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WATERNEWS www.ncwcd.org e A publication of the NORTHERN COLORADO WATER CONSERVANCY DISTRICT Volume 24 • Number 1 • April 2005 WATERNEWS is the official journal of the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District and Municipal Subdistrict, Northern Colo- rado Water Conservancy District. All rights reserved. Postage paid at Berthoud, Colorado. Postmaster: Send address corrections and other mail to WATERNEWS, 220 Water Ave, Berthoud, Colorado 80513, or phone us at (970) 532 -7700. Visit our Website at www.ncwcd.org or e -mail bwerner@ncwcd.org. Quote WATERNEWS if you like, but please credit the publication. Thank you. Contributing Editors Brian Werner Lori Ozzello Writer Greg Silkensen Senior Designer Jeff Dahlstrom Photos NCWCD photos unless otherwise noted Printing Vision Graphics NCWCD BOARD OF DIRECTORS Boulder County Hank Kugeler Les Williams, Jr. (President, Subdistrict Board) Ruth Wright Larimer County Mike Applegate (President, District Board) William H. Brown (Vice President, Subdistrict Board) Marjorie A. Knievel Weld County Kenton H. Brunner (Vice President, District Board) Don Magnuson Jerry Winters Washington and Morgan counties John Rusch Logan County W.E. "Bill" Condon Sedgwick County George Jenik r. . departments 4 Water update 6 Projects 14 Water briefs features Photo by Lu Pena ABOUTTHE COVER The new bifurcation structure on the Hansen Supply Canal under- went testing April 18. It worked like a charm. 8 Statewide Report Phase II for the Statewide Water Supply Initiative is how to turn findings into solutions. 10 Analysis is `heart of NEPA' During 2005, an alternatives analysis will trim Northern Integrated Supply Project alternatives from hundreds to five. 12 `This is just a pretty place' At the end of a long and winding road of dreaming, overcoming obstacles, fundraising and hard work, the Poudre Learning Center officially opens in May. Fish settle in Wiwthout calling in the Pet Psychic, e may never know for certain. Even then, we'd have to take it on faith. Still, all scientific indications are that the smallmouth bass, walleye and perch in Horsetooth Reservoir are pleased. Or feeling more secure. Or maybe both. In July 2003, wildlife biologists, volunteers, the District and Reclama- tion teamed up to improve fish habitat. Using dead cottonwoods, abandoned Christmas trees and sandstone, along with some heavy machinery, concrete and several hundred feet of steel cable, they built "vertical structures" for the fish to rest, hide, eat and spawn. Think of the tree structures as a sort of aquatic downtown — places for the fish to hang out — and of the sandstone flats lining the shore as condos and patio homes. "It gives them a place to find forage items, like minnows," said Ken Kehmei- er, an aquatic biologist for the Colorado Division of Wildlife. "The sport and game fish come in for cover. There's food and living all in one spot." After the reservoir filled last spring, Kehmeier monitored the fish behavior. They congregated where the new construction was, at a rate of three to four times the unenhanced areas. An added benefit: The structures centralize the fish. "(Anglers) know there will be more fish, rather than fishing a random bank and by doing that increase their catch rates," Kehmeier said. Kehmeier and his crew used 500- 1,000 Christmas trees to improve fish habitat in area ponds, but hadn't tried it on a larger scale, until Horsetooth was drawn down. Now, he said, the division is looking ahead to future reservoirs to develop vertical fish habitat as part of the initial construction plan. APRIL 2005 WATERNEWS 13