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$49 million reservoir OIm near KremmIing I Dam to benefit both Western, Eastern slopes By M8rtt Obm8aclk ?-~.,2.- Denver Poet Envlronmont WrIter A new $49 million reservoir will be buill near KremmliDg as a re- sull of an agreement reached yes- terday between a Western Slope water agency and the Denver Wa- ter Board. The Colorado River Water Con- servation District voted 11-2 to ap- prove a lease with Denver that will help finance construction of Wolford Mountain Reservoir on Muddy Creek north of KremmIing. River district officials said they already have aU environmental permits needed to begin construc- tion of the reservoir next spring. It will have a capacity of 60,000 acre feet, which is about five times bigger than Chatfield Reservoir in the southwest metro area. "This is a project that will bene- fit both the Eastern and Western slopes," said river district spokes- man Chris Treese. Charlie Jordan of the Denver Water Board said, "We're very pleased. This is a huge step for- ward." The agreement calls for Denver to pay the river district $43 mil- lion over the next 25 years in ex- change for 12,000 acre feet of res- ervoir water a year. That's enough water to accom- modate the annual needs of 48,000 additional metro-area residents. Denver plans to release water from Wolford Mountain Reservoir 10 compensate the Western Slope for flows diverted farther up- stream in the Colorado River sys- tem, at the city's existing Dillon Reservoir. Another related agreement will let Denver send more water dOWD- stream on lhe Western Slope's Fraser River for use by Winter Park and Granby, city officials. said. Completion of Wolford Moun- tain is scheduled in 1995.