DWR_4535774

• Board or Commission: Colorado Ground Water Commission
• Document Type - Board and Commission Meetings: Meeting Document
• Document Date: 8/15/2025
• Subject: Meeting Minutes

Ground Water Commission Meeting Minutes Page 2
August 14 Ft 15, 2025
beauty of the area. The tour proceeded through the various levels of the plant, where
electronic controllers, pumps, piping networks, machining tools, heavy lift overhead
cranes, and other equipment was observed. Mr. Longaker explained that Unit 2 of the
plant is currently under maintenance and is offline. The rotor has been pulled via
crane, and the plant is working on repairing a broken runner. Commission Staff was
able to have the rare opportunity of observing the open stator and rotor assemblies
that are usually not visible during normal operations. The estimated cost of
maintenance needed to repair Unit 2 is $20M. Most of the large-scale maintenance
items at the plant are contracted through the Tennessee Valley Authority, while
smaller items are handled by plant employees. Mr. Longaker described a fire in 2000
that burned a plant transformer and caused minor damage to the plant. The site visit
at the Mt. Elbert Power Plant was concluded with a summary presentation from Ms.
Perea. As part of the summary, Ms. Perea provided an overview of the history and
importance of the Fry-Ark project to municipal suppliers and irrigators in the Arkansas
Basin. Ms. Perea described the roles and responsibilities between USBR, Western Area
Power Administration, Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District, Forest
Service, and Colorado Department of Natural Resources. Ms. Perea concluded her
presentation with an overview of the Arkansas Valley Conduit project that began
construction in 2023, and is slated to provide water to up to 50,000 people in
Southeastern Colorado. The project was authorized during the original Fry-Ark
construction, but only recently funded.
The tour then moved to the Mt. Elbert Forebay, which sits approximately 450 feet in
elevation above the power plant. Mr. Woodka explained that the forebay can store
approximately 11,500 acre-feet of water to supply the Mt. Elbert Power Plant. The
forebay is drawn down and refilled by approximately 30 feet every day as part of the
power generation and pumping cycles of the plant. Deadpool levels occur if the
forebay is drawn down by more than 57 feet from the maximum top of storage. Mr.
Woodka explained that the Mt. Elbert Power Plant forebay is unique, since the power
generation and pumping cycles of the plant don't require a continuous natural water
flow to drive the turbines. The earthen dam for the forebay also has a membrane
liner, which was innovative at the time of construction, to prevent seepage.
The tour then moved to Turquoise Lake on the way to the Boustead Tunnel. Mr.
Woodka explained that Turquoise Lake is the second largest reservoir in the Fry-Ark
system of reservoirs with a capacity of almost 130,000 acre-feet. The primary purpose
for Turquoise Lake is storage of water channeled from the east side of the divide.
Average diversions from the east side to the west side of the divide into Turquoise
Lake are approximately 54,000 acre-feet per year. Turquoise Lake has also become a
popular recreation destination for camping, fishing, boating, kayaking, and
paddleboarding.
The tour concluded at the Boustead Tunnel, where water transits approximately 5
miles from the collection points in the Fryingpan basin to Turquoise Lake. After
transiting the tunnel, water spills into a concrete channel that acts as a hydraulic