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The paramount concern of the District will continue to be the annual fulfillment of its obligations as defined by statute and by contract commitments with its water users and the United States. However, within the limits of these defined obligations and available staff time, the District stands ready to help local planners and administrators meet the challenge of future growth in an environmentally sensitive manner, Colorado-Big Thompson Project The Colorado-Big Thompson (C-BT) Project is the largest transmountain diversion project in the state. Built from 1'138 to 1'157, the C-BT provides supplemental water to 29 cities and towns, over HXJ ditch and reservoir companies, and 620,000 acres of irrigated farmland in nonheastern Colorado. The complex collection, distribution, and power system consists of 12 reservoirs, 35 miles of tunnels, 95 miles of canals, 7(K) miles of transmission lines and spans 150 miles east to west and 65 miles from north to south, The Project system is designed to collect and deliver up to 31O,OlX) acre- feet of water annually from the upper reaches of the Colorado River Basin west of the Continental Divide. It transpons this water via a 13-mile tunnel through the mountains 10 the 1.5 million acre service area. '-l" ("" '-l" (",J C = Once water reaches the East Slope. II is used to generate electricity as it falls almost half a mile through four power plants on its way to the thirsty tront range. The electricity generated helps pay for a considerahle ponion of Project costs. Water is stored in three terminal fronl range storage reservoirs and then released to farmers, cities and industry as requested during the water running season fwm April Ihrough Octoher. West Slope Collection System The Colorado-Big Thompson Project's West Slope Collection System consists of five reservoirs and two pump plants, Principal features are: . Lake Granby . Farr Pumping Plant and Granby Canal . Willow Creek Reservoir and Pumping Plant . Shadow Mountain Reservoir . Green Mountain Reservoir . Grand Lake The system traps runoff from the high mountains and stores the water for diversion to the East Slope. r Waters of the upper Colorado River are stored in Lake Granby, accumulating mainly during the snowmelt season. Water is also collected and pumped from Willow Creek Reservoir up into Lake Granby. From there it is pumped up into Shadow Mountain Reservoir, flows into Grand Lake, then continues to the East Slope through the Alva B. Adams Tunnel. Green Mountain Reservoir was constructed on the Blue River to meet water requirements of downstream users on the Colorado River. In addition, irrigation systems below the project on the Colorado River were improved to enahle continued use of existing water rights. Minimum streamflows on the Colorado River, below Lake Granhy, were agreed to in 1'161 and continue to provide flows adequate to maintain excellent trout fishing in that stretch of the river, The West Slope Collection System has provided many economic henefils 10 western Colorado relating to recreation and tourism. The scenic heauty of the lakes created hy Ihe C-BT has provided a vital hoostlo lourism and recreation in the head-waters region.