FLOOD05721

• County: Larimer
• Community: Loveland
• Stream Name: Big Thompson River
• Basin: South Platte
• Title: Replacement of Dam, Aqueduct, and Hydroelectric Plant Big Thompson Canyon, Colorado
• Date: 6/1/1977
• Prepared For: Loveland, Larimer County
• Prepared By: L.J. Green
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Educational/Technical/Reference Information

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mately 1700 feet of this section of the pipeline has been washed out by the
flood. Replacement will also be placed on the surface of the river bank rather
than buried, owing to the fact that the bank is rock and burial is not economi-
cally feasible. The replacement pipeline will be treated so as to visually
harmonize with the existing naturalness of the canyon. Included as alternatives
to be considered are:
. Application of exterior paint to blend with existing rock
and tree growth,
. Mechanical placement of natural earth and stone cover
suitably rip-rapped to prevent erosion,
. Placement textured pre-cast concrete panels over the
pipe and anchored in to the canyon wall.

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The power plant will be located at a small park approximately 1.6 miles down-

stream from the dam. Aesthetically it will be considerably less obstrusive than

the old power plant since it will be smaller, lower and tucked against the south

bank of the park. Its' facade will be constructed with natural stone placed on

concrete frame to harmonize with the existing recreation structures within the

park.

There will be some short term noise, air and water pollution during construc-
tion due to the operation of heavy construction equipment in the river and at
the park. Water pollution will be relatively light and will consist of sand and silt
generated at the dam site by heavy equipment. This will be kept to a minimum
by ponding directly below the dam site thus slowing the water velocity to allow
the solids to settle out. Accumulated solids will then be mechanically removed
and hauled away by truck.

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As a direct and indirect result of the flood, the fish population all but disap-
peared in the lower Big Thompson River. Counts of fish were made using
electro-fishing methods by the State of Colorado Division of Wildlife in October
1976; (1) below the bridge at the Fawn Hollow Motel; (2) at the site of the old
power plant; (3) 1.3 miles above where the Waltonia Motel had been; and (4)
200 feet above the Big Bend Motel. The results were disappointing and State
officials are concerned with rehabilitation of the stream. (Ref. 10). When this
project is completed it should enhance fish-life in the Big Thompson by creat-
ing an B5 acre feet reservoir which can be stocked as before. Residents of the
canyon say that the Loveland Dam Reservoir was "the best fishing in the

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