About the Wild Horse Reservoir Project
The Wild Horse Reservoir Project is a proposal by Aurora Water to build a new off-channel reservoir west of Spinney Mountain Reservoir near Hartsel, Colorado, in Park County. The new reservoir would provide the critical water storage that Aurora Water needs to ensure reliable water supply for community needs and maintain emergency water reserves.
The proposed Wild Horse Reservoir Project is part of Aurora Water’s comprehensive, long-term plan and forward-thinking, multi-pronged approach to meeting our community’s water needs. The additional water storage provided by the Wild Horse Reservoir Project would help store some of the water saved from Aurora Water’s ongoing water conservation and reuse initiatives.
UPDATE: After evaluating several alternative locations, Aurora Water determined that the Wild Horse South Reservoir alternative has several potential advantages and is shifting the proposed project site from the original Wild Horse Reservoir site to the Wild Horse South Reservoir site for the environmental reviews and permit applications. Learn more about the alternative locations that were evaluated.
More information will be shared at our upcoming project update presentations on February 25 at 7 pm and February 27 at noon. Learn more about these events. If you have any questions, please email us at wildhorsereservoir@auroragov.org.
Map of Wild Horse Reservoir Project alternatives. Click the image to view a larger image.
Potential locations for the Wild Horse Reservoir Project alternatives were identified within the South Platte River basin to ensure that stored water can be accessed during emergency conditions. The potential sites are also located near the Otero pipeline, which currently conveys about half of Aurora’s water supply from the Colorado and Arkansas Rivers to Spinney Mountain Reservoir. Thus, these locations not only provide access to emergency storage, but also allow for efficient integration with Aurora Water’s existing water supply system. Learn more about how the Wild Horse Reservoir Project would work.
The proposed location for the project in Park County also features favorable topography and environmental conditions:
- The high-altitude location and the proposed depth of the Wild Horse Reservoir Project means less water evaporation.
- Aurora Water’s initial studies have not identified any jurisdictional wetlands or endangered species at the proposed site.
- Water would be provided via pipelines, so the reservoir would be off channel. This means the project would not have dams blocking any existing rivers or streams.
- The grassland location reduces the risk of wildfire in the immediate vicinity.
Aurora Water engaged Park County officials early in the process to ensure open communication and collaborative planning. Since then, Park County and Aurora Water have continued working together to evaluate options and share information with the South Park community.
The Wild Horse Reservoir Project is currently in the planning and pre-permitting phase. Aurora Water is conducting design and field work to prepare for the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM)—as the lead federal agency—will manage the NEPA review process and will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), which is a public-facing, comprehensive analysis of the potential environmental and social impacts from the Wild Horse Reservoir Project. Learn more about the NEPA process.
Pending receipt of all required permits, authorizations, and approvals, Aurora Water’s goal is to begin construction on the Wild Horse Reservoir Project around 2030.
Wild Horse Reservoir Project Alternatives
In the environmental review process, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) plans to analyze several alternatives to compare the environmental and social impacts for the proposed Wild Horse Reservoir Project.
- Wild Horse Reservoir (known as the Proposed Action)
- Wild Horse South Reservoir
- Small Wild Horse Reservoir + Denver Basin Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR)
- Spinney Mountain Reservoir Enlargement
- No Action Alternative—Denver Basin ASR (if the Proposed Action is not approved)
Wild Horse Reservoir Project Alternatives Map
Click to view a larger version of the project alternatives map.
