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EXECU111 \fl; -�, SUMMARY <br />DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT <br />WINDY GAP FIRMING PROJECT <br />INTRODUCTION <br />The Windy Gap Firming Project (WGFP) is a proposed water supply project that would provide more reliable <br />water deliveries to Front Range and West Slope communities and industries. The Municipal Subdistrict, <br />Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District <br />acting by and through the Windy Gap Firming <br />Project Water Activity Enterprise (Subdistrict), on <br />behalf of WGFP Participants, is seeking approval <br />from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) <br />for additional physical connections to Colorado -Big <br />Thompson (C -BT) Project facilities in order to <br />implement the proposed project. Reclamation's <br />decision on the WGFP is a major federal action <br />requiring preparation of an Environmental Impact <br />Statement (EIS). This Executive Summary <br />summarizes the alternatives analyzed in detail and <br />their anticipated environmental effects. The reader <br />is referred to the entire Draft EIS for a more <br />complete description and analysis. <br />Existing Windy Gap Reservoir, Grand County, <br />Colorado <br />Due to limitations and constraints with the existing system, the current Windy Gap facilities, which were <br />completed in 1985, are unable to deliver the anticipated firm yield of water. Water deliveries from the West <br />Slope currently are limited by storage capacity in Granby Reservoir and by the delivery capacity of the <br />Adams Tunnel, which delivers water from Grand Lake to the East Slope. The WGFP would add water <br />storage and related facilities to the existing Windy Gap operations capable of delivering a firm annual yield of <br />about 30,000 AF to Project Participants. The intent of the WGFP is to improve the yield from an existing <br />project and existing Windy Gap water rights. <br />Project Participants in the WGFP include municipalities, rural domestic water districts, and an industrial <br />water user. Project Participants on the East Slope are the City and County of Broomfield, Central Weld <br />County Water District, Town of Erie, City of Evans, City of Fort Lupton, City of Greeley, City of Lafayette, <br />Little Thompson Water District, City of Longmont, City of Louisville, City of Loveland, Platte River Power <br />Authority, and the Town of Superior. In addition, the project seeks to firm the water supply for the Middle <br />Park Water Conservancy District (MPWCD), which is a wholesale water supplier that allocates Windy Gap <br />water to about 67 water providers, including towns, water districts, agricultural water suppliers, consumers, <br />ES -1 <br />