WSP11975

• File Number: 8146.100
• Description: Pueblo Dam - Project Description
• State: CO
• Basin: Arkansas
• Water Division: 2
• Date: 1/1/1986
• Author: US DoI BoR
• Title: Physical Chemical and Biological Characteristics of Pueblo Reservoir Colorado 1985 - 1986
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989

FIgure 2, End-of-month contents of Pueblo Reservoir, 1974 through 1989.

that ranges from a few feet at the inflow to about 155 ft
at the dam (V.S, Bureau of Reclamation. 1972).
Pueblo Reservoir derives almost all of its con-
tents from streamflow in the Arkansas River. which is
comprised of native and transmountain flow. From
1985 through 1989. an average of 53 percent of the
annual inflow to Pueblo Reservoir entered during May
through July (V.S. Bureau of Reclamation. wrillen
commun..199O).
Water is released from the reservoir through the
river outlets. the Bessemer Ditch outlet. the south out-
lets. and the fish hatchery outlets. Outlet works also
have been constructed for future developments down-
stream from the dam. such as a municipal outlet for a
future water-treatment plant for the city of Pueblo. The
river outlets are at an elevation of 4.766 ft or about
41 ft above the reservoir bollom and release the major-
ity of the water from the reservoir, Water released
through the river outlets provides municipal and indus-
trial water to Pueblo and irrigation water to down-
stream irrigators. The Bessemer Ditch outlet is located
at an elevation of 4.780 ft or about 55 ft above the res-
ervoir bollom and releases water to the Bessemer
Ditch. an irrigation canal. that provides water to

SI. Charles Mesa. The south outlets transport water to
Pueblo West and the Fountain Valley Pipeline. which is
a 45-mi-Iong pipeline that transports water to the city
of Colorado Springs and the communities of Stratmoor
Hills. Security. Widefield. and Fountain (fig. I). The
south outlets release water through multilevel intake
lines located at elevations of 4.840.4.805.4.776. and
4.768 ft. which correspond to about 115.80.5]. and
43 ft. respectively. above the reservoir bollom. Water
can be released concurrently from one or more of these
intake lines. The fish hatchery outlets also are com-
prised of multilevel intake lines and can release water
from elevations of 4.851.4.81].4.786. and 4.736 ft.
which correspond to about ]26.86.61. and I I ft above
the reservoir bOllom (V.S, Bureau of Reclamation.
wrillen commun., 1986).

From] 985 through 1989. 88.2 percent of the
total outflow was released through the river outlets.
1].3 percent was released through the Bessemer Ditch
outlet. and 0.5 percent was released through the south
outlets to the Fountain Valley Pipeline (fig, 3). Water
is released through the river and south outlets during
the entire year. However. water has been released
through the south outlets only since the Fountain Valley

INTROOUCTtON 5