This technical report was prepared to present the water quality analyses performed in support of Water Quality Certification under Section 401 of the federal Clean Water Act (CWA) for the Windy Gap Firming Project (WGFP). This report was submitted as an attachment to the 401 Certification Application to the Water Quality Control Division (WQCD).
This issue brief is one of three that explores aspects of our natural resources -water, land, and energy -and the steps necessary to balance Colorado's need for increased agricultural production to feed its growing population and the sustainable use of its natural resources to support production.
Concentrating solar power (CSP) systems utilize the sun's energy to create heat that is used to generate electrical power. CSP systems in the United States are installed primarily in the Southwest, with 92% of plants that are operational, under construction, or under development located in three western states--Arizona, California, and Nevada. This report provides an overview of CSP development in these states, or the 'Southwest' for the purposes of this discussion, with a particular focus on the water supply issues associated with CSP.
