Chatfield Reservoir Mitigation Company, Inc.
The Chatfield Reservoir Mitigation Company, Inc. (CRMC) was formed in 2015 to implement the Chatfield Storage Reallocation Project.
On May 12, 2020, CRMC received authorization from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to begin storing available water in the reallocation pool, which will provide renewable water supply to current and future generations.
While the project has been successfully implemented, CRMC is committed to continued monitoring of the environmental mitigation and recreational modifications to ensure all long-term requirements are met.
Board of Directors and CRMC Staff
Randy Ray, President, Chatfield Reservoir Mitigation Company / Executive Director, Central Colorado Water Conservancy District
Randy serves as President of the CRMC Board of Directors and is a member of the Project Coordination Team.
Central Colorado Water Conservancy District (CCWCD) is located in Greeley, Colorado. Randy Ray serves as Executive Director of CCWCD. CCWCD’s goal is to develop, promote, and implement water conservation, augmentation, and management strategies to protect water resources for the benefit of the citizens of the District and its Subdistricts.
CCWCD has two augmentation plans, the Groundwater Management Subdistrict (GMS) and the Well Augmentation Subdistrict (WAS) operating in Adams, Weld and Morgan Counties. GMS and WAS have 82,000 Acre Feet of combined consumptive use. Quota’s have ranged from 35 to 50% in GMS and 0 to 55% in WAS since 2005.
Randy Ray was born and raised in Weld County, Colorado. He grew up on a dairy farm near LaSalle and attended Valley High School in Gilcrest. Randy went on to study at Northeastern Junior College then earned a degree in Agronomy from Colorado State University. He began his career at Central Colorado Water Conservancy District in 1993, and became Executive Director in 2011. Randy serves on multiple ditch company boards and is currently a member of the Groundwater Technical Committee for the South Platte Basin Roundtable.
Kris Wahlers, Vice President, Chatfield Reservoir Mitigation Company / Park Manager, Chatfield State Park, Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Kris Wahlers represents Colorado Parks and Wildlife on both the CRMC Board of Directors and the Technical Advisory Committee. Kris is the Park Manager at Chatfield State Park. Colorado Parks and Wildlife has secured additional storage in Chatfield Reservoir to be used as an environmental pool to benefit both recreational opportunities and downstream flows.
Wahlers graduated from Missouri State University with a Wildlife Biology degree. He has worked for Colorado Parks and Wildlife for almost 20 years. In addition to his work at Chatfield State Park in a variety of roles, he has worked at the Public Safety & Training Unit with the Boating Safety and River Outfitter Licensing Programs, Colorado State Trails Program, and Stagecoach State Park.
Matt Benak, Secretary, Chatfield Reservoir Mitigation Company /
Water Resources Manager, Castle Rock Water
Matt serves as Secretary of the CRMC Board of Directors and is a member of the Operations Advisory Committee (OAC).
Castle Rock Water is the water, wastewater collection and stormwater enterprise for the Town of Castle Rock – a community of around 85,000 people and the County seat of Douglas County, Colorado. Since 2006, Castle Rock Water has been focused on reducing its reliance on non-renewable water supplies and transitioning to renewable sources. Storage of Castle Rock’s reusable water and native water rights within Chatfield play an important role in the Town’s overall water portfolio.
Matt holds a bachelor’s of science in Chemical Engineering from Iowa State University and continuing masters-level education in Environmental Engineering from University of Nebraska – Omaha. He worked as a consulting engineer on environmental projects for 18 years prior to his work with Castle Rock.
Lauren Ris, Treasurer, Chatfield Reservoir Mitigation Company / Assistant Director for Water, Colorado Department of Natural Resources
Lauren represents the Colorado Water Conservation Board on the CRMC Board of Directors and sits on the Project Coordination Team.
Lauren currently serves as Assistant Director for Water, Colorado Department of Natural Resources. Prior to joining CDNR, Lauren worked for Colorado Legislative Council where she staffed the House Agriculture, Livestock, and Natural Resources Committee and the Water Resources Review Committee. Previously, Lauren worked for the Natural Resources Law Center in Boulder and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Washington, D.C. She also has experience in the non-profit sector.
Lauren has a master’s degree in Environmental Policy from the University of Michigan’s School of Natural Resources and Environment and a bachelor’s degree from Willamette University in Oregon.
