PROJ00077

• Contract/PO #: FS0008X
• Contractor Name: Longmont, City of
• Contract Type: Loan
• Water District: 0
• County: Boulder
• Loan Projects - Doc Type: Feasibility Study

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(4) measurement of concrete pulse velocities; (5) drilling of three core
holes within the dam and foundation; and ,6) in-situ permeability testing.
IV. SITE CONDITIONS
Topography
The dam lies near tree-line at an elevation of approximately 11~000 feet
above sea level. The surrounding terrain is both steep and rugged and rock
crops out over most of the area. The channel of Ouzel Creek is steep and rec-
tangular shaped. Vegetation is sparse and is generally limited to mountain
tundra~ small shrubs and local wind-gnarled spruce.
Weather
Winds up to 70 mph were encountered during our investigation and 30 mph
winds were quite common. Snow did not melt off in shady areas until the end of
August. Temperatures during our investigation generally ranged from 30 to 750F.
Access
Access to the site is currently limited to hiking~ horseback, or heli-
copter. The trail up to the dam~ approximately seven miles long from the Wild
Basin Ranger Station, is narrow and rugged. Horses are prohibited (Park Policy)
from traveling the final 1/2 mile of the trail because it is extremely rugged.
Landing space for a helicopter is limited and a Lama helicopter is the
largest helicopter that can safely land near the dam. About 15% of the heli-
copter flights were aborted due to high winds during our investigation.
The City has access rights to the dam site and may legally have the
option to build a road to the site. Rocky Mountain Consultants reviewed this
option and found it to be environmentally and economically infeasible at
Bluebird.
Existing Structure
Bluebird Dam is a thin arch dam some 65 feet high at the maximum section
(including the key trench) and 138 feet long. A 59-foot long gravity section
forms the right abutment giving the dam a total length of 197 feet.
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