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<br />DESCRIPTION OF THE COLORADO-BIG THOMPSON PROJECT <br /> <br />o <br />o <br />~ <br /><.0 <br />~ <br />W <br /> <br />The Colorado-Big Thompson Project is one of the largest and most complex natural resource <br />developments undertaken by the Bureau of Reclamation. It consists of over 100 structures integrated into <br />a trans-mountain water diversion system through which multiple benefits are provided to the people. <br /> <br />The Project spreads over approximately 250 miles in the State of Colorado. It stores, regulates, and <br />diverts water from the Colorado River on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. It provides <br />supplemental water for irrigation of about 720,000 acres of land. It also provides water for municipal use, <br />industrial use, hydroelectric power, and water-oriented recreation: <br /> <br />Major features of the Project include dams, dikes, reservoirs, power plants, pumping plants, pipelines, <br />tunnels, transmission lines, substations, and other associated structures (table 1, exhibits 1 and 2). <br /> <br />Historically, the Project has diverted approximately 230,000 acre-feet of water annually (310,000 acre-feet <br />maximum) from the Colorado River headwaters on the western slope to the South Platte River Basin on <br />the eastern slope, for distribution to project lands and communities. The Northern Colorado Water <br />Conservancy . District apportions the water used for irrigation to more than <br />120 ditches and 60 reservoirs. Twenty-nine communities receive municipal and industrial water from the <br />Project. The Western Division of the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program markets the electric power <br />produced at the six power plants. <br /> <br />The western slope collection system captures nmoff from the high mountains and stores, regulates, and <br />conveys the water to Adams Tunnel for diversion under the Continental Divide. <br /> <br />To ensure irrigation and power generation under prior rights on the Colorado River, Green Mountain <br />Reservoir was constructed on the Blue River. Spring runoff is stored in this reservoir and later released to <br />meet the requirements of the Colorado River and to allow diversion of water by the Project throughout the <br />year. <br /> <br />Pursuant to authorities in Senate Document 80, (which authorized the C-BT), and the 1984 Green <br />Mountain Operating Policy and the agreements in the September 1996 Stipulation and Agreement of the <br />Orchard Mesa Check Case settlement (Case No. 91CW247, Colorado Water Div. 5), the content of the <br />Historic Users Pool (HUP) in Green Mountain Reservoir is evaluated during the summer to determine the <br />availability of water surplus to historic beneficiaries needs. If it is determined that surplus water is <br />available, it may be delivered, based upon need, first to the federal Grand Valley power plant and then to <br />other uses through agreements. . <br /> <br />Irrigation systems on the Colorado River, above the Blue River confluence, were improved to enable <br />continued use of existing rights. Releases are made from Lake Granby to maintain the Colorado River as <br />a live fishing stream. <br /> <br />3 <br />