The diversion route for Colorado River around Windy Gap Reservoir in Granby was planned ten years ago. Now, the project has been approved.
A consortium of state-owned and commercial water companies announced Monday that they will begin excavating soil from land bordering U.S. Highway 40 in the late summer or early July to fill in part a reservoir and create a new path for Colorado River flow around it.
The Natural Resources Conservation Service issued a Finding of No Significant Implication (FONSI), drawing from its Environmental Assessment of the Colorado River Connectivity Channel. Kirk Klancke of Trout Unlimited’s Colorado River Headwaters Chapter said that this decision will pave the way for construction. The construction will finish in 2023.
Trout Unlimited is joined in the creation of the project by The Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District Municipal Subdistrict Municipal Subdistrict, Grand County, and the Upper Colorado River Alliance.
Klancke stated to Sky-Hi News that the project was long overdue for Colorado’s health, which has suffered greatly since Windy Gap was built in the 1980s. It currently blocks fish and sediment passage downstream and upstream from the dam. It can also hold water in shallow reservoirs, which can sometimes raise stream temperatures downstream from the dam. On windy days, the soils around the reservoir are stirred in the water to fill the river below with sediments.
Klancke said that the dam caused the Colorado River to be flooded for miles. The interstitial spaces between the rocks below the dam were filled with sediment. Sculpin, a small fish that was a food source for trout, disappeared. The giant stonefly, which was another important food source for trout disappeared. According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, 38% disappeared from macro-invertebrates. The ecosystem has been in decline since the Williams Fork Reservoir dam was built. They placed a dam in the middle of a main stream, which is not possible today.
The reservoir, which holds water from the Fraser River and Upper Colorado, will be shrinked and deepened by the connectivity project. Northern is entitled to 220,000 acre-feet per year of water from Colorado under the Colorado-Big Thompson water diverting project agreement. It pumps the water into Lake Granby, Shadow Mountain Reservoir and Grand Lake through miles of underground tunnels that connect to many other cities along the Front Range.
This concern water entities such as the Upper Colorado River Watershed Group. The agencies have been asked to perform a water accounting in Upper Colorado River Watershed to ensure that sufficient water is available before proceeding with the project.
Andy Miller, President of UCRWG, stated that the group does not oppose the project outright but that it had important questions for the Colorado Division of Water Resources.
Miller said that during the process, we requested a complete accounting outlining how current and future basin water flows compare with local, Front Range and downstream water rights. Without a clear picture of the river’s current status, we can’t make decisions like these.
The Colorado Division of Water Resources manages water rights, represents Colorado at interstate water compact proceedings and monitors stream flow and water usage. It also approves construction and repairs of dams. The following was the email that Kevin Rein, the State Engineer for the Colorado Division of Water Resources, sent to the Sky-Hi:
The water court will determine the water right to permit this diversion. The water court will address the question of water availability at the time of the application.
Once the court issues a decree for the diversion with a priority date and a court order, the Division of Water Resources will administer the diversion within the prior appropriation process, just like we do with all Colorado water rights. If the water rights can divert without affecting any water rights that are more senior, and the decree is in compliance with all terms and conditions, they may divert. If they cannot, the water rights cannot divert.
Klancke stated, “If the water doesn’t exist, Northern doesnt get a pump.” But the water in this channel will always be available because it’s guaranteed in Senate Document 80 (passed by the 75th Congress on June 24, 1937). Senate Document 80 created Lake Granby, Shadow Mountain Lake. Lake Granby must release certain flows. These flows must be in the channel, as there are guaranteed flows beneath the dam. They can’t take that water and dry it up below the dam. Because it is guaranteed by Congress, it must go through that channel and continue down the river.
Windy Gap FONSI estimates that the Upper Colorado River Watershed Groups would be the first to deal with the dam’s complete removal. The Connectivity Project, however, will cost $27million.
The Natural Resources Conservation Service will receive the bulk of these funds. Klancke claims that Northern has already contributed more than the $2 million it had initially committed to from a $2 million to $4million Open Lands Rivers and Trails funds.
Klancke states that Northern, which is often referred to as a water buffalo in Grand County because of its interest in diverting water to Grand Range, has been a great supporter of the project.
The Natural Resources Conservation Services environmental assessment has shown that the project will have long-term benefits for the environment (i.e. soil, air, water and other natural resources (i.e. The FONSI is now secured and the Natural Resources Conservation Service can now pledge funds for construction of the project. They may also consider granting up-to $9 million in additional funds.
Grand Countys Board of County Commissioners appreciated the Natural Resources Conservation Services efforts in reaching its decision. They also acknowledged the outstanding work of individual champions and project partners.
