Chatfield Storage Reallocation Project will hold a Public Open House on Wednesday, September 6, at Valley High School, 1001 Birch Street in Gilcrest. Time will be 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. Location will be the high school cafeteria.
This will be an opportunity for attendees to see final designs for the recreational facilities modifications and environmental mitigation projects that will be undertaken at Chatfield Reservoir and the surrounding Chatfield State Park. In addition, there will be a display showing the agricultural benefits of the project. There will also be a display showing the workings of the environmental pool that will help to time releases of a significant portion of the stored water for downstream agricultural uses.
Once the modifications are complete, Chatfield Reservoir will be able to store up to 20,600-acre feet of additional water.
Consultant firms working on these designs, plus representatives from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Colorado Water Conservation Board, Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the participating water districts will be available to answer questions.
All of the mitigation projects are being planned and paid for by the participating water agencies. The water agencies will spend upwards of $134 million over the next two years for construction and environmental work to prepare to store more water at Chatfield.
Studies by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to make sure the existing Chatfield Reservoir could safely store more water for municipal and agricultural uses began in 1994 and were finally completed in 2014. Included in the Feasibility Report/Environmental Impact Statement were requirements for mitigation of possible damage to the environment and to Chatfield State Park facilities.
Water agencies that will store more water are: Central Colorado Water Conservancy District; Centennial Water and Sanitation District (Highlands Ranch); Colorado Water Conservation Board; Colorado Parks and Wildlife; Castle Pines North Metro District; Castle Pines Metro District, Town of Castle Rock; and Center of Colorado Water Conservancy District.
The participants formed the Chatfield Reservoir Mitigation Company to handle the implementation of the project. The company and project participants held an open house near the reservoir in Highlands Ranch on May 30. More than 200 people attended.