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<br />Eastern Slope Area - Colorado-Big Thompson Project
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<br />As a result of the extended drought, winter precipitation and stream-
<br />flows were below normal in the Big Thompson River Watershed.
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<br />The February 1 forecast of the April-July runoff of the Big Thompson
<br />River at Estes Park, Colorado, was 49 percent of a 17-year average.
<br />This forecast was later reduced to 44 percent on March 1 and reduced
<br />to 41 percent (28,000 acre-feet) on April 1st. The actual April-July
<br />runoff was only 31,500 acre-feet and 46 percent of average. This
<br />was the lowest of record since 1936. The previous record low was
<br />33,200 acre-feet in 1954.
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<br />Power operation skim diverted 34,900 acre-feet and 100 percent of
<br />all available water from the Big Thompson River at Lake Estes. The
<br />skim operation generated power revenue totaling approximately $900,000.
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<br />The combined storage of 65,100 acre-feet in Carter Lake and Horsetooth
<br />Reservoir at the beginning of the water year was only 56 percent
<br />of the most recent 17-year average.
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<br />Supplemental irrigation deliveries to the Northern Colorado Water
<br />Conservancy District continued until October 20, 1976, and about
<br />25,800 acre-feet were delivered in October 1976.
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<br />With continuing drought and poor April 1 snowmelt runoff forecast,
<br />the Directors of the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District
<br />declared a seasonal allotment of 100 percent (310,000 acre-feet.)
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<br />Carter Lake was filled to 111,900 acre-feet (99.7 percent of capacity)
<br />on May 8.
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<br />Special operations were required for Horsetooth Reservoir. The plan
<br />lowered Horsetooth Reservoir by November 1977, to the lowest all-time
<br />level since the initial filling during 1951. 3he drawdown was planned
<br />to allow a contractor to remove about 7,200 yd of landslide material
<br />which threatened to cover the intake structure at Soldier Canyon
<br />Dam. The Big Thompson River Flood which occurred in July 1976 destroyed
<br />the Big Thompson River Siphon, thereby cutting off all inflow to
<br />Horsetooth Reservoir during the irrigation season. This resulted
<br />in a rapid drawdown of the reservoir which caused the landslide.
<br />After the contractor has removed the landslide material, the gradual
<br />filling of Horsetooth Reservoir will begin in December 1977. By
<br />May I, 1978, enough water will have been stored in Carter Lake and
<br />Horsetooth Reservoir to meet the allotment established by the Directors
<br />of the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District.
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