July 10, 2024

Board of Directors Spotlight: Bill Emslie and Dick Wolfe

The Municipal Subdistrict Board President Bill Emslie and Vice President Dick Wolfe have a unique involvement in the Chimney Hollow Reservoir Project given their roles and experience. Representing Larimer County, Emslie has served on the Municipal Subdistrict Board for 19 years, while Wolfe has represented Broomfield County for the past two years.  

Emslie boasts a long career with Platte River Power Authority, during which he proposed the Collateral Water Program to the Municipal Subdistrict Board ultimately enabling Windy Gap water to be available every year. He also served on the Windy Gap Participants Committee from 1992-2014 and was involved in Windy Gap Firming Project discussions since inception. Wolfe worked for the Colorado Division of Natural Resources and spent 10 years as the state engineer. His involvement in the project began in the early approval stages. 

Wolfe said as the largest participant in the project, Broomfield has a keen interest in seeing it completed.   

“The Windy Gap Firming Project is partly filling the need that the city has to meet its future growth,” he said. “It is a very important water supply and part of building more certainty and resiliency.”  

The most important decision the Board made about Chimney Hollow Reservoir was the site. Approximately 160 sites were evaluated for the Windy Gap Firming Project based on cost, water storage, evaporation, usability and more. Emslie said the Chimney Hollow Reservoir site did not happen by accident; it was meticulously studied to make sure it was indeed the best.  

As the project approaches its final year of construction, the Board is finalizing a draft Operations Criteria and preparing to respond promptly to any unanticipated issues.  

“We’re in the stage where we don’t want this to be delayed, so the Board is going to have to be ready to make prompt decisions if there are any additional challenges,” Wolfe said.  

Emslie said that during the nearly 20 years he has served on the Board, the Municipal Subdistrict has demonstrated consistency in its approach and persistence to make Chimney Hollow successful.  

“The reason it has taken so long is because we haven’t taken any shortcuts,” Emslie said. “I’m proud of Northern Water and the Municipal Subdistrict because we always do it right, and I think that’s really important because when it’s all said and done, it’s the process, as well as the result, that counts.”  

During Wolfe’s tenure on the Board, he can see evidence of the great planning that has been done to get to this point and he echoed Emslie’s sentiment that the project has been done right. He added that Chimney Hollow is projected to be completed on time and on budget, which is further evidence of its success.  

Both Emslie and Wolfe are most excited to see Chimney Hollow in full operation and making its first deliveries to water users.  

Emslie and Wolfe both chose careers that reflected their passion for public service. Emslie served 30 years in the U.S. Navy- seven in active duty and 23 in reserves. He then spent 34 years working for Platte River Power Authority. Wolfe was raised on an irrigated farm which sparked his interest in the water industry as he pursued a long career in engineering working for the State of Colorado. Both continue to pursue public service in retirement, serving on multiple boards and volunteering with different organizations. They similarly enjoy farming and spending time with family.