PROJ00235

• Contract/PO #: C153633
• Contractor Name: Greeley, City of
• Contract Type: Loan
• Water District: 3
• County: Larimer
• Bill Number: HB 91-1006
• Loan Projects - Doc Type: Feasibility Study

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3.0 LAND

The water stored in Hourglass Reservoir is used to meet Greeley's municipal requirements. However,
over the years the City of Greeley and the North Poudre Irrigation Company have developed an informal
water exchange plan, which allows use of stored reservoir water by the irrigation company in exchange
for Colorado-Big Thompson (CBT) Project water owned by the company. The CBT water is transferred
to the City for municipal use,

The North Poudre Irrigation Company currently irrigates about 31,000 acres north, northeast, and east
of Fort Collins, The predominant crops grown include alfalfa, corn, sugar beets, small grains, pinto
beans, and grasses. The irrigation company owns CBT water but is physically unable to divert it. The
North Poudre Supply Canal Is 6,5 stream miles upstream of the Charles Hansen Canal, which conveys
CBT water to the Cache la Poudre River from Horsetooth Reservoir, Water, when exchanged, Is
released from Hourglass Reservoir for diversion by the North Poudre Irrigation Company Supply Canal,
Releases are usually scheduled for August and September during the peak of the irrigation season. In
exchange for these deliveries, North Poudre credits the City of Greeley with CBT water, The City is
required to pay a 5 percent charge for the river for conveyance losses from the reservoir to the point
of diversion. The CBT credit is 95 percent of the releases made at Hourglass Reservoir.

The water exchange plan is beneficial to both entities, The North Poudre Irrigation Company can
augment and divert the natural stream flows during the late summer months when irrigation demand is
greatest. The availability of upstream reservoir storage is particularly valuable during drought conditions.
The City of Greeley benefits by Increasing treatment system flexibility, Water released from Hourglass
Reservoir and diverted for use by the City can only be treated at the Bellvue Water Treatment Plant.
CBT water can be delivered to and treated at either the Bellvue or Boyd Lake Water Treatment Plants.
Currently, the irrigation company exchanges water with Greeley, Fort Collins, and the Divide Reservoir
and Canal Company, owners of Worster Reservoir.

3.1