Windy Gap Reservoir, forebay to the Windy Gap Pump Plant, looks much different this fall than usual. In September, Northern Water’s Municipal Subdistrict released water from the reservoir into the Colorado River, allowing the reservoir bed to be exposed to the elements. 

This operation will allow crews to perform tests of the underlying ground for the future Colorado River Connectivity Channel. In order to create room for a new artificial river channel, the southern portion of the Windy Gap dam will be moved north, and the new channel will skirt the reservoir on the south side. The channel will allow fish, insects and nutrients to pass from the section of the Colorado River below the dam to the section above the reservoir and vice versa. Public fishing access is also planned at the connectivity channel. 

The project is part of the Windy Gap Firming Project’s enhancements in Grand County; in Larimer County, Chimney Hollow Reservoir will increase recreation opportunities for non-motorized boating. 

To learn more about the cooperation that has gone into this project, read this from Northern Water General Manager Brad Wind and Trout Unlimited Executive Director Chris Wood.