(Above) History is made: the Fry-Ark project is 50 years old! Click the photo to see the commemorative film!

(Above) Time to celebrate! In August, the Colorado-Big Thompson Project turned 75 years old!

Area Manager:
Mike Collins

Time to celebrate! August 2012 marks a historical time for both the Fryingpan-Arkansas and the Colorado-Big Thompson water projects (both overseen by our office). The Fry-Ark is now officially 50 years old and the C-BT turned 75!

Equally exciting are two new commemorative films by Reclamation summarizing the proud legacy of each project. The Fryingpan-Arkansas Project film, Fifty Years of Golden Benefits will be premiered at the free event on August 18. The C-BT's film, The Peoples' Project, will be out later this year.

Reclamation is also pleased to announce the availability of the draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Arkansas Valley Conduit and Long Term Excess Capacity Master Contract. The Draft EIS and related documents can be viewed on the AVCEIS website.

Grand Lake Water Clarity Update

Reclamation announces the Final Colorado Big-Thompson West Slope Collection System Preliminary Alternatives Development Report.

“The Department of the Interior is prioritizing efforts to improve water quality conditions in Grand Lake” said Assistant Secretary for Water and Science Anne Castle.  “The Bureau of Reclamation, Interior’s water management agency, is committed to protecting the aesthetic values of Grand Lake and maintaining a secure water supply for its customers.  We recognize the problem and are working hard with state and local leaders to understand the causes and find appropriate solutions.”

Water Update

Meanwhile, the drought continues across Colorado. Reservoir water levels are beginning to drop more quickly as we move into what is typically the hottest and driest time of year.

Green Mountain Reservoir is helping in the response to dry conditions across Western Colorado. During August, releases bounced between 350-450 cubic feet per second. Water operators across the Upper Colorado River Basin continue to work together to best balance demands for water up and down the Colorado River. Visitors to Green Mountain should expect to see the reservoir continue its gradual water elevation decline and fluctuating flows on the Blue River below the dam.

Releases for Granby, Shadow Mountain and Willow Creek reservoirs continue near the minimum amounts, averaging about 40 cfs from Shadow Mountain Dam down the Colorado River to Granby Reservoir and around 54 cfs from Granby at the Y gage.

To learn more about water operations on the the Fry-Ark project, please visit the Pueblo Reservoir and Ruedi Reservoir pages.

To receive e-mail notifications for any of these reservoirs and the projects to which they are related, please contact Kara Lamb.

Stream Data and Helpful Links

• USGS WaterWatch: real time stream flow data around Colorado
• Colorado Division of Water Resources: Colorado's Surface Water Conditions
• Mountain Buzz: A quick link to Colorado stream flows courtesy of American Whitewater
• Forest Service sites near Reclamation facilities: Many Reclamation reservoir recreation areas are managed by the Forest Service.

• CAST for Kids Foundation
• Contact ECAO's Public Involvement Specialist
• More Public Involvement Links...

• Hunting & Fishing Regulations (Colorado Division of Wildlife)
• Hunting & Fishing Regulations by State
• Boat Launching Facilities
• Recreation Sites in Colorado
• Concessions Management Information