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

the twenty-five miles up the Canyon.

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3. The power plant size has been significantly reduced, it will be tucked into the south
bank of the park and the exposed facade will be faced with natural native stone to
blend with existing recreation buildings within the park.

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Steps are under way to correct these problems and to try to restore the Canyon to its
pre-flood condition. The river will be re-routed to its original location near Cedar Cove by
the U.S. Forest Service. River banks are being rip-rapped by use of Federal Assistance
Grants. The Colorado Division of Highways will re-construct Highway #34 to withstand
flows which would occur during a statistical 100 year flood. Private property owners
whose dwelling units were destroyed by the flood are in many cases re-building above the
100 year flood level. Private property within the 100 year floodway will be restricted
from the reconstruction of lost dwelling units, and hopefully property owners will be
compensated by the purchase of their land for recreation purposes if legislation now
pending before the U.S. Congress and the Colorado Legislature is passed.

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The City of Loveland and the Federal Disaster Assistance Administration, with assistance
from USB R and the Consultant team, are also vitally concerned with the restoration of
the Canyon. I n the replacement plans of the dam, pipeline and hydroelectric plant, care is
being taken to avoid any adverse impact and to improve on the pre-flood conditions
wherever possible.

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Accordingly, the following provisions are being incorporated in the design of the replace-
ment facilities:
1. There will be a specially designed sand trap incorporated into the construction of
the dam which will enable sand and silt emanating upstream to pass through the dam
at a natural rate of flow. This will reduce the accumulation of sand and silt in the
reservoir which previously necessitated flushing, causing water pollution downstream.

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2. Where the pipeline is visually exposed, it will be treated to blend with the rugged-
ness and texture of the Canyon.

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4. The dam will be re-constructed in exactly the same location as before to keep the
disturbance of the canyon to an absolute minimum.

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L. Known Views of Public Agencies and Private Citizens/Organizations in Project.
In the preparation ofthis report great care was taken to attempt to insure that all agencies

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