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_.I~_ Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District East Slope Distribution System General Information Once water reaches the East Slope, it is used to generate elecUicity. The water falls almost 3,000 feet through four power plants on its way tll the thirsty front range. 111e elecUicity generated helps pay for a considerable portion of the C-BT Project costs. NCWCI) is a public agency created in 1937 under legislation known as the Conservancy District Act of Colorado. The DisUict's primary purpose is to provide water for agricultural, municipal, domestic and indusUial uses in northeastern Colorado. The DisUict encompasses almost 1.5 million acres in portions of Boulder, Larimer, Weld, Morgan, Logan, Washington and Sedgwick Counties. Total value of agricultural production within DisUict boundaries in 1996 was $357 million. The population within the DisUict boundaries is approximately 530,000. The Colorado-Big Thompson Project's East Slope Storage and DisUibution System makes possible the delivery of water to nearly 1.5 million acres within NCWCD boundaries. The water is collected on the West Slope of the Continental Divide and transported to the East Slope through the Alva B. Adams Thnnel. . Horsewolh Reservoir . Carter Lake . Boulder Reservoir Created as the local agency 10 contract with the United States for construction of the Colorado-Big Thompson Project, the NCWCD administers the delivery of 230,000 acre-feel of water annually to Colorado's northern front range. Water is stored in three primary front range reservoirs: The northern area of the District is served by releases Irom Horsetoolil Reservoir, while the southern sections are served by releases from Caner Lake and Boulder Reservoir. The primary function of the DisUict is the disUibution within its boundaJies of the supplemental water supply developed by the Colorado- Big Thompson Project. This function is supported aJnd financed by water assessments aJnd ad valorem taxes paid by water users and taxpayers in the District. For this reason, the Board of Directors feels an obligation and responsibility to cooperate with aJnd assist, where possible, all planning and operating agencies or groups seeking the best use of the water of the area. Because its boundaries encompass many local political boundaries and several natural geographic boundaries, the DisUict is, perhaps, in a uniquely favorable position to be of such assistance. Deliveries are then made to nearly 120 ditches and 60 reservoirs for agricultural, municipal, and indusUial water uses. The C-BT enables cities such as Ft. Collins, Boulder, Greeley, Longmont, and Loveland, and indusUies such as Kodak, IBM, Hewlen Packard, and Anheuser-Busch to have a reliable supply of water. As the major water distributor in the area, DisUicI operations will to some degree inlluence all water and related laJnd resource activities in its service area. Policies established by the Board of Directors have consistently been aimed at yielding maximum possible benefits to its water users through llexibil ity of operations and adaptability to changing needs. As future water distribution and use requirements change, District procedures can be adapted as necessary 10 meet those needs. Approximately 230,000 acre-feet of water are delivered annually through the C-BT system. An acre-lilot is roughly the amount of water lilal an average urhan family of five will require during one year. P.O. Box 679 Loveland, CO 80539 t:1:J\ PRINILII UN \:I R/",(;YCl.l::DPAPER