Summit County Citizens Voice

Denver Water plans to increase transmountain diversions through the Moffat collection system will be up for comment at a pair of upcoming meetings.

Moffat project would increase diversions from West Slope by about 18,000 acre feet per year; Denver Water developing comprehensive mitigation plan

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Front Range and high country residents will get another chance to comment on Denver Water’s plans to increase transmountain diversions at a pair of upcoming meetings hosted by members of the Colorado Wildlife Commission.

With its proposed Moffat Collection system firming project, Denver Water would meet future water needs by developing 18,000 acre-feet per year of new, annual firm yield water that would be delivered from West Slope headwaters stream to its Front Range delivery system. The plan includes raising Gross Reservoir in Boulder County to store an additional 72,000 acre-feet of water diverted from the Fraser and Williams Fork river systems. The proposed project would increase Gross Reservoir from its current storage capacity of 41,811 acre-feet to approximately 114,000 acre-feet.

Jan. 18, the public is invited to a meeting being hosted by Wildlife Commissioners Dorothea Farris and Dennis Buechler at the Inn at Silver Creek in Granby.

Jan. 20, Wildlife Commissioners Bob Streeter and David Brougham will solicit public comment at the Boulder Senior Center East. This meeting was previously scheduled to occur at The Ranch in Larimer County, but has been moved to the Boulder Senior Center East for the public’s convenience.

Denver Water is developing a mitigation plan that is scheduled to be presented to the Wildlife Commission at its March meeting in Denver. The project must receive a federal permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. However, state statute does give the Colorado Wildlife Commission the opportunity to review the mitigation plans and work with the proponents to ensure that the plans address project impacts.

The Division’s goal is to identify habitat management actions that will ensure a functioning river that supports fish and wildlife given anticipated future flow conditions. Restoring the river to a past condition is beyond the scope of the project approval process and Wildlife Commission authority.

Ken Kehmeier and Sherman Hebein, senior aquatic biologists for the DOW’s Northeast and Northwest Regions, will provide a presentation on the project and lend their expertise to the discussion.

To learn more about the project, visit:
https://www.nwo.usace.army.mil/html/od-tl/eis/moffat-eis.html

Project information from Denver Water can be found at: http://www.denverwater.org/SupplyPlanning/Planning/FutureWaterSupply/WaterSupplyProjects/Moffat/

Additional information about each meeting follows:

Granby Public Meeting

WHAT: Public Input on Moffat Collection System Project with Wildlife Commissioners Dorothea Farris and Dennis Buechler

WHEN:  Tuesday, January 18, 6 pm to 8 pm WHERE:  Inn at Silver Creek, 62927 US Highway 40, Granby (970-887-4080)

For more information on the Granby meeting, please contact Randy Hampton, Statewide Public Information Officer, at 303-291-7428 or randy.hampton@state.co.us

Boulder Public Meeting

WHAT: Public Input on Moffat Collection System Project with Wildlife Commissioners Robert Streeter and David Brougham

WHEN: Thursday, January 20, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

WHERE: Boulder Senior Center East, 5660 Sioux Drive, Boulder (303-441-4438)

For more information on the Boulder meeting, please contact Jennifer Churchill, Public Information Officer for the Northeast Region, at 303-291-7234 or jennifer.churchill@state.co.us

About the Wildlife Commissioners:

Commissioner Dorothea Farris is a Carbondale resident who was appointed to represent western Colorado and wildlife organizations on the Wildlife Commission. She is a former Pitkin County Commissioner.

Commissioner Dennis Buechler is a Centennial resident who was appointed to represent sportsmen on the Commission. He is a biologist and habitat restoration specialist and a past president of the Colorado Wildlife Federation.

Commissioner Robert Streeter is a retired wildlife professional who represents northern and northeastern Colorado and the public at large.  He has an agricultural background and is an avid outdoor enthusiast, hunter and angler.

Commissioner David Brougham is a Denver-based attorney who was appointed to represent the public at-large. A former aviator with the U.S. Navy, he is a lifelong hunter and angler.

Filed under: Colorado, Colorado Division of Wildlife, Environment, rivers, Summit County Colorado, Summit County news Tagged: | Colorado Wildlife Commission, Denver Water, Environment, Fraser River, Summit County News, transmountain diversions, US Army Corps of Engineers, Williams Fork River