FROM THE ARCHIVES: Setting the Stage for Chimney Hollow Reservoir

A court decision from 36 years ago will soon reach its full impact for Northern Colorado water users. On Feb. 6, 1989, a judge in Colorado’s Water Division 5 granted an absolute decree to the Municipal Subdistrict that would allow it to pump water from Windy Gap Reservoir and then store that water.

For the life of the Windy Gap Project, the main storage reservoir has been Lake Granby under a contract with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, owner of the reservoir. However, because of Lake Granby’s role in the Colorado-Big Thompson Project, when it is full, there is no room available for Windy Gap Project water. More importantly, if there had been Windy Gap Project water in Lake Granby, by contract it is the first water to go over the spillway if the reservoir fills.

With the completion of Chimney Hollow Reservoir this summer, storage space will be available for Windy Gap Project water as an alternative to Lake Granby, providing the project a firm yield that it was unable to claim in previous years.

If the region receives normal precipitation for the next couple of years, Chimney Hollow Reservoir could be full by 2027.