BROCHURE NO. 5 THE FRYINGPAN-ARKANSAS WATER PROJECT AND ITS STRUCTURE

OF THE ARKANSAS VALLEY JS ITS WATER

THE FUTURE OF ITS WATER IS THE

SOUTHEASTERN COLORADO vVater C o n servancy Dis tric t

LEGAL ACiEHCY FOR FRY - ARK WATER PROJECT

P 0. BOX A40 • 905 HIWAY 50 WEST • PUEBLO COLORADO 81001 The headquarters for the Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District is located ot 905 Highway 50 West in Pueblo, Colorado. The District is governed by a Boord of Directors consisting of fifteen men representing all segments of the economy in the Con­ servancy District. These Directors, in behalf of the nearly 400,000 citizens who live within the confines of the District, have assumed the responsibility of repaying a large shore of the reimbursable portion of the Project through the sale of imported Project water, storage fees for native water in the East Slope Reservoirs, and the sole of native water stored and not used within a specific period. The District, os provided by low levies on od volorem lox an­ nually which becomes port of the repayment pro­ gram.

LOCATION

THE PROJECT AND THE DISTRICT The Fryingpon-Arkonsas Project is located in central and southeastern Colorado. The collection and The Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy diversion area is located in o mountainous and primi District , embracing the irrigable lands and munici­ tive oreo above on elevation of 10,000 feet on the polities of the Arkansas River Basin within the Proj­ headwaters of the Fryingpon and Roaring Fork ect oreo) was created in 1958 under the Colorado Rivers on the West Slope of the Continental Divide Water Conservancy District Statutes for developing in Pitkin and Eagle Counties. The service area of the and administrating the Fryingpon-Arkonsos Project Project is located in the Arkansas River Basin on the (see Brochure No 1 ). East Slope of the Continental D,v,de in lake, Chof. fee, Fremont, ?ueblo, El Paso, Otero, Crowley, Bent, The Fryingpon Arkansas Water Project began os Prowers and K,owo Counties. The headwaters of the a dream many years ago, when o few visionary men Arkansas R·ver lie above timberline in the h'gh and women realized the seriousness of water. They mountains near leadvi le . The river then flows south set about studying the water lows of Colorado; the and east through canyons and foothills to the gently amounts of water to which the citizens of this Stole rolling high plo ns of eastern Colorado. The Arkansas were legally entitled, but which they were not using; River in Colorado stretches 340 miles from the Roc­ the engineering involved in making this water avail­ ky Mountains to the Colorodo-Konsos boundary and able to the citizens of Colorado; and the procedures comprises and oreo of 26, 150 square miles or ap­ to be followed in making their dreams o reality. proximately one fourth of the total area of the Stole. They sifted reams of information, held countless ln­ Stote and Out of-Stole meetings, and finally deter­ The Project headquarters is 1ocated in the First mined the Fryingpon Project was the best way to get National Bank Building in the C,ty of Pueblo. Other Colorado and Arkansas River water for the present principal Cities in the East Slope Project area ore and future citizens of this semi-arid Arkansas Volley. Leadville, Bueno Vista, Salido, Canon Cty, Colorado Sprngs, Rocky Ford, Lo Junta and Los Animas. On August 16, 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed the Bill , passed earlier by the Congress of the HISTORY OF THE AREA Un ited States, creating the Fryingpon Arkansas Proj­ ect. The Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy The Arkansas River Basin was first explored by D strict become the legal agency responsible for the the Spanish from 1760 to 1780. The first official ex­ repoyment of the reimbursable portion of this multi­ ploration by the United States was made in 1806 by million dollar, mu ti-purpose Project. The information Lt. Zebulon Pike. later explorations were directed by contoined in this, and other Brochures, expla·n the Captain John C. Fremont and Captain John W. critical role being performed by the District and the Gunnison. The first permonent settlements were es­ serious responsibilities which have been imposed upon tablished after the discovery of gold in 1859. In the the fifteen men who serve os Directors for this ensuing years, o large influx of settlers to the Arkan· agency. 2 sos Valley occurred. Most were gold seekers of the "Pikes Peak or Bust" gold rush. A few were successful in their search, however, most of them went "busted". Many took up farming in the Arkansas River Valley in support of the mining industry. Permanent settle­ ments were established and the era of irrigation development began. . The second major development in the Valley was ' the introduction of cattle. In 1862, John W. Prowers imported 100 head of cattle into the Valley. Because of his success in the cattle business, large herds were imported from Texas. By the end of October 1870, over 30,000 head of Texas cattle were in the Arkan­ sas region and 10,000 were reported to have been driven into Pueblo in the first ten days of November, 1870. The agricultural industry of the Arkansas Valley was firmly established at the start of the Twentieth Century. IRRIGATED ONIONS

