WSP01021

• File Number: 8441
• Description: Colorado Big Thompson Project
• Basin: South Platte
• Water Division: 1
• Date: 1/1/1987
• Title: Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District Waternews
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

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compared ro $478 million in 19.3 and
$603 million in 1952. The hannftJl effects
from drought and potential ecoriomic
disaster were, therefore, lessenedQyC~BT
Project deliveries.

1976-1977 .
Most recently, drought visit~d
northeastern Colorado during 19f6-1977.
Precipitation during the winter 0
1976-1977 was only 48% of nonna on the
West Slope where the C-BT Project
collects most of its water, and 65% of
normal on the East Slope. The 1971 spring
runoff was only 50% of normal, wit~ many
streams and creeks drying up completely
later in the summer. '
'Summer precipitation was not ~nough
to make up the tremendous deficit, ~nd by
August many reservoirs were bonel.dry.
Active storage in C~BT West Slotie
reservoirs at the end of the 19.77 wat~r year
was only 146,252 acre~feet of wate'r
compared to an average 341, 525 acr~~feet.
East Slope storage in the spring of 11978
was a meager 15,506 acre~feet. Bocp were
all-time lows for the C-BT Project., The
resule was a cotal deficit of 253,800
acre~feet of water within District
boundaries.
Colorado's economy shared the effects
of this drought. The skiing industry;
experienced a horrible winter in 19761 The
lack of snow meant fewer skiers. T~e
industry sold 2,3 million fewer ticke~s
resulting in a $78 million loss. The skiing
industry's troubles were a prelude to
upcoming shortages in northeastern ;
Colorado's water supplies. Municipal.
supplies suffered, forcing many cities!to
institute restrictive water use practic4s,
such as restricting on lawn watering. Many
also began to plan seriously for additl,onaI
storage. ,
Agriculture was hit hard, and it coiIld
have been worse except for the I
supplemental water supplies from irriga~ion
projects,

.... Horsetooth Reservoir during the 1954
drought. On north dam looking south.

..., Horsetooth Reservoir during the 1976 drought.

To assist agriculture through this
difficult period the C~ BT Project delivered
309.476 acre-feer of water during 1977.
This was only the third year in C':' BT
Project history that rhe near capacity
300, 000 acre~feet water delivery mark had
been reached.

Droughts Will Come Again
Drought is a natural, yet
unpredictable occurrence in Colorado
which can have severe consequences.
Droughts can last for just a year or two, or
up to a decade or more. Since the gold
rush, the average drought has lasted 2 to
3 years.
Coloradans must continue planning
for future dry periods by providing
sufficient storage so water can be captured
in wet years for use in dry years. It is an
historical fact that droughts will occur. The
C~BT Project has proven its value over
time by helping to alleviate the hannful
effects of drought, and it will continue to
provide security for the future.

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