Construction of the $33 million project started in July 2022. TU’s partners in the project include Northern Water Municipal Subdistrict, Grand County, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), the Colorado River Water Conservation District (River District), and the Upper Colorado River Alliance (UCRA). Major contributors of funds for the project include the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB), Northern Water Municipal Subdistrict, Grand County, the River District, UCRA, and Pepsi Co. Contributors also include Frito Lay, Intel, Coca-Cola, the Bonneville Environmental Foundation, GOCO, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and Gates Family Foundation. CPW provided critical oversight over the design of the connectivity channel. Construction of the project is expected to be completed in 2024 and the area is expected to be opened up for public fishing as soon as the new channel and vegetation is established – anticipated sometime in 2026.