Terry Ranch Project Closes in on First Milestone
The Terry Ranch pipeline nears its first milestone as Reynolds Construction finishes the initial 7.7 miles that will connect it to the 60-inch Bellvue pipeline near Windsor.
Select contractors will construct the 30-mile pipeline in phases over the next 10-15 years. Once complete, the 36-inch steel pipeline will connect Greeley’s existing treated water infrastructure to the Terry Ranch water treatment plant and underground aquifer.
The underground pocket of water, isolated for thousands of years, contains nearly 2 million acre-feet of water. (One acre-foot would cover a football field with 12 inches of water.) The city will recharge and store water in the aquifer during wet years and withdraw and treat it for use during extended droughts. The pipeline is being built in multiple phases to help keep Greeley’s water rates low.
Director of Water and Sewer Sean Chambers is confident in the project’s development strategy and excited about its contribution to Greeley’s water portfolio.
“The Terry Ranch Project is an investment in our collective future. While storing our treated river water underground and withdrawing it in times of drought is innovative for Northern Colorado, it is common practice across the west and a primary water supply strategy in South Metro Denver,” Chambers said.
“This project is an important piece of how Greeley will meet future water storage needs. It helps us navigate challenging droughts and wildfires in our mountain watersheds. Based on the Integrated Water Resources Plan, the city has confidence in our ability to develop this project incrementally over time, pairing this new asset with the existing water system.”
|