Laserfiche WebLink
<br />a <br />a <br />i- <br />c.':l <br />C.:J <br />... <br /> <br />DESCRIPTION OF THE COLoRADO-BIG THOMPSON PROJECT <br /> <br />The Colorado-Big Thompson Project is one of the largest and most complex natural resource <br />developments undertaken bv the Bureau of Reclamation, It consists of over 100 structures integrated <br />into a trans-mountain water diversion system through which multiple benefits are provided. <br /> <br />The Project spreads over approximately 250 miles in the State of Colorado, It stores, regulates, and <br />diverts water from the Colorado River west of the Rocky Mountains, providing supplemental water <br />for irrigation of 720,000 acres of land east of the Rocky Mountains. It also provides water for <br />municipal use, industrial use, hydroelectric power, and water-oriented recreation. <br /> <br />Major features of the Project include dams, dikes, reservoirs, powerplants, pumping plants, pipelines, <br />tunnels, transmission lines, substations, and other associated structures (table I, exhibits I and 2), <br /> <br />Historically, the Project has diverted approximately 230,000 acre-feet of water annually (310,000 <br />acre-feet maximum) from the Colorado River headwaters on the western slope to the South Platte <br />River Basin on the eastern slope, for distribution to project lands and communities. The Northern <br />Colorado Water Conservancy District apportions the water used for irrigation to more than 120 <br />ditches and 60 reservoirs. Twenty-nine communities receive municipal and industrial water from the <br />Project. The Westem Division of the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program markets the electric power <br />produced at the six powerplants. <br /> <br />The western slope collection system captures runoff from the high mountains and stores. regulates. <br />and conveys the water to Adams Tunnel for diversion to the East Slope under the Continental Divide. <br /> <br />To ensure irrigation and power generation under prior rights on the Colorado River. Green Mountain <br />Reservoir was constructed on the Blue River. Spring runoff is stored in this reservoir and later <br />released to meet the requirements of the senior water rights holders downstream along the Colorado <br />River and to allow East Slope diversion of water by the Project throughout the year. <br /> <br />Pursuant to authorities in Senate Document 80, (which authorized the C-BT). and the 1984 Green <br />Mountain Operating Policy and the agreements in the September 1996 Stipulation and Agreement of <br />the Orchard Mesa Check Case settlement (Case No. 91CW247, Colorado Water Div, 5), the content <br />of the Historic Users Pool (HUP) in Green Mountain Reservoir is evaluated during the summer to <br />determine the availability of water surplus to historic beneficiaries needs, If it is determined that <br />surplus water is available, it may be delivered based upon need. first to the federal Grand Valley <br />powerplant and then to other uses based on a priority system or on specific agreements. <br /> <br />Irrigation systems on the Colorado River, above the Blue River confluence, were improved to enable <br />continued use of existing rights, Releases are made from Lake Granby to maintain the Colorado <br />River as a live fishing stream, <br /> <br />The C-BTs principal storage facilities on the West Slope are Lake Granby. Grand Lake, and Shadow <br />Mountain Reservoir located on the Colorado River near Granby, and Willow Creek Reservoir <br />located on Willow Creek, a tributary to the Colorado River below Lake Granby, Willow Creek <br />