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.1 .~;:;''''-. '.f' .... \J (j il 'J\ \ :J RECEIVED FEB 0 8 1996 ~ \U: \~,\ L~i} U TRANSMOUNTAIN DIVERSION PROJECTS In Irrigation Division 5, there are 16 structures which are used to export water from the Colorado f!iver basin, including its tributaries, into the headwaters of the South Platte River basin (Irrigation Division 1) and the Arkansas River basin (Irrigation Division 2). Six of these structures divert significant quantities of water (in excess of 20,000 acre-feet per year) and are discussed in detail in other sections of this documentation. These large transmountain diversion projects include: Adams Tunnel Charles Boustead Tunnel Homestake Tunnel Independence Pass Tunnel No. 1 Moffat Tunnel Roberts Tunnel (Colorado - Big Thompson Project) Fryingpan - Arkansas Project) '(Homes take Project) (Twin Lakes Reservoir and Irrigation Co.) (Denver Water) (Denver Water) The remaining structures which export water from the Colorado River basin are discussed below. The Eureka Ditch (WOlD 5146021 is a small diversion structure which diverts water from the headwaters of Tonahutu Creek, a tributary of the North Fork of the Colorado River and delivers it into the headwaters of Spruce Creek, a tributary of the Big Thompson River (Irrigation Division 1). The water is typically diverted during the peak runoff months of May, June and July. Sporadic records of the transmountain diversions through this structure are available from the USGS (1974 through 1980) and the Division of Natural Resources (DNR) for the period 1981 through 1991. From these data, the average annual diversion is estimated to be about 20 acre-feet. The Grand River Ditch (WOlD 5146011 diverts from numerous tributary streams in the headwaters of the North Fork of the Colorado River and delivers the water over La Poudre Pass into Long Draw Creek, a tributary of the Cache la Poudre River (Irrigation Division 1). The structure and water rights are owned by the Water Supply and Storage Co. (WSSC) and the diversions have historically been used to supplement irrigation demands under the WSSC system. The ditch has a total decreed capacity of 524.6 cfs. The Grand River Ditch is generally opened up in the late spring, typically late Mayor early June, and the diverts until late September, when the flow tapers off. The flows are measured through a 10-foot Parshall Flume, equipped with radio telemetry, and reliable diversion records are available from the USGS and from the DNR. Long term average diversions are about 18,530 acre-feet per year. The Berthoud Pass Ditch (aka the Berthoud Canal Tunnell (WOlD 514625) diverts from the headwaters of the Fraser River and delivers it into the headwaters of the West Fork of Clear Creek (Irrigation Division 1). The water is used for municipal uses by the City of Golden (1/2) and the City of Northglenn (1/2). The Berthoud Pass Ditch typically diverts during the snowmelt runoff months of May, June and July and during the 1974 through 1991 study period, the diversions averaged about 600 acre-feet per year. Reasonably reliable records of the diversion were obtained from the USGS. The Continental-Hoosier Diversion System (WOlD 3646991 diverts water from several tributaries at the headwaters of the Blue River (near Hoosier Pass) and delivers it through the HoosierPass Tunnel into Montgomery Reservoir in the headwaters of the Middle Fork of the South Platte River (Irrigation Division 1). The collection and diversion facilities and the pertinent water rights are owned by the City of Colorado Springs which uses the diversions as a major source of 1 . ?-n7-q/_