Laserfiche WebLink
<br />COLORADO-BIG THOMPSON PROJECf <br /> <br />General Description <br /> <br />As early as 1889, engineering surveys were started in an <br />attempt to overcome the limitations imposed by that geographical <br />barrier--the Continental Divide--on any plan to divert Burplus <br />waters from the headwaters of the Colorado River on the' Western <br />'Slope to northeastern Colorado lands. The Colorado-Big Thompson <br />'P'roject is an outgrowth of those early investigations and makes <br />possible the collection and storage of surplus'waters from Colorado <br />River drainage in the vicinity of Granby and Grand Lake and the <br />diversion of these waters through the Continental Divide via the <br />Alva B. Adams Tunnel to the Eastern Slope of Colorado for irriga- <br />tion, municipal, and power uses. The component features of the <br />comprehensive project plan are shown on the map included as the <br />last page of this summary. Yany of the features shOlm on this map, <br />especially those on the Western Slope, ,have been completed or are <br />nearing completion, Such is the case of the ,Green Mountain Dam <br />and.Power Plant, 'which was completed in May of 1943. Energy gen- <br />erated by this plant averages 68 'million kilowatt-hours annually, <br /> <br />The primary purpose 'of the Colorado-Big Thompson Project is <br />to provide a ,supplemental water supply for approximately 700;000 <br />acres of irrigable land in northeastern Colorado where 'agricultural <br />production is limited because of inadequate water for irrigation. <br />Diversion of an, estimated average quantity of 257,700 acre-feet <br />annually from the headwaters of the, Colorado River to these cul ti- <br />vated lands will assure a dependable water supply, more abundant <br />cropB, increased income, and greater economic stability through the <br />reduction of drought hazards; yet such diversions, because of re- <br />placement storage provided by Green Mountain Reservoir'on the Blue <br />RiveJ;', wi~). ,nqt,emcroach upon the present or fu,ture reqo.:I,rements <br />of Westem, Slope lands' in ColOrado. The:municipal watEir~,supply of <br />several t;owils ':&i:northern Colorado will ,'6e .supp:temented.::through uss <br />of 'th~.'i1npO:r.~~dwatsr. ,Advantage, is being_taken of t~9,.C?Pportunity <br />to deve~o.p~1i~djcEletectric power from'the 'po~er'{i!lad created by the <br />divers~o.n'a'f"waj;.er from the Western Slope', ,Development of project- <br />-..... - .' {'. .'.. <br />created,'.:r;!ecreation'al resources in .accordance with National Park <br />Serviae.piajls.,ti.'1i enlarge existing facilities' for boa~ing, fishing, <br />camping" piCnicking, and swimming.,' ' <br /> <br />The Colorado-Big Thompson Project was authorized in the <br />Interior Dep~rt~ent Appropriation 'Ap~' of August 9, 1937, (50 Stat. <br />595).. T~~ ,pJ."ojectplan is set forth'.:1.!1.,S,!natel DO=E!I1~ 80, 75th <br />Congress. "A finding of feasibility' was approved by the President <br />on December 21, 1937. In this same year, the water users in the <br />area to be served by the project organized the Northern Colorado <br />Water Conservancy District, On July 5, 1938, a contraqt was exe- <br />cuted between this Conservancy District and the Government which <br />provides for use of water by the District, provides for repayment <br /> <br />3 <br />