PHYSICAL AND ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS Climate

OF THE AREA The climate in the Project area ranges from sub­ humid in the high mountains to semi-arid in the lower Ir rig ation Development elevations. On the Western Slope in the collection area, the mean annual precipitation is 20 inches and Irrigation in the Arkansas Volley has grown steadily in importance since its introduction. Available the average temperature is 36.6 degrees Fahrenheit. stream runoff was utilized at the outset. But, as This is in contrast wirh the City of Pueblo on the markets developed and irrigation farming increased, Eastern Slope with a mean annual precipitation of the demand for late season water could not be sup­ 11.67 inches and average temperature of 5 2 degrees Fahrenheit. plied by unregulated streamflow. As a result, farmer­ owned mutual irrigation companies were formed. The average normal precipitation throughout the These companies constructed 15 reservoirs having a fifteen County region in the Arkansas River Drainage total storage capacity of 800,000 acre-feet, and 8 is approximately 13.66 inches per year. It is of interest transmountain diversion systems importing approxi­ to note what an average annual precipitation of mately 50,000 acre-feet of water annually. 13.66 inches mean to the Arkansas Valley. If it were possible to contain all of the average annual precipi­ The amount of irrigation water available in the tation which falls in the Arkansas Valley, and prevent Project area varies considerably from year to year. any from evaporating or leaving the Valley by The average flow of the Arkansas River at Pueblo streams, underground rivers, or other means, such is approximately 750 second-feet. The total adjudi­ m?i~ture would provide a total of approximately 18 cated direct flow rights on the main stem from the m,11,on acre-feet for use in the region. Temperature headwaters to the State line amount to 7,400 second­ and water usuage are closely related. Based upon the feet. Shortages as high as 78 percent of crop re­ 1963 water-use records from six communities in the quirement hove occured. Arkansas Valley, 78 percent of the total water used in the six communities was consumed during the Agricultural Products warmer months and 22 percent during the cooler The principal crops grown in the area of the winter months. The average monthly use during the Fryingpan-Arkansos Project ore alfalfa, corn, sor­ wa~mer part of the year was 15.3 million gallons, ghum and sugar beets. Specialty crops such as onions, while the cooler months averaged approximately 6.2 million gallons. beans, tomatoes and melons, ore grown extensively in the area. The farms within the Arksonsos Volley Evaporation is an important factor in the water hove a good balance between crop and livestock resource management of the region. A surprising farming. quantity of water is lost back to the atmosphere 3 4 through evaporation, and this amount varies in close gotion, municipal and industrial water, power, flood relationship to the different areas in t~e r~gion. control, fish and wildlife, recreation, and sediment Records indicate that the annual evaporation 1n the control. Arkansas Valley region ranges from 62 inches in the Eastern Counties to approximately 26.5 inches at The Project involves a transmountain diversion Turquoise Reservoir near Leadville. of water, thus requiring features on both the East and West Slopes of the Continental Divide. Water Population from the Colorado River Ba sin will be diverted for beneficial and consumptive uses in the Arkansas River Population of the Arkansas Valley has grown Basin in Colorado. The imported water, together with steadily, especially the Cities of Pueblo and Colorado regulated native Arkansas River water, will provide Springs. Pueblo's population was 52, 162 in 194? ~nd supplemental irrigation, municipal and industrial 91,181 in 1960. Colorado Springs has had a s1m1lar water, and enable power generation. Flood control growth rate going from 36,789 in 1940 to 70, 194 in will be provided by Pueblo Reservoir on the Arkansas 1960. Current estimated population for Colorado River immediately above Pueblo, Colorado. (See Springs and Pueblo is over 100,000 each. The popu­ Brochure No. 2) lation of the nine counties in which the Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District is located has grown from a population of 204,465 in 1940 to REPAYMENT OF COSTS 342, 189 in 1960. The Fryingpon-Arkansos Project, as authorized by Public low 87-590, required that all reimbursable Project costs be returned to the United States within o fifty year period following completion of Project construction. In accordance with Reclamation low, all construction costs and interest therein associated with hydroelectric power and municipal and industrial water investments ore to be returned with interest. Investments in irrigation are reimbursable without interest. Costs associated with flood control, fish and wildlife and recreation ore nonreimbursoble. Repay­ ment of the reimbursable portion of the $203,587,000 Fryingpon-Arkonsos Project are from o number of sources.

Revenues from controctural agreements mode with the Homestake Project, CF&I Steel Corporation and expected additional revenues from other con­ trocturof arrangements now under negotiation will materially assist in the repayment of all reimb ursa­ OIVIOE, SOUTH FORK, CHAPMAN TUNNELS ble costs. Also, revenues from the sole of Project power will provide considerable assistance towards PROJECT AUTHORIZATON repