Greeley has a long history of investing in its water future. The foresight and diligence of past city leaders and water pioneers ensured Greeley continuously seeks opportunities to plan for, and secure, Greeley's water needs. Terry Ranch is the next frontier.
The Terry Ranch Project could soon become the water source of Greeley's future. Below, find a list of community supporters of this vital water project. Their comments are theirs, and theirs alone. They have agreed to allow their support to be displayed on this page.
Greeley’s Water and Sewer leadership team will lead a public webinar at 6 p.m., Feb. 10 to present Terry Ranch and its particulars. The webinar will be recorded. The February webinar will contain results of myriad water testing conducted at Terry Ranch over the last few months. To access the upcoming webinar, follow this link
https://greeleygov.zoom.us/j/85780121381
You must enter this passcode to get in:
Passcode: 273222
Or iPhone one-tap :
US: +13017158592,,85780121381# or +13126266799,,85780121381#
Or Telephone:
Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
US: +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 669 900 6833 or +1 929 205 6099 or +1 253 215 8782
Webinar ID: 857 8012 1381
International numbers available: https://greeleygov.zoom.us/u/kc1Ni2rfSl
Meanwhile, check out the conversation in the video below that city leaders had with roughly 60 residents on Dec. 2, 2020. They presented the parameters of the project as a more affordable and environmentally sound option to existing reservoir expansion plans, and they answered numerous community questions.
The proposed Terry Ranch Water Project is an innovative water supply and storage project being considered and evaluated to help fulfill the water needs of Greeley's growing population. If ultimately determined feasible and approved by the City of Greeley Water Board and City Council, this generational project will be another step forward to ensure the City of Greeley's long-term future water security. The water wouldn't be needed/used until at least the year 2045 and would help save the city millions in water acquisition costs.
The City of Greeley has an extensive water system that includes two treatment plants, seven reservoirs, four river basins, and over five hundred miles of pipeline. These systems make up Greeley's reliable water supply.
Today, ensuring a reliable water supply in the face of anticipated population growth and the consequences of a variable climate requires the high level of investment in innovative thinking and strategic planning that has positioned Greeley to date.
The Terry Ranch aquifer was identified as a more environmentally friendly water storage option during the city's long-term strategic efforts to enlarge Milton Seaman Reservoir.
As part of permitting for the Milton Seaman Reservoir enlargement, Greeley is required by federal agencies to evaluate other, less environmentally damaging alternatives. It was during this continuous evaluation process that Terry Ranch was identified as an alternative solution.
Since 2003, the city sought to enlarge the existing Milton Seaman Reservoir. Enlarging this reservoir on the North Fork of the Cache La Poudre River requires a variety of federal, state, and county permits. The city has been engaged in the federal National Environmental Policy Act permitting process to allow the reservoir's expansion since 2006. Federal permitting has been a long, arduous, and expensive process, and final authorization is uncertain at best.
Before finalizing the purchase, Greeley conducted extensive testing and analysis, including drilling additional wells and collecting extensive water quality data. Critical analysis will be peer-reviewed, and the results of these studies will be available in early 2021. The Water and Sewer Board and Greeley City Council, with input from Greeley residents, will weigh results to decide whether to move forward with the purchase.
Greeley does not currently own this groundwater or the associated aquifer storage and has developed an agreement to acquire ownership of the water and storage rights from the owners, Wingfoot Water Resources (Wingfoot).
The city is using an innovative, low-risk purchase arrangement to acquire this water and storage. Rather than paying money upfront, the city is issuing the seller, Wingfoot, water supply credits.
Each credit will be worth one acre-foot of water supply redeemable to meet the city's raw water dedication requirements – payments in the form of water or cash required of developers or builders to construct in the city. The water supply credits are only redeemable within the City of Greeley. Wingfoot will benefit by being able to sell credits to developers and builders.
Greeley benefits by not having to pay for the project all at once. This arrangement shares financial risks between the City of Greeley and Wingfoot, which results in lower water rates for Greeley water customers.
Wingfoot will not own or operate the Terry Ranch Project. In addition to providing Greeley full control of the groundwater and groundwater storage rights, Wingfoot will provide $125 million toward construction of the project infrastructure.
Research to date shows the Terry Ranch Project to be a promising opportunity for a high-quality water source and with fewer environmental impacts, less permitting risks, and an overall lower cost than the Milton Seaman expansion.
1001 11th Avenue, 2nd Floor
Greeley, CO 80631
Monday - Friday 8am - 5pm
Adam Jokerst, Deputy Director of Water and Sewer
970-350–9209
Adam.Jokerst@greeleygov.com