9527

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 9527
• Author: Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District.
• Title: The Windy Gap Project.
• USFW Year: no dat
• USFW - Doc Type: Loveland, CO.
• Copyright Material: NO

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
As part of mitigation
efforts fish studies were
conducted below Windy
Gap
A n Environmental
Impact Statement
(EIS) was required for
the Windy Gap Project
to comply with NEPA
provisions. With the
USBR acting as the
lead agency, the
Subdistrict financed
environmental studies
delayed pending the
issuance of numerous
permits and licenses
necessary for construc-
tion of the Windy Gap
Project. Adoption of the
Settlement Agreement
in 1980 cleared the
way for obtaining some
of these permits. That
Agreement also satis-
fied the NEPA require-
ments stated in the
Settlement Agreement
with the Western Slope,
which made it possible
to file the final EIS.
Licenses and permits
After the requisite
public comment
period, the USBR gave
final approval of the EIS
in the spring of 1981.
The Subdistrict then set
about acquiring the 23
local, state and federal
permits required to
complete the project.
In connection with filing
of the EIS, a "non-jeop-
ardy" biological opinion
was obtained from the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service regarding the
Project's impact on
threatened and endan-
gered species. In con-
junction with that opin-
ion, the Subdistrict
agreed to help finance
biological investigations
of endangered species
and their habitat on the
Colorado River.
Additionally, all rights-
of-way on private lands
were obtained by the
Subdistrict prior to
Project construction.
1 2 WINDY GAP PROJECT
as part of the draft and
final EIS. Approval was