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I I I: I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I D :: C: ~~ ,) ,") DESCRIPTION OF THE COLORADO-BIG THOMPSON PROJECT The Colorado-Big Thompson Project is one of the largest and most complex natural resource developments undertaken by the Bureau of Reclamation. It consists of over 100 structures integrated into a transmountain water di versi on system through whi ch multi pl e benefits are provided to the people. The Project spreads over approximately 250 miles in the State of Colorado. It stores, regulates, and diverts water from the Colorado River on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains, It provides supplemental water for irrigation of about 720,000 acres of land, municipal and industrial use, hydroelectric power, and water-oriented recreation opportunities. Major features of the project include dams, dikes, reservoirs, powerplants, pumping plants, pipelines, tunnels, transmission lines, substations, and other associated structures (table I, exhibits 1 and 2). The Project diverts approximately 260,000 acre-feet of water annually (310,000 acre-feet maximum) from the Colorado River headwaters on the western slope to the Big Thompson River, a South Platte River tributary on the eastern slope, for distribution to project lands and communities. The Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District apportions the water used for irrigation to more than 120 ditches and 60 reservoirs. Eleven communities receive municipal and industrial water from the Project. Electric power produced by six powerplants is marketed by the Western Division of the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program. The western slope collection system traps runoff from the high mountains and stores, regulates, and conveys the water to Adams Tunnel for diversion under the Continental Divide. To assure irrigation and power generation under prior rights on the Colorado River, Green Mountain Reservoir was constructed on the Blue River. Spring runoff is stored in this reservoir and later released to meet the requirements of the Colorado River, and to allow diversion of water by the Project throughout the year. Irrigation systems on the Colorado River, above the Blue River confluence, were improved to enable continued use of existing rights. Releases are made from lake Granby to maintain the Colorado River as a live fishing stream. The principal storage features are lake Granby, Grand lake, and Shadow Mountain Reservoir located on the Colorado River near Granby, and Willow Creek, a tri butary below lake Granby. Willow Creek Pumpi ng Pl ant 1 ifts the water 175 feet, which then flows by gravity via the Willow Creek Feeder Canal to lake Granby. Granby Pumping Plant lifts the water 125 feet from lake Granby to Granby Pump Canal, The canal conveys the water 1,8 miles to Shadow Mountain lake, which also intercepts North Fork flows of the Colorado River. Shadow 5 A