WSP06513

• File Number: 8449.912
• Description: South Platte Projects - Two Forks
• State: CO
• Basin: South Platte
• Date: 2/1/1966
• Author: USDOI/BOR
• Title: Status Report on Two Forks Dam and Reservoir
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

and industrial water supply feature. (5) The City of Denver and/or a
metropolitan district could be responsible for the operation of Hudson
Reservoir, including the disposition of water in accordance with operating
agreements. Such disposition could include pump-back and reuse of the
water in the metropolitan area and/or water for irrigation use. Although
not evaluated in this report, water not re~uired for reuse in the metro-
politan area could be used beneficially for irrigation. (6) Except for
the specific potential Federal facilities, the various municipalities or
a metropolitan district would be responsible for the construction and
operation of all other works and systems necessary for the implementation
of the plan of development.

HYDROLOGIC CONSIDERATIONS

The Two Forks Reservoir would store all flCJlls in the river. Such flows
would include natural runoff, flood flows, regulated water released from
upstream reservoirs, and importations into the basin above the reservoir.
Releases from the Two Forks Reservoir would be routed through a hydroelec-
tric powerplant and discharged into the Turkshead Reservoir which would
also serve as an af'terby for the Two Forks powerplant and as a forebay for
the Turkshead powerplant. A high outlet would be provided either in the
dam or from the reservoir to deliver water to treatment plants for
Aurora and high service areas south of Denver. Releases through the
powerplant would flow down the South Platte River for diversion by the
City of Denver and other municipalities.

The large sewage treatment plant now being constructed should be completed
by 1966. Most of the sewage derived from increased importations will be
treated at this plant. Some sewage will be treated at Aurora I s plant
which is favorably located for diversion to the Hudson Reservoir. The
plan contemplates construction of a 25-mile canal and conduit which would
transport the effluent from the treatment plant to the potential Hudson
Reservoir. Provision would be made for releases enroute to Barr Lake and
for the Denver-Hudson Canal. The Hudson Reservoir would store the treated
water and make it available for reuse or disposition by its owners. The
Federal plan does not encompass a specific proposal for disposition of
water to be stored in the Hudson Reservoir. It could be pumped back to
the metropolitan area for reuse. It could also be used for irrigation.
In any event, part of the water would be released to meet irrigation
priorities in exchange for an e~uivalent supply to be held back upstream
and used for municipal and industrial purposes. Preliminary plans for
the Hudson complex include an outlet canal to provide service to the
Hudson Canal and to deliver annually about 57,000 acre-feet of exchange
water to the South Platte River.

POPULATION PROJECTIONS

The population of the Denver metropolitan area has grown rapidly in
recent years--from 432,000 persons in 1940 to 864,000 persons in 1960.

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