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<br />o <br />o <br />~ <br />e..":1 <br />~ <br />~. <br /> <br />OPERATION SKIM <br /> <br />Big Thompson River water in excess of the minimum requirements, as recommended by the State of <br />Colorado Division of Wildlife and the Federal Fish and Wildlife Service, is diverted at Lake Estes into <br />the Foothills System for power generation. This operation is known as operation "skim." The amount <br />diverted depends on the flow at the Big Thompson River and the tributaries above Lake Estes, <br />importations through the Adams Tunnel, and the capacity of the Foothills System. <br /> <br />The water taken from the Big Thompson River can be used for power generation immediately. It can also <br />be held in storage and replaced to the river with water from other sections of the system, depending on <br />the power requirements. In general, water taken from the Big Thompson River at a variable rate, on a <br />given date, is returned to the river at a flat rate, on the following day. <br /> <br />Operation "skim", and storage of surplus water from the Big Thompson River in project reservoirs are <br />managed according to the AOP and as prescribed by the Resources Division. <br /> <br />During water year 1998, a total of 17,800 acre-feet of water were diverted through Olympus Tunnel for <br />"skim" operations, only 45 percent of the 30-year average. Dille Tunnel diversions totaled 29,500 acre- <br />feet for water year 1998. That total represents 160 percent of the 30-year average. <br /> <br />24 <br />