Rick McLoud, Board Member, Chatfield Reservoir Mitigation Company /
Water Resources Manager, Centennial Water and Sanitation District
Rick McLoud represents Centennial Water and Sanitation District on the CRMC Board of Directors and is a member of the Operations Advisory Committee and the Project Coordination Team. Centennial Water provides water and wastewater services for the Highlands Ranch community south of Denver.
Rick, a Denver native, currently, and for the last 34 years, has served as the Water Resources Manager for Centennial Water. Prior to that, he worked for a consulting engineering firm for 9 years, for the US Environmental Protection Agency in San Francisco for 4 years and served in the US Army for 3 years.
Rick has bachelor and master’s degrees in civil engineering from the University of Colorado and is a Professional Engineer in Colorado. He has been a member of the South Platte Enhancement Board for 20 years.
Charly Hoehn, Project Manager, Chatfield Reservoir Mitigation Company / Project Environmental Planner, ERO Resources
Charly serves as the Project Manager for the Chatfield Reservoir Mitigation Company.
Charly works with the CRMC Board on the technical and management matters related to the implementation of the CSRP. Charly also coordinates the consultants and technical advisers that are assisting with the environmental mitigation and recreational modification components of the Project. Prior to joining ERO, Charly served as CRMC’s General Manager.
In 2022 Charly joined ERO Resources, bringing with her a wealth of knowledge in project management, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance, and contract management.
A Colorado native, Charly earned her BSBA from the University of Denver. She is also a certified Professional in Project Management (PMP).
Partners
The Chatfield Storage Reallocation Project is a partnership among ten water providers in the Denver metropolitan area and northeast Colorado. The Colorado Department of Natural Resources is the non-federal sponsor. Each organization will receive a varying amount of storage space at Chatfield once the reallocation is complete. The result adds an additional 20,600 acre feet of storage capacity in Chatfield Reservoir.
Project participants and the percentage and storage amount currently invested in the project include:
- Centennial Water and Sanitation District – 6,922 AF, 33.6%
- Central Colorado Water Conservancy District – 4,274 AF, 20.75%
- Colorado Water Conservation Board – 3,252 AF, 15.79%
- Denver Water – 1,633 AF, 7.93%
- Castle Pines North Metro District – 1,006 AF, 4.88%
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife – 1,924 AF, 9.34%
- Castle Rock – 848 AF, 4.12%
- Dominion Water and Sanitation District – 500 AF, 2.43%
- Center of Colorado Water Conservancy District – 141 AF, .68%
- Castle Pines Metro District – 100 AF, .49%
Participating organizations include:
Colorado Department of Natural Resources, the Colorado Water Conservation Board, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife each recognize the tremendous recreational, fishery and wildlife values of Chatfield State Park. Taking advantage of existing infrastructure and maximizing yield from Chatfield is the most environmentally responsible option to provide additional water for Colorado. With the approved fish, wildlife and recreational mitigation Chatfield State Park will continue to provide the same value to its users.
Colorado Department of Natural Resources
Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Colorado Water Conservation Board
Castle Pines Metropolitan District is participating in the Chatfield Storage Reallocation Project for the purpose of securing storage of existing renewable water rights and future acquisitions of renewable water rights.
The District relies on nontributary and not nontributary ground water in the Denver Basic aquifers. There is general concern in the south metro area about the life expectancy of these aquifers. In addition, continued draw-down of these aquifers is anticipated to require an increasing number of wells in order to achieve current production levels. The District intends to use this extra storage space to decrease its dependency on Denver Basin water.
The District has secured renewable water rights that will be available primarily during high flows. The new storage in Chatfield Reservoir will allow the District to capture this water when available and use it when needed. With the addition of the Chatfield storage, the District could store its renewable sources and reduce its demand on nonrenewable groundwater.
Whether it’s a hot bath at the end of a long day or a cool glass of water to quench your thirst, water is essential. Most of us turn on the faucet and expect that water will automatically flow. We seldom question the source of that water and usually take it for granted.
Securing renewable water supplies is a top priority for the Castle Pines North Metropolitan District and many other water providers in our area. Our Metropolitan District leaders have long had a sense of urgency about renewable water. In a recent survey, by an overwhelming margin, the people of Castle Pines revealed that “securing reliable, long-term renewable water” is the single most vital challenge our community faces.
Our community is involved in the Chatfield Storage Reallocation Project for the same reasons as many water providers in the region. We need a place to store existing and future renewable water supplies. We believe that expanding the existing Chatfield Reservoir provides a responsible opportunity to store renewable water for the ratepayers we serve and represent.
