Hi all,
Just an update on Colorado-Big Thompson Project operations for the Big Thompson River and Pinewood Reservoir:
Tonight, June 11, after midnight, we will bump releases from Olympus Dam on Lake Estes up to 365 cubic feet per second. The increase will be made in several steps of 100 cfs each. As a result, by Tuesday morning, June 12, flows in the river at the top of the canyon should be around 365 cfs. We have had some downstream demands come on and folks need their C-BT water.
Meanwhile, we will also be closing the tunnel that takes water from Lake Estes into the southern power arm of the C-BT project. They will be conducting an inspection. With the tunnel down, Pinewood Reservoir will not have inflow. It will drop, probably about 10 or 12 feet, to a water level elevation around 6565 by Friday morning. It is currently at an elevation of about 6577--three feet from full.
Work should wrap up and the water level start rising again by the weekend.
As always, please let me know if you have any questions.
Best,
Kara
Kara Lamb
Public Information Officer
Bureau of Reclamation
Eastern Colorado Area Office
(970) 962-4326
