Northern Water will begin moving small amounts of water into the newly constructed Chimney Hollow Reservoir, several months after filling was put on hold due to uranium concentration detected in water quality sampling at the site.
Beginning the first week in November, the reservoir will be filled to below 2% of its capacity in order to allow further data to be collected. Dam safety monitoring also will begin.
None of the water that will begin flowing into the reservoir will be delivered to participants in the reservoir project, as the partial fill is simply a means to better understand the nature of the uranium in the area and plan mitigation efforts.
Northern Water said at the time of the uranium’s discovery that it would not seriously affect the viability of the project, and that mitigation efforts can make the water stored in the reservoir safe for human consumption.
Uranium detected ahead of Chimney Hollow Reservoir fill
The reservoir, located west of Carter Lake, will provide 90,000 acre-feet of water storage to 12 Northeastern Colorado water providers, as well as electricity generation, once fully operational.
“Because the uranium minerals are coming from materials quarried at the site, excess (unused) rock from construction has been placed under a layer of water-sealing clay,” Northern Water wrote in a release describing the plan to partially fill the reservoir. “The clay cap will effectively minimize uranium leaching from these materials.”
The agency added that it expects uranium leaching to decrease over time, the result of a finite amount of soluble uranium at the site.
How to properly mitigate the uranium detected requires more observation, leading Northern Water to begin filling the reservoir and observing the results.
“Prior to making mitigation decisions, we want to make sure we have all the information to evaluate operational and treatment options,” the release stated. “We are following a rigorous process, starting with geochemical characterization and scoping studies, to inform mitigation alternatives analysis and ultimately select a final approach. Following these steps allows us to make informed decisions, evaluate trade-offs, and determine the best path forward.”
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