The Upper Colorado and Fraser Rivers and their trout populations have been impacted since the 1930s by trans-basin water diversions for the Front Range. Water taken for the Colorado Big-Thompson Project, Denver’s Moffat Collection System Project and Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District’s Windy Gap Project have decreased and altered water flows leading to a decrease and change in trout populations through altered stream channels, loss of trout habitat, an increase in water temperatures and increased sedimentation of  spawning grounds.  As reflected in the historic flow data for the upper Colorado, the river has been dramatically reduced as these transbasin diversions have come online over the past century.

Denver Water and the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District are currently proposing expansion of their systems and removing more water from the Upper Colorado River Basin to be sent to the Front Range for future population growth and the watering of bluegrass lawns.

Colorado Trout Unlimited is working to ensure that before these projects proceed that Denver and Northern follow strategies that prioritize water conservation and efficiency, and that they design the projects in a way that protects and restores the health of the Upper Colorado and Fraser Rivers and their trout populations.

Moffat Collection System Project.  Denver Water sends over 15 billion gallons of water a year to the Front Range collected from the 287 square mile Fraser River Watershed. Since 1950 Denver Water has diverted water to the Moffat Tunnel using 40 diversion points on mountain tributaries that feed the 28 mile Fraser River, including Ranch, Tenmile, Saint Louis,  and Vasquez Creeks.

Now Denver Water is proposing to send an additional 5 billion gallons of water to the Front Range through the expansion of its Moffat Collection System. Colorado Trout Unlimited, the Town of Fraser, and Grand County civic organizations and businesses have been working to restore the habitat of the Fraser River. However, without an adequate supply of water in the river – trout populations will not recover.

Jim Creek in the Fraser watershed, above and below the existing Denver Water diversion.

Windy Gap Firming Project.  The Northern Water Conservancy District has been shipping over 3 billion gallons of water a year from the Upper Colorado River to the Front Range since 1985. The water is collected at the Windy Gap Reservoir on the Colorado River (just west of Granby), pumped to Lake Granby & then Shadow Mountain Reservoir before being shipped to the Adams Tunnel to the Front Range.

The Northern Water Conservancy District now wants to transfer another 6 million gallons a year to supply the water needs for Broomfield, Greeley, Lafayette, Louisville, Loveland Superior, and Westminster.

Both the Moffat Collection Expansion and the Windy Gap Firming Projects must pass national environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act. The Bureau of Reclamation will be releasing a draft environmental impact statement on the Windy Gap Firming Project for public comment as soon as May 2008, and the Army Corps of Engineers will be releasing a draft environmental impact statement on the Moffat Project early this summer.  At that time, both agencies will solicit public comments and hold public hearings – and it will be vital that those who care about the health of the Upper Colorado watershed make their voice heard.

One important piece of information for these processes is a river management study that has been funded by Grand County (TU also contributed to their effort).  The study will look at what flows are needed to support river values in the Colorado headwaters.  Look for more information on this study once it is completed and released.

Colorado Trout Unlimited staff will be reviewing and commenting on both of these projects. We will also alert our members on how to get involved in the public hearings and public comment process.  To be added to our e-mail list for the Colorado headwaters issues please contact Jason Sorter at jsorter@tu.org or call (303)-376-6354.

Learn more:

CTU joined other conservationists in a report, Facing Our Future, that offers cost-effective alternatives for Front Range water supply - including princinples on how to make new projects like Moffat and Windy Gap expansion fish-friendly.  Click here to read the report.

The Northwest Colorado Council of Governmments commissioned an assessment and report on water quality (including flows) in the Upper Colorado and Fraser River watersheds.  Click here to read their report. 

American Rivers named the Fraser River the nation's 3rd most endangered river in 2005.  Click here to learn more!