WSP12030

• File Number: 8441.400
• Description: Colorado Big Thompson Project - Reports
• State: CO
• Basin: South Platte
• Water Division: 1
• Date: 4/1/1987
• Title: Joint-Use Reservoir and Green Mountain Exchange Projects - Final Report
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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Site A' dam. In addition to capturing flows from Muddy Creek, water could also be pumped into the

reservoir from the Colorado River. This would require an intake below the Colorado-Blue River

junction, 2 miles west of Kremmiing, and a pump station to iift the flow about 160 feet to the average

reservoir level. Reservoir capacities ranged from 80,000 af to 120,000 af.

Wolford Mountain Site C: Wolford Mountain Site C is located on Muddy Creek, 5 miles north

of Kremmling and 3.8 miles upstream from Site A'. The dam site is a 25o-foot wide canyon with

sides that rise steeply to a height of approximately 80 feet. At that point, the left abutment is

relatively flat for about 500 feet, continuing east to the base of Wolford Mountain. The right abutment

slopes gently upwards towards Highway 40, located 0.7 miles west of the site.

The full reservoir water surface at Site C would be 10 feet higher than the water surface

proposed for an alternative reservoir at Site A'. Considering that Site C is more distant from the

Colorado River than Site A', supplemental storage of pumped water would be more expensive and

was not included. Reservoir capacities ranged from 46,800 af to 80,000 af.

Azure: The Azure Dam Site is located on the Colorado River at the upper :end of the Lower

Gore Canyon, about 10 miles downstream from Kremmiing. The Lower Gore Canyon is a narrow,

deep gorge characterized by rugged, precipitous topography. While two dam heights were

previously investigated at this site, only the higher dam, approximately 225 feet high was selected as

retaining sufficient capacity for the purpose of this Study. Reservoir capacities ranged from 40,000

af to 85,000 af.

Lower Pinev: The Lower Piney Site is located on the Piney River, about 1.5 miles upstream

from the confluence with the Colorado River at State Bridge. In addition to capturing the flows of the

Piney River, the site could serve as an off-stream storage faciiity for water pumped from the

Colorado River. Reservoir capacities ranged from 80,000 afto 120,000 af.

Iron Mountain: The Iron Mountain Site is located on Homestake Creek, just upstream of Its

confluence with the Eagle River at Redcliff. The dam would be located 9 miles downstream from

Homestake Reservoir. Besides the flows of Homestake Creek, the reservoir would receive water

diverted from an upstream reach of the Eagle River by gravity flow. Reservoir capacities ranged

from 68,000 af to 103,000 af.

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