Fishermen, kayakers, landowners and others concerned with potential impacts of the proposed Windy Gap Firming Project have an opportunity to voice their views Thursday at a public meeting in Granby. The session will run 6-9 p.m. at the Inn at Silver Creek, 62927 U.S. 40, with Colorado Wildlife commissioners Dennis Buechler and Allan Jones.
The project is a proposal by the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District, the largest water provider in northern Colorado, to move Western Slope water to which it has rights across the Continental Divide to a new storage reservoir west of Carter Lake near Loveland.
Colorado Trout Unlimited, other conservation organizations and numerous Western Slope interests have expressed concern that the project could reduce flows in the Fraser and upper Colorado rivers by almost 70 percent. The water level in Granby Reservoir also could decrease, along with river flows favored by kayakers and rafters.
On the other hand, Eastern Slope anglers might benefit from the development of a new fishery at the proposed Chimney Hollow Reservoir.
Later this fall, the water district is to present a plan to mitigate impacts of the project to the wildlife commission.
The full commission will address the issue at upcoming meetings and workshops.
Evergreen elk study.
Hunters in the vicinity of Evergreen should be aware of an ongoing study of elk movements by the Colorado Division of Wildlife.
The DOW in September began placing radio collars and ear tags on 17 bull and cow elk in a 75-square-mile radius of Evergreen to monitor their movement patterns. Following the marked animals will help the DOW obtain information that will be used in future elk-management decisions.
While hunters may legally kill a collared elk, they should be aware that the meat may not be fit to eat, depending on the time elapsed since tranquilizing drugs were administered to the animal.
Karl Licis, Special to The Denver Post
