From the Fort Collins Coloradoan (Bobby Magill):
American Rivers’ threatened river report mentioned Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District’s Windy Gap Firming Project as one of the Colorado River’s biggest threats. The project would divert more water from the river to be pumped to a new reservoir near Carter Lake in southern Larimer County to provide a reliable water supply for growing Northern Colorado communities. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is expected to issue an environmental impact report on the project soon, with a final decision expected by the end of the year.
The report also says another proposed diversion project, the Moffat Collection System Project, will also harm the river.
[Ken Neubecker of Colorado Trout Unlimited] said he’s concerned water diversions from the Colorado River will harm the river’s natural hydrograph, preventing the river’s spring high flow from occurring. “If you don’t have that high flow in the spring, you can’t wash the sediments out, mobilize the bottom of the (river) bed,” something that’s critical for fish and other wildlife in the river, he said.
But Brian Werner, spokesman for Northern Water, said the district is working out a plan to provide enough water in the river for the fish at critical times during each season and ensuring the water temperature is right for the fish to thrive. He said the district has been successfully negotiating with Trout Unlimited and Grand County to ensure their concerns are heard. “We’d like to work it out so the operations (of the diversion projects) are flexible enough so the river doesn’t suffer any more harm,” and Front Range communities can get the water they need, too, Neubecker said.
More Colorado River Basin coverage here.