Halligan-Seaman reservoir project picks up steam
By Cherry Sokoloski
North Forty News
The gears are beginning to grind on the Halligan-Seaman reservoir enlargement
project, an enterprise designed to meet the water needs of growing communities
along the northern Front Range. Both reservoirs are located on the North
Fork of the Cache la Poudre River, and reservoir owners Fort Collins and
Greeley are working together on the project.
Fort Collins wants to enlarge Halligan Reservoir, which now has a capacity
of 6,400 acre-feet, to 40,000 acre-feet. Greeley hopes to expand Seaman,
now at 5,000 acre-feet, to 43,000-acre-feet. Estimated costs are $40 million
for Halligan and $50 million for Seaman.
There will be opportunities for public comment about the project, likely
by mid- to late summer.
Fort Collins purchased Halligan Reservoir from the North Poudre Irrigation
Co. in 2004. Construction on Halligan is expected to be completed in 2010,
while Greeley plans to delay its project until the city needs more water
storage, approximately 2025 or 2030.
Both Fort Collins and Greeley have partnered with smaller communities and
water districts on the reservoir project. Partners in the Halligan portion
include the East Larimer County Water District, Fort Collins/Loveland Water
District, North Weld County Water District and the North Poudre Irrigation
Co. Greeley is partnering with Evans on enlarging Seaman Reservoir.
The next step for the Halligan-Seaman project is the permitting process
with the Army Corps of Engineers. This process involves following the guidelines
of the National Environmental Policy Act, which requires that all options
and impacts be investigated.
According to Cliff Hoelscher of the Fort Collins Utilities Department,
Fort Collins and Greeley hope to choose a team of consultants by the end
of April. The team will work on an environmental impact statement, required
as part of the NEPA process. Hoelscher said this part of the project will
likely take two years and will involve public hearings.
If all goes smoothly, construction on the Halligan enlargement could take
place in 2009-2010.
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