Colorado: Dillon Reservoir may come close to filling this year

Posted on May 17, 2013 by Bob Berwyn

Wet spring brightens water picture

Will Dillon Reservoir fill this summer? Bob Berwyn photo.

Will Dillon Reservoir refill this summer? Bob Berwyn photo.

By Bob Berwyn

FRISCO — With the Roberts Tunnel turned off and Summit County’s streams starting to surge with runoff, the water level in Dillon Reservoir has already come up about two feet since May 1, according to Denver Water’s Bob Peters, who recently issued the latest update for Denver Water’s storage and diversion system.

The Roberts Tunnel is used to shunt water from the Upper Blue Basin beneath the Continental Divide and into the South Platte Basin, where it can be stored in other reservoirs until its needed for municipal use in Denver Water’s service area.

With average precipitation the next few weeks, Denver Water anticipates that Dillon Reservoir will peak at an elevation of about 9,010 feet sometime in July. That’s about seven feet below a complete fill, equal to about 235,000 acre feet. If wet weather continues through May, the reservoir could fill completely in July, rising to 9,017 feet, equal to about 257,000 acre feet. (more…)

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Colorado drought expected to persist through spring

Posted on March 27, 2013 by Bob Berwyn
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Drought persists across all of Colorado.

Reservoir storage reaching historic low levels

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Heading into April, Colorado water managers say snowfall the next few weeks would have to be more than twice or normal for the snowpack to reach the average peak snowpack, which typically happens April 8.

A big swath of the high country, including Summit and Eagle counties, is still classified as being in extreme drought.

After spending the last few months hoping for more snow, water providers now say they are preparing for continued drought conditions in spring and summer. Some towns have already announced strict outdoor watering restrictions staring early in spring. More information on watering restrictions is online at  www.COH2O.co. (more…)

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Colorado: Roberts Tunnel turns 50 this year

Posted on September 2, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

23.3-mile aqueduct the key to Front Range development

On February 24, 1960, Roberts Tunnel construction crews from east and west “hole through” and meet. View is from the grant heading toward the east portal. Photo courtesy Denver Water.

By Bob Berwyn

SUMMIT COUNTY — As much as we here in the high country like to grumble about “our” water going to the Front Range, the diversions are one of those facts of life that isn’t going to change anytime soon.

And while Dillon Reservoir is the visible symbol of that reality, that water wouldn’t be going anywhere without the Harold D. Roberts Tunnel, a 23.3-mile aqueduct that carries the water under the Continental Divide, as deep as 4,500 feet below the spine of the continent.

In Park County, the water empties into the South Platte River, feeding the Front Range Reservoirs that have enabled Denver to grow into a thriving metropolis at the cusp of the Great Plains and Rocky Mountains. Water diverted from the Blue River Basin in Summit County provides nearly 40 percent of Denver Water’s supply. (more…)

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Colorado: Dillon Reservoir dropping fast

Posted on August 29, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Water level still 20 feet higher than during 2002-2003 drought

Even at a low level, Dillon Reservoir still shines at sunrise.

Dillon Reservoir’s water level has dropped to its lowest level since 2007.

By Bob Berwyn

SUMMIT COUNTY — Dillon Reservoir has dropped to its lowest level in about seven years — since May, 2007, when the elevation of the lake surface was at 9,002.21 feet and rising.

The current elevation of the reservoir (9,002.53) feet, is 15 feet below full and about 10 feet below the average elevation for this date, which is about 9,012 feet

Most recently, the reservoir dropped to near the current level in spring of 2009, when it hit 9006.72 just before the start of the runoff season in mid-March.

The current level may seem low, but the water dropped more than 40 feet lower in 2003 during Colorado’s last significant drought, reaching its lowest point on March 18, 2003, at 8,960.86 feet.

The reservoir will continue to drop the next few months, said Bob Steger, Denver Water’s manager of raw water supply, explaining that the combined current outflow through the Roberts Tunnel and the Blue River far exceeds the inflow of the streams that feed the reservoir. (more…)

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Colorado: Denver Water declares Stage 1 drought

Posted on April 25, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Low runoff expected in key watersheds

Dillon Reservoir storage is in good shape for now, but Denver Water sees risks from continued dry weather.

A Denver Water resolution declaring a Stage 1 drought. Twitpic courtesy Drew Beckwith, Western Resource Advocates.

By Bob Berwyn

SUMMIT COUNTY — The Denver Board of Water Commissioners is declaring a Stage 1 drought in recognition of low streamflows and projected low runoff. Anticipating the possibility of continued dry water, customers will be asked to voluntarily cut back on water use by 10 percent.

