News Release Archive

Reclamation, Northern Water Reach Tentative Agreement on Windy Gap Firming Project

Public Comment Period Open from Oct. 8 to Nov. 7

Media Contact: Tyler Johnson, (406) 247-7609, tjohnson@usbr.gov

For Release: October 08, 2014

BILLINGS, Mont. -- Bureau of Reclamation, Northern Water Conservancy District and Northern Water's Municipal Subdistrict have been negotiating a contract that would allow the Subdistrict to use excess, or unused, capacity in Reclamation's Colorado-Big Thompson Project for the Windy Gap Project and future Windy Gap Firming Project.

The 30-day public comment period will open October 8, and close November 7. The comment period provides the public the opportunity to comment on the Contract, Senate Document 80, and Section 14 (Reclamation Project Act of 1939) Determination Memos.

"This project will make more efficient use of existing water rights," said Reclamation's Great Plains Regional Director Mike Ryan. "When completed, Windy Gap Firming would provide water storage for 13 municipal providers."

The contract will allow for the introduction, storage, conveyance, exchange, substitution, and delivery of water for Municipal Subdistrict, Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District and allows the flexibility to move or preposition water from the Colorado-Big Thompson Project in Colorado.

Section 14 authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to enter into contracts for the exchange or replacement of water, water rights, or electrical energy for the adjustment of water rights. Senate Document 80 contains guidelines for Project Facilities operations and Auxiliary Features.

"There has been a need for a storage reservoir for Windy Gap water for more than 25 years," said Ryan. "We are getting much closer to making that a reality, and making better use of America's infrastructure, while also creating needed jobs in the process."

For more information on the contract, Senate Document 80, and Section 14 Determination Memos, contact Lois Petersen at (406) 247-7752 or lapetersen@usbr.gov.

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