<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
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