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Last modified
1/26/2010 12:29:40 PM
Creation date
10/11/2006 10:14:41 PM
Metadata
Fields
Template:
Water Supply Protection
File Number
8027
Description
Section D General Correspondence-Federal Agencies
State
CO
Basin
Statewide
Date
7/1/1952
Author
Unknown
Title
The Golden Jubilee of Reclamation
Water Supply Pro - Doc Type
Report/Study
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<br />1 <br /> <br />J <br /> <br /> <br />HOIl:SETOOTH ~ESEIl;VOIIl: <br /> <br />the Granby Pump Canal leading northward \0 <br />Shadow Mountain Lake. thus reversmg its natural <br />!low; the Horseloolh Reservoir. formed by not one <br />but a series 01 four major dams and a dike; and, <br />most outstanding of all, the 13.I-mile Alva B. Adorns <br />Tunnel. bored 3,.4 of a mile beneath the crest of the <br />Continental Divide to carry needed waters through <br />the mighty Rockies lor further utilization and beneht. <br />The idea of lronsmounloin diversion of surplus <br />waters has been in existence since the 1880's. Early <br />settlers of the rich. irrlqable farmlands in the South <br />Plalte River Valley 01 northeastern Colorado were <br />plaquoo with water shortages. Their attempts 10 <br />belief the Situation WIth primitive irrigation ditches <br />brouqht little relief. The firs! decree lor lransmoun- <br />lain diversion 01 water was granted m 1882. and a <br />canal with a capacity of 10 second. feel (furnishing at <br />the very most 7300 acre leet 01 supplementol water <br />a year in contrast to the nearly 300,00Cl acre feet <br />annually available through the Colorado.BiQ Thomp. <br />son Project) carried water Irem Michigan Creek, a <br />tributary of the North Platte River, to the Cache la <br />Poudre River. Several other small scole trans- <br />mountain diversions were developed and as the <br />value of this imported water became evident, visions <br />of larger proiects began to take form. <br />In 1889, Colorado leqislators appropriated $25.lXIO <br />lor a survey to investigate the feaSibility of trans. <br />mountain diversion of surplus waters on a larger <br />scale, and from that lIme on, numerous attempts were <br />made to develop a practicable plan. These were m- <br />variably dIscarded os "impractical:' "impossible:' <br />"too visionary." <br />Northern Colorado irrigators hard hit by the <br />drought of 1933. joIned lorces with renewed fervor <br />in an attempt to mouse interest and bring about <br />action for th.& alleviation 01 thelr drastic shorlC1'le of <br />ilrigattcn water. In August of 1933 a preliminary <br />survey was authorized to study the possibilities of <br />diverting water from Grand Lake to the Eastern <br />Slope. The conclusions reached Irom this study were <br />favorable a:\d in August. 1935. thE' Bureau of Recla- <br />mation was allonii>d $150.000 ot Public Works Ad. <br />:ninistra:lor: funds 10 conduct a complete survey of <br />!he proP05ed project. As a resull. the Colorado-Big <br />Tho:npson Project was authori::ed by Congress 10 <br />Augus:, 1937 approved by the Presid~nt In Decem- <br />oor. and on November 30. 1935, ccnstruction work <br />s:::::n:ed. <br />The end to be achieved. by the Colorado-Big <br />Thompsen Projoct :s almost tOO stcrtling to compre- <br />hend. Upon complenon of :he pOlecl. farmlands in <br />,...,_ c. \:~I1<>.. ...,1 "''''lh.,.,<:.'Arn l-ale>- <br /> <br />002r,J~ <br /> <br />rado WIll receive benefits In the form of additional <br />irrigation waler, traceable to the diversion 01 waters <br />from the upper reaches of the Colorado River, over <br />250 miles away and separated by the towering <br />14.ooo-I,:IOt peaks of the Continental Divide. <br />Through a series of over 100 separate enqineer. <br />109 leatures which comprise this combination Irriga- <br />tion and power syslem, .....aters gathered on the <br />Western Slope pass under the Contmental Divide <br />through the Alva B. Adams Tunnel and ore diverted <br />eastward. Cascading down the tugged tarram, <br />across canyons, under ridges. by means 01 on inltl. <br />cote pattern 01 tunnels, canals, penstocks. power <br />plants, reservoirs, and pumping plants. these waters <br />lollow a directed course designed to obtain lullesl <br />uliHzation all along the way, The benefits derived <br />include qeneratmq low cost electric power lor mu. <br />nici~lities, industries, and cooperatives; supple- <br />mentmg the irrigation water supply for ove~ 700,000 <br />acres of irrigable farmlands extending from the <br />Rockies to the easternmost border of the Slale; and <br />enhancing the recreational lacIHties 01 the area <br />through cooperation with the National Parle Servire. <br />the fish and Wildlife Service. and various State <br />conservation agencies. <br />The complete story 01 the Colorado-Big Thompson <br />Project is told elsewhere in this booklet, but the to1. <br />lowing Iocts and figures are a signdlcant part 01 the <br />story 01 the Reclamation Ere and bear mentioning <br />here: The Colorado-Big Thompson Project is com. <br />pnsed of 13 re-servoirs and regulatmg basins. 23 <br />earth and rocklill dams and dikes. 6 power plants, <br />3 maior pumping plants. 24 tunnels. 11 canals, ]6 <br />maior siphons, 8 penstocks. 785 circuit miles of trans- <br />mission lines, and 36 substations and swltchyards. <br />Compl€'hon 01 01\ essenhal construction is scheduled <br />for 1955. The total esHmated cost of the proiect is <br />$164 mHlion. Repayment ollhe irrigation investment <br />Is to be accomplished in 40 years; the sp.eclfic cost <br />allocated to power must be repaid within 50 years <br />wilh mterest 01 3 percent. The total tanQible irriga- <br />tion benefits tesulting !rom the Colorado-Big Thomp. <br />son Proiect are calculated to be over $9 million an- <br />nually. in addition to over $6 million annual power <br />benelits and many intangible benefits arising as 0 <br />direct result of the Improved irrigation, increased <br />power. and additional recreational facilities. <br />One of the most complex and spectacular proiects <br />ever undenaken by the Buraau. the Colorado-Big <br />Thompson Project tooay slands as 0 permanent <br />monument to the hfly years of achievement and <br />progress accomplished In the Reclamation West. <br /> <br />GUERNSEY DAM AND RESERVOIR <br /> <br />
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