built Support endangered species & recreation MITIGATION FOR IMPACTS • Provide $405,000 for the Upper Colorado River Endangered Address water quality issues Species Recovery Program MITIGATION FOR IMPACTS • Modify initial C-BT Project operations to maintain higher Nutrient mitigation to offset water quality impacts water levels in Lake Granby to benefit aquatic resources and • Provide $4.3 million to neutralize firming project impacts on area recreation Grand Lake’s clarity and water quality for the Three Lakes • Curtail pumping during the Gore Canyon Race if flows are (Grand Lake, Shadow Mountain Reservoir and Lake Granby) below 1,250 cfs at Kremmling • Funding will provide wastewater treatment facility Chimney Hollow site, with Flatiron Reservoir in the foreground VOLUNTARY ENHANCEMENTS improvements and non-point source nutrient reduction • Arrange public access to stretches of Willow Creek for activity But the 13 municipal providers who are paying for and VOLUNTARY ENHANCEMENTS such as fishing would benefit from the project offered measures far beyond • Fund and participate in the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s • Protect open space through deed restrictions on the sale of what’s required. These proponents stand behind a decade of study process for Three Lakes water quality improvement certain parcels of land within Grand County discussions that led to agreements detailing voluntary envi- • Provide a commitment from Northern Water to work with • Agree not to oppose Grand County’s recreational in-channel ronmental benefits, or enhancements, they will provide. Reclamation and Grand County on Grand Lake’s clarity diversion water right application • Support Northern Water’s water quality programs, which These benefits, coupled with mitigation, will improve include more than $1 million in funding each year for conditions on the Colorado River. State biologists, Grand monitoring and studies related to the Colorado-Big Thompson and Windy Gap projects County officials, Trout Unlimited experts and others agree: The firming project will lead to a healthier river than we see today.

News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Brian Werner Dec. 19, 2014 Public Information Officer 970-622-2229/[email protected]

Reservoir Project Moves Forward

BERTHOUD – The Windy Gap Firming Project received its Record of Decision Dec. 19, 2014, during a signing ceremony at Northern Water’s headquarters in Berthoud. Mike Ryan, Great Plains Regional Director for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, signed the firming project’s long- anticipated ROD.

Officials from Northern Water, Northern Water’s Municipal Subdistrict and Reclamation also signed a new Carriage Contract allowing Windy Gap water to be transported from the West Slope to Chimney Hollow Reservoir using existing Colorado-Big Thompson Project facilities.

The ROD identifies and confirms Chimney Hollow Reservoir as the firming project’s preferred alternative. If built as proposed, Chimney Hollow Reservoir would store up to 90,000 acre-feet of water southwest of Loveland and just west of Carter Lake.

“Signing the Record of Decision and new Carriage Contract is a major milestone for the project,” said Jeff Drager, Project Manager for the Windy Gap Firming Project. “With Chimney Hollow Reservoir, the Windy Gap Firming Project will be able to provide 26,000 acre-feet of water year in and year out to growing communities in Northeastern Colorado.”

Dennis Yanchunas, President of Northern Water’s Municipal Subdistrict, applauded the participants’ perseverance. “While this has taken a number of years, it is worth the effort as Chimney Hollow Reservoir is that much closer to reality.”

The Windy Gap Firming Project is a collaboration of 12 Northeastern Colorado water providers and Platte River Power Authority to improve the reliability of their Windy Gap water supplies. Windy Gap began delivering water in 1985.

The participants include 10 municipalities: Broomfield, Erie, Evans, Fort Lupton, Greeley, Lafayette, Longmont, Louisville, Loveland and Superior; two water districts: Central Weld County and Little Thompson; and one power provider: Platte River.

The firming project’s federal permitting process began in 2003 under the National Environmental Policy Act. Reclamation issued a final Environmental Impact Statement in 2011 along with the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission’s approval of a fish and wildlife mitigation plan.

Construction of Chimney Hollow Reservoir could begin in 2018.

Northern Water’s Municipal Subdistrict is a separate and independent conservancy district formed by six municipalities in 1970 to build and operate the Windy Gap Project. The Windy Gap Project consists of a diversion dam and pump plant on the Colorado River, and a six-mile pipeline to Lake Granby.

Northern Water is a public agency created in 1937 to contract with Reclamation to build the Colorado-Big Thompson Project, which collects water on the West Slope and delivers it to the East Slope through a 13-mile tunnel beneath Rocky Mountain National Park. Northern Water’s boundaries encompass portions of eight counties, 640,000 irrigated acres and a population of about 880,000 people. For more information, visit www.northernwater.org. Hansen Feeder Canal to Horsetooth Reservoir

18E Proposed Chimney Hollow Dam Facilities 31 Flatiron Municipal Subdistrict Power Reservoir Plant Spillway Canal 18E Flatiron & Stilling Basin Penstocks

Access Road Flatiron/Carter Pressure Tunnel Dam Bald Mountain Tunnel from Pinewood Reservoir Spillway Chimney Hollow Channel Inlet Pipe Inlet/Outlet Tunnel Dam Chimney Hollow Reservoir

Carter Lake Reservoir Dam 31

Dam Dam Southern Water Legend Supply Pipeline C-BT Project Existing Facilities Chimney Hollow Pipeline Spillway Channel 8E Inlet/Outlet Tunnel Spillway Canal Proposed Dams Saint Vrain Supply Canal to Lyons Windy Gap Firming Project Participant Boundaries

RAWHIDE POWER PLANT

N C-BT Delivery System NCWCD Boundaries

HORSETOOTH C RESERVOIR a c h e l a Po ud re River

7 4 FLATIRON r 1 RESERVOIR 10 ive R South Platte CARTER 11 LAKE 9

Participant & firm annual yield 5 (in acre feet)

BOULDER 1 PRPA Service area (5,150) RESERVOIR 13 2 Broomfield (5,600) 3 Erie (2,000) 3 12 4 Greeley (4,400) 6 8 2 5 Longmont (5,125) 6 Louisville (900) 7 Loveland (4,000) 8 Superior (1,500) Denver 9 Central Weld County Water District (100) Metro Area 10 Evans (500) 11 Little Thompson Water District (1,200) 12 Lafayette (800) 13 Fort Lupton (300)