“Our intents is to maintain our system reserves in as good a shape as possible in case we are entering the first in a series of dry years,” the board wrote in its April 25 resolution. More details on Denver Water’s operating rules on irrigation and other uses are online here.

The document acknowledges that a record-low spring snowpack will result in well-below normal runoff, and the long-term weather outlook isn’t offering much relief at this point. (more…)

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Climate: South Platte flows could drop by 40 percent

Posted on March 12, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

New Colorado study examines potential impacts to water supplies

New climate report highlights dire impacts to Colorado's river flows.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY —A new study by the Water Research Foundation projects potential climate change impacts to Front Range water supplies for the next few decades, showing that the total amount of water in several key river basins could decline significantly if temperatures continue to rise.

The Rocky Mountain Climate Organization  highlighted the report in its March newsletter, saying the starkest conclusion of the study is how much river flows could diminish in a hot and dry future — a future that is looking more and more likely as emissions of heat-trapping gases increase. (more…)

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Colorado snowpack still lagging

Posted on February 7, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

The Feb. 6 snowpack readings show below-average totals for all of Colorado.

January storms prevent the percentages from dropping even farther behind average

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Despite above-average January snowfall in a few localized spots in Colorado, the state’s snowpack recovered only slightly from the early winter snow drought, reaching just 72 percent of normal (and 62 percent of last year’s reading) as of Feb. 1.

The low readings were most evident in the Yampa and White river basins, where the combined snowpack was only 60 percent of average. Forecasts for spring and summer water supplies in these basins reflect the below average snowpack. Reservoir storage across the state continues to remain in good condition which should help ease potential shortages this season. (more…)

Filed under: climate and weather, Colorado, Environment, global warming, Snow and weather, Summit County news | Tagged: , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Dillon Reservoir generally stable in winter months

Posted on December 9, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

Cold-season operations vary depending on water, maintenance needs

Ice flowers grow in early December on the surface of Dillon Reservoir while the ice is still thin. PHOTO BY BOB BERWYN.

By Bob Berwyn

SUMMIT COUNTY — During the summer, water watchers keep a close eye on Dillon Reservoir. The water level in the impoundment is critical to the area’s recreation economy and also to downstream fisheries.

But what happens during the cold winter season, when the reservoir rests under a layer of ice? Does the level go up or down? Is water being diverted to the Front Range from under the ice?

To answer those questions, I spoke with Bob Steger, Denver Water’s manager of raw water supplies. Steger is point person for Denver Water in the spring, when Silverthorne wants to know if there’s going to be flooding, and as local marina operators gear up for the boating season. (more…)

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Water: Runoff season looks good in the Blue River Basin

Posted on March 18, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

Denver Water engineers say they are fairly confident that Dillon Reservoir will fill sometime in June, and normal spring snowfall could bring a banner year for boating in the Lower Blue River, north of Silverthorne.

Dillon Reservoir expected to fill in June; average spring snowfall could bring long rafting season in the Lower Blue

*This story has been updated to clarify a couple of points — the Lower Blue flow of concern for flooding 1,800 cfs, not 1,400 cfs; and, the operation of the Roberts Tunnel is not used for flood control since that’s not a decreed use.

By Bob Berwyn

SUMMIT COUNTY — With average snowfall the next couple of months, Denver Water expects Dillon Reservoir to fill up completely by June, with decent flows for rafting in the Lower Blue from the end of May through sometime in July.

If spring ends up being an abnormally dry, however, that scenario could change, with flows in the Lower Blue predicted to range only between 93 and 336 cubic feet per second during the runoff season, not quite enough for boating.

With a wet spring, the Lower Blue could peak at flows close to 1,400 cubic feet per second in June, well below the critical 1,800 cfs flow that brings potential flooding issues. In the wet-spring scenario, flows in the Lower Blue could ramp up to more than 800 cfs by sometime in May and stay above 1,000 cfs through sometime in July. (more…)

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New report offers alternative vision for state’s water needs

Posted on March 2, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

Conservation, re-use and ag conversion can meet needs through 2050.

Better management of existing water supplies could reduce the need for new water projects in Colorado.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Smart use of existing water supplies is the key to meeting Colorado’s water demands during the next few decades, according to a report released this week by Western Resource Advocates, Trout Unlimited and the Colorado Environmental Coalition.

The report focuses on conservation, re-use and conversion of agricultural water as cost-effective alternatives to developing new pipelines and reservoirs. Colorado is currently working through the Interbasin Compact Committee  process to determine how the state’s river basins can meet future water needs.  The committee is considering a number of new storage projects, transbasin diversions, and moving of water over long distances. (more…)

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