Congressman Evans Introduces Bill to Increase Northern Colorado's Water Supply
WASHINGTON — Today, Congressman Gabe Evans introduced the Greeley Land Exchange Act, which transfers land owned by the United States Forest Service (USFS) to the City of Greeley for city-owned land located within the Cache la Poudre Wilderness Area.
The Greeley Land Exchange Act would streamline maintenance operations, reduce administrative delays, and enable the city to more easily access and maintain its critical water infrastructure without navigating repeated permitting processes.
Under existing law, the City of Greeley is required to apply for special use permits any time they need to conduct maintenance activities and access the Milton Seaman Reservoir. This reservoir is owned and operated by the City of Greeley, supplying drinking water to more than 120,000 residents and serving as Greeley’s largest, most utilized water storage system. Greeley describes the reservoir as part of its network of mountain reservoirs that capture and store snowmelt and runoff to help provide a dependable water supply.
This land transfer would allow the city to gain ownership of the federally owned parcel, which is immediately adjacent to Milton Seaman Reservoir, making it easier to access and maintain the critical infrastructure serving the community.
This bill comes at a time when Colorado’s communities are experiencing record-low snowpack levels as a result from extreme weather conditions and an increasing demand of water supplies.
“Northern Colorado communities depend on reliable water infrastructure, and maintaining that infrastructure shouldn’t require navigating unnecessary federal red tape every time work needs to be done. The Greeley Land Exchange Act is a commonsense solution that gives Greeley direct access to essential systems at Milton Seaman Reservoir while also benefiting the Forest Service and preserving public access to surrounding federal lands. I'm proud to work alongside local community leaders to drive solutions like this forward to cut unnecessary delays, protect our water, and make government work better for the people it serves.” –– Congressman Gabe Evans
“This land exchange will help Greeley optimize its reservoir operations, while maintaining public access and recreation. The City’s Kelly Flats property is a spectacular site that can be better managed for public access through USFS, so this exchange is really in the public’s best interest.” — Mayor Dale Hall
“Greeley’s long partnership with the USFS on reservoir operations, wildfire recovery and source water protection is greatly appreciated by the city. We are pleased to introduce a land exchange bill that would transfer a beautiful 40-acre property with vast recreational and wilderness value on the Wild and Scenic, Cache la Poudre River at Kelly Flats to the USFS, in exchange for lands adjacent to Greeley’s Milton Seaman Reservoir” — Cole Gustafson, Source of Supply Manager
The bill also mutually benefits the Forest Service by providing direct access for road maintenance and forest health activities, while strengthening wilderness continuity and preserving recreational opportunities for the public.
“Colorado’s public lands are meant to be enjoyed, and preserving access for the people who hike, fish, hunt, and recreate here is incredibly important to us. We appreciate Congressman Evans for listening to Coloradans and working to ensure the Greeley Land Exchange Act protects public access while allowing this land exchange to move forward. This is a solution that keeps these outdoor spaces accessible to Coloradans for generations to come.” –– Sabrina Stoker, Executive Director, Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area
Under the Greeley Land Exchange Act:
The City of Greeley would convey approximately 40 acres of City-owned land to the federal government, excluding all City-owned water rights, in exchange for approximately 78 acres of National Forest System land administered by the Forest Service.
The federal government would retain a perpetual, non-exclusive easement for public nonmotorized access over the Seaman Reservoir Trail and Wintersteen Trail to adjacent National Forest System land. The United States would also retain access for administrative, emergency, inspection, maintenance, repair, reconstruction, and resource-management purposes.
The City of Greeley would pay the costs associated with completing the exchange, including appraisals, surveys, title work, environmental assessments, and closing expenses.
The exchange is intended to reduce administrative delays surrounding access to Greeley’s water infrastructure while providing the Forest Service with land that can be incorporated into the surrounding National Forest System and protected areas.