Overview
Choke Canyon Dam is founded entirely on Catahoula Formation except for the deeper excavations which encountered the uppermost portion of the underlying Frio Formation. The Frio Formation was encountered in the excavations for the spillway stilling basin and in the area extending from Charley York Creek to the outlet work's stilling basin.
Overview
The Animas-La Plata Project located in La Plata and Montezuma Counties in southwestern Colorado and in San Juan County in northwestern New Mexico, was authorized by the Colorado River Basin Project Act of September 30, 1968 (Public Law 84-485).In 1988, it was incorporated into the Colorado Ute Indian Water Rights Settlement Act. The Colorado Ute Settlement Act Amendments of 2000 provide for implementation and completion of the project. Approval to begin construction was granted in October 2001 and initial site work began in April 2002.
Lake Nighthorse began filling on May 4, 2009, and filled for the first time on June 29, 2011. The maximum water surface elevation of 6,882 feet equates to 123,541 acre-feet in storage. The Colorado project features were transferred from construction status to operation and maintenance status in March 2013. Work on completion of the transfer stipulations is continuing. An operation and maintenance contract has been signed with the Animas-La Plata Operations, Maintenance and Replacement Association that allows project sponsors to operate Colorado project features.
General
No text for this section
History
No text for this section
Construction
The Bureau of Reclamation is contracting with Weeminuche Construction Authority, a Ute Mountain Ute Tribe construction company for surveying and construction of the Lake Nighthorse boat inspection and decontamination station. Construction began August 22, 2016, the station will be located off County Road 210 at the entrance of the Lake Nighthorse recreation area. The purpose of the station is to prevent aquatic invasive species from being introduced into Lake Nighthorse.
After construction is completed in fall 2016, the area will remain closed to all public access. This is necessary until a recreation management entity is identified and appropriate recreation facilities are built to provide for public safety and protect resources from damage due to uncontrolled use.
- The La Plata West Water Authority will be starting construction this fall on a 4.6 mile long water pipeline from Lake Nighthorse to Lake Durango. The purpose of the water pipeline is to meet the current and future needs for domestic water supply in western La Plata County. For more information about the project visit: www.lpwwa.org.
Plan
No text for this section
Other
No text for this section
General
| Project | Nueces River |
| Longitude | -98.2458 |
| Latitude | 28.3125 |
| Watercourse | Frio River |
| Reservoir | Choke Canyon |
| Original Construction | 1981-1982 |
| National ID Number | TX04415 |
Dimensions
| Crest Elevation | 241.14 ft |
| Structural Height | 141.96 ft |
| Hydraulic Height (Normal Operating Depth at Dam) | 132.38 ft |
| Crest Length | 18471.00 ft |
| Top of Active Conservation Pool (Elevation) | 220.50 ft |
| Top of Inactive Conservation Pool (Elevation) | 150.50 ft |
| Spillway Crest Elevation | 182.43 ft |
| Streambed at Dam Axis | 127.0 ft |
| Top of Dead Storage Pool (Elevation) | 136.38 ft |
Hydraulics & Hydrology
| Spillway Capacity at Elevation | 257444 cfs at 232.2 ft |
| Outlet Works Capacity at Elevation | 541.60 cfs at 212.31 ft |
| Drainage Area | 15427 sq mi |
| Hydrometeorological Report (HMR) | HMR 51 & 52 |
| Normal Water Surface Elevation | 220.5 ft |
| Auxiliary Spillway | No |
Contact
