Wild Horse Reservoir Project Alternatives
The proposed Wild Horse Reservoir Project was developed through a comprehensive alternatives analysis in which Aurora Water reviewed more than 20 potential alternatives and conducted in-depth evaluation of four of these alternatives as part of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process.
For certain permits and approvals, alternative locations and components must be developed and considered. See the Review and Permitting webpage for more information on each of the local, state, and federal reviews and permitting processes.
This webpage includes maps and descriptions of the project alternatives as applicable to specific permits and approvals.
Map of proposed Wild Horse Reservoir Project. Click for larger image.
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
Aurora Water applied for a mineral materials “free use permit” from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to use mineral materials owned by the federal government to construct the dam for the Wild Horse Reservoir Project. For this permit, BLM will be determining alternatives to be reviewed for the NEPA process. More information will be shared as it becomes available. See the Federal Review and Permitting webpage for more information on federal reviews and permitting processes.
Regulation 87—Dredge and Fill Permit
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) Water Quality Control Division (WQCD) will be managing review of environmental impacts to wetlands and streams under Regulation 87—Dredge and Fill. Aurora Water submitted a Regulation 87 Individual Authorization application to CDPHE for the proposed Wild Horse Reservoir Project. As part of the Regulation 87 Individual Authorization application requirements, Aurora Water included a comparative analysis of resource impacts from a range of project alternatives to demonstrate its selection of the least environmentally damaging practicable alternative (LEDPA).
Aurora Water is currently working with WQCD on the Individual Authorization application. More information on project alternatives for the Regulation 87 process will be forthcoming. See the State Project Review and Permitting webpage for more details.
Park County 1041 Water Permit
Aurora Water considered alternative locations, design components, alignments, and configurations in Park County for the proposed Wild Horse Reservoir Project as required by Park County 1041 Water Regulations to identify the practicable alternative that has the least adverse impact to the county.
Aurora Water is working with Park County on the 1041 process. More information on project alternatives for the 1041 process will be forthcoming. See the Park County Review and Permitting webpage for more details.
