WSP04018

• File Number: 8141
• Description: Fryingpan-Arkansas Project
• State: CO
• Basin: Arkansas
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 8/16/1962
• Author: SEWCD
• Title: Brochure No. 5 - The Fryingpan-Arkansas Water Project And Its Structure
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

RUEDI DAM

Collection System and Divide Tunnel

The Project collection system is located on the
Western Slope of the Continental Divide and collects
water from tributaries of the Roaring Fork River at
an altitude of approximately 10,000 feet.

The collection system consists of three main
ports, the North Side System, the South Side System,
and the Divide Tunnel, all integrated to divert an
average of 69,200 acre-feet of water per year from
the West to the East Slope of the Continental Divide.
The South Side System will divert water from the
headwaters of Hunter Creek and tributaries of the
Fryingpan River through B.3 miles of conduits and 9.4
miles of tunnels to the central collection point at the
West Portal of the Divide "Tunnel. The North Side
System diverts water from other tributary headwaters
of the Fryingpan River through a system of 4.1 miles
of conduit and 7.2 miles of tunnels to the West Portal
of the Divide Tunnel. The third main feature of ,he
collection system and backbone of the Project is the
5.3 mile long Divide Tunnel. The tunnel's function
is to convey the water col/ected in the North and
South Systems to the East Slope of the Continental
Divide. The Divide Tunnel will be 10.5 feet in diam-
eter after"concrete lining, and will have a carrying
capacity of 945 cubic feet per second. It is expected
this Tunnel will be completed in time for delivery of
Project water in 1969.

Major East Slope Features

Turquoise Lake and Sugar Loaf Dam

The lake is located five miles west of leadville,
Colorado. Its present capacity of 17,371 acre-feet

9

30 000 . 1 800 surface
will be increased to 1, covenng, .
Th" '11 be accomplished by constructing 0
acres. IS WI h .. dam
135 foot high earthfill dam below t e eXisting d..
h d t t d in 1965, on IS
Construction of t e om was s or e . h
scheduled for completion in early 1968 to rS~elve t ~
first Proiect waters diverted from the West ope co-
lection system.

Elbert Canal
The Elbert Canal, 14.5 miles in length, v.:i1.1 have
a capacity of 500 cubic-feet per seco~d, suffl~lent ~o
corry diversions from the Arkansas River ~urlntg t e
spring and early summer runoff season an .to l,okns.
f T . lake to TWin a es.
fer Project water rom urquolse

Twin lakes and Twin lakes Dam
Twin lakes is located 20 miles nort~west of
Buena Vista, Colorado. Its capacity :,ill be Increa~~~
t 166 000 acre.feet by constructing on eart
dOom 70 feet high. The reservoir will store and regu-
late wo\er imported by tne Twin lakes Company,
flows of lake Creek, and water discharged from the
Elbert Powerplant.

Otero Canal

The Otero Canal, 5.7 miles in lengt~ wit~ a
capacity of 725 cubic feet per second, will d.ehver
water from Twin lakes to Clear Creek ReserVOir.

Clear Creek Reservoir
Clear Creek Reservoir with an existing
of 11,440 acre-feet is located on Clear Cre~k
north of Buena Vista, Colorado and will
Project flows to the Arkansas River.

capacity
14 miles
regulate

,

SUGAR LOAF DAM AND STIlliNG BASIN

10