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Rangely council approves $200,000 toward Wolf Creek Reservoir project after detailed briefing
Summary
After a lengthy presentation from the Rio Blanco Water Conservancy District, the town approved release of $200,000 to support the Wolf Creek/Canyon Reservoir permitting and modeling work. District manager Alvin Vanden outlined environmental, cultural and federal permitting hurdles and projected long-term economic benefits to the region.
The Rangely Town Council voted to release $200,000 to the Rio Blanco Water Conservancy District to support work on the Wolf Creek/Canyon Reservoir project. Alvin Vanden, the district manager, told the council the project aims to build firm storage (up to 67,000 acre-feet) to improve drought resiliency and to support hydropower, recreation and downstream users. Vanden described extensive federal coordination — Army Corps, BLM, EPA and USDA — and said the Army Corps' review and repeated demands for updates have contributed to delays in reaching a notice of intent.
Councilors pressed for specifics about local benefits and timelines. Vanden said economic modeling and updated hydrology are underway and offered to share the Army Economics report; he said the district had secured several outside funding sources and that the town's $200,000 would be a partner contribution to reach a record of decision. A motion to release the funds, described in the meeting as "approve the funds budgeted for Wolf Creek Reservoir in the amount of $200,000 to be released to Rio Blanco Water Conservancy District on 03/14/2025 during the AP check run," passed with one abstention. Vanden agreed to provide quarterly updates on how the town's contribution is used.
