HOW IT WOULD WORK

Currently, the Otero Conveyance System moves about 50% of Aurora’s total water supply from the mountains into the South Platte River, where it is stored in Spinney Mountain Reservoir. Since the Otero Conveyance System passes close to the proposed Wild Horse Reservoir site, Aurora would fill Wild Horse Reservoir from the Otero Pipeline. From Wild Horse Reservoir, the water would be sent to Spinney Mountain Reservoir through a new pipeline. From Spinney Mountain Reservoir, the water would be released downstream via the South Platte River before making its way into Aurora’s water system and distributed to Aurora Water customers as needed.

Wild Horse Reservoir would be off-channel, meaning no river or stream flows into or out of the reservoir. Aurora would not need to seek any new water rights or decrees as part of the project.

Having an additional high-country reservoir would give Aurora more flexibility in its water management at Spinney Mountain Reservoir. It would allow Aurora to capture and store available water in wet years from the South Platte River basin, enabling greater flexibility for water releases through Spinney.

Aurora Water will continue to follow all mandated and voluntary operational flow agreements for Spinney. Aurora aligns its operations with voluntary agreements outlined in the 2003 South Platte Protection Plan.