Ensuring a Reliable Water Supply for Aurora
The Wild Horse Reservoir Project is a proposal from Aurora Water to build a new off-channel reservoir southwest of Spinney Mountain Reservoir near Hartsel, Colorado, in Park County. The proposed project would provide the critical water storage that Aurora Water needs to ensure reliable water supply during severe droughts or system emergencies.
UPDATE: During evaluation of the alternative locations, Aurora Water identified the Wild Horse South Reservoir alternative as the site to advance for further environmental review and permitting processes. Key considerations include fewer dams (one versus three), lower operational and construction risks, no additional pumping required to fill the reservoir, and minimal wetland impacts. It also allows Aurora Water to source materials for the project from existing Park County quarries, to support local businesses. This avoids the need to develop a new quarry site, thereby minimizing additional land disturbance. Learn more about this announcement.
Aurora Water maintains the project information on this website. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), as the lead federal agency, is managing the federal National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process for the project. Aurora Water is working with state and county government officials on additional reviews and permitting applications. More information will be posted as it becomes available. Learn more about project review and permitting.
