Windy Gap Firming Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement August 2008

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY WINDY GAP FIRMING PROJECT DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT Figure ES -1. Windy Gap Reservoir facilities. Existing Windy Gap Facilities Farr Pump Plant Lake Granby Willow Creek Reservoir Willow Creek Pump Plant Windy Gap WlndY. G:p'lP•\•oe�+ Pump Plan..... R} �o�ad0 Windy Gap Reservoir Granby FrasL_ priority over water conveyed and stored for the Windy Gap Project. Thus in wet years, when the C -BT system is full, there is no conveyance or storage capacity for Windy Gap Project water. This prevents the Windy Gap Project from storing water in some wet years for use in subsequent dry years. Because the Windy Gap Project is unable to provide reliable yields in both wet and dry years, the current firm yield is zero. Firm yield is typically defined as the amount of water that can be delivered on a reliable basis in all years and is typically determined by yield in dry years. For the Windy Gap Project, lack of available storage space in wet years also affects yield. Participants in the proposed project have a need to firm Windy Gap water deliveries to meet existing and future water demands. In 2005, WGFP Participants had a firm water supply of about 141,000 AF and a demand of about 120,000 AF. Water demand for East Slope Participants is projected to increase to about 251,000 AF by 2050 and shortages in firm yield at that time would increase to more than 110,000 AF (Table ES -1). Water demand is projected to increase 17,000 AF by 2030 for Grand and Summit county water users partially served by the MPWCD. While water conservation is an important strategy used by the Participants to improve the efficiency of water use, extend supplies, and reduce overall demand, conservation measures will not be sufficient to meet projected water demands. The WGFP would collectively supply about 10 percent of the projected 2050 East Slope Participant water supply needs (Figure ES -2) and would contribute to meeting the future demands of Grand and Summit counties. The source for about 34 percent of future water supplies is still unknown. It is anticipated that some portion of this future supply will be realized by increased water conservation, but additional water supplies will still be needed. PUBLIC AND AGENCY PARTICIPATION Reclamation provided an early and open process to determine the scope of significant issues to be addressed in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). Prior to initiation of the EIS process and publication of the Notice of Intent in September 2003, the Subdistrict, with Reclamation participation, held two public Figure ES -2. Summary of projected 2050 Participant water supply sources. ES -3 Conservation and /or New Sources 34% Existing Water Supply 56% Windy Crap Firming Project 10%