Background and Timeline
Why Terry Ranch?
The City of Greeley has a responsible, innovative water resource planning history. Water providers today, particularly in the western U.S., must be even more strategic and creative to have enough water for population growth, climate variability, shrinking rivers, and competing interests.
"It is our personal and professional duty to protect Greeley’s water supply and the safety and welfare of the public. On behalf of our staff and our Board I want to assure the Council and our citizens that the Terry Ranch project is not going to harm our water supply as some have claimed." -- Harold Evans, chairman, Greeley Water and Sewer Board
Background
Here's why the Terry Ranch project was selected as the most reliable and affordable long-term solution for our community:
- Beginning in 2003, the city sought to enlarge the existing Milton Seaman Reservoir. Enlarging this reservoir on the North Fork of the Cache La Poudre River required a variety of federal, state, and county permits including a lengthy Federal National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) permitting process.
- Federal agencies required Greeley to evaluate other, less environmentally damaging alternatives. The city identified several options with lower environmental impacts, including Terry Ranch. It became evident that regulatory agencies were not likely to approve the enlargement of Milton Seaman Reservoir.
- The city hired independent experts to conduct an extensive investigation of the Terry Ranch property to meet due diligence objectives and provide Greeley with the information needed to move ahead with the Terry Ranch Project.