Castle Pines North Metro District
Securing a long-term, renewable and sustainable water supply for current customers, and future growth, is a priority for the Town of Castle Rock. The Chatfield Storage Reallocation Project allows Castle Rock to capture renewable water supplies at an existing water storage reservoir. Those supplies can then be stored for a reasonable cost. This provides flexibility for the Town when considering new water rights along Plum Creek.
For additional information pertaining to Castle Rock’s participation in this project, go to CRgov.com/regionalwater.
Securing a sustainable water supply is one of the primary missions of Centennial Water and Sanitation District, which serves Highlands Ranch. The Chatfield Storage Reallocation Project allows Centennial Water to develop new, renewable surface water supplies at a nearby existing water storage reservoir further assuring the reliability and cost effectiveness of its water supplies while responsibly addressing the impacts of the project.
Centennial Water & Sanitation District
The Center of Colorado Water Conservancy District (District), with a service area that encompasses all of Park County, including the headwaters of the North and South Forks of the South Platte River; co-owns and manages a blanket augmentation plan with the Upper South Platte Water Conservancy District through the Headwater Authority of the South Platte (HASP). The District is participating in the Chatfield Storage Reallocation Project in order to improve its augmentation operations by adding needed storage space at the lower reaches of its augmentation plan. Of the 20,600 acre-feet reallocated, the District receives 141 acre-feet of storage, or 0.68% of the total reallocation.
The District is dedicated to buying senior water rights within Park County, changing and finding storage for those rights, and providing augmentation water to households, businesses, public institutions, and subdivisions; with a special emphasis on bringing those out-of-compliance into compliance with Colorado water law. The District’s participation in the Chatfield Storage Reallocation Project allows it to better serve the increasing demands of its service area constituents.
Center of Colorado Water Conservancy District
Central Colorado Water Conservancy District (CCWCD) has been developing water supplies, along with promoting agricultural water conservation practices for 50 years in Adams, Morgan and Weld Counties.
Since 1973, CCWCD has provided water for augmentation purposes to allow irrigators in the South Platte River Basin to pump groundwater. The location of Chatfield Reservoir on the upper South Platte, along with CCWCD’s 1984 water storage right, provides a substantial water supply at a prime location. Water storage creates the ability to make timely releases for needs in the District. There are 448,654 irrigated acres in CCWCD’s boundaries.
Currently, there is an annual water shortage of more than 64,000 AF within CCWCD and its Subdistricts. CCWCD’s 4,274 AF of storage in Chatfield Reservoir will make a large difference in narrowing the gap to meet municipal, industrial and agricultural demands.
Central Colorado Water Conservancy District
Dominion Water and Sanitation District is a special district formed to provide wholesale water and wastewater services in Northwest Douglas County. Dominion is unique in that our supply starts with renewable water. We are developing innovative and sustainable projects to grow our renewable water supply and manage our existing resources into a conjunctive water supply. By strategically partnering, planning, and integrating technology, Dominion is developing a cost-effective reliable system for its Retail Customers.
Dominion also operates the first and only rainwater harvesting pilot program in Colorado approved by the Colorado Water Conservation Board. As it becomes available, rainwater harvesting will be incorporated into our water supply as another renewable and sustainable water supply source.
By partnering with the Chatfield Storage Reallocation Project, Dominion will be allocated 500 acre-feet of storage in Chatfield Reservoir, providing reliable storage for the innovative renewable water supplies we are creating.
Dominion Water and Sanitation District.
Denver Water proudly serves high-quality water and promotes its efficient use to 1.5 million people in the city of Denver and many surrounding suburbs. Established in 1918, the utility is a public agency funded by water rates, new tap fees and the sale of hydropower, not taxes. It is Colorado’s oldest and largest water utility.
Denver Water still maintains its original storage pool of more than 27,000 acre-feet in Chatfield Reservoir while its participation in the Reallocation Project provides the utility with additional operational efficiencies. Denver Water uses its storage space in the Chatfield Reallocation Project to capture bypass flows it releases from Strontia Springs Reservoir, and by storing reusable water supplies available downstream via exchange. The bypass flows maintain the trout fishery in Waterton Canyon between Strontia Springs Reservoir and Chatfield Reservoir. Denver Water uses the water stored in Chatfield Reservoir primarily for exchange to upstream reservoirs and also for delivery to water treatment.
Please visit Denver Water’s website at: https://www.denverwater.org/your-water/water-supply-and-planning.
