Weld County authorities Tuesday called for new reservoir space to capture and store water, saying this would improve flood control and meet growing needs for people, agriculture and industry on Colorado’s booming northern Front Range.
Recent heavy rainfall has filled existing reservoirs run by Denver Water and Northern Water to levels seldom seen — despite relatively low mountain snowpack.
Snowpack statewide measured 68 percent of normal Tuesday, up from 62 percent May 1, federal data show. Traditionally, snowpack has served as a frozen, slow-release water supply reservoir for the state.
Denver Water reservoirs overall were 93 percent full, above the normal May median 82 percent, and Northern’s dozen reservoirs overall were 92 percent full.
Weld County Commissioner Sean Conway urged accelerated efforts to complete the Northern Integrated Water Supply Project, which would install two new reservoirs, and to expand the Halligan-Seaman reservoir.
“This would be a way to capture that high runoff in May and June and store that water for farmers and growing municipalities to meet their needs — and at the same time provide a flood-control option,” Conway said.
“As we’ve seen in September 2013 and now, May 2015, we need additional flood-control measures. These reservoirs would have significantly helped.”
Bruce Finley: 303-954-1700, bfinley@denverpost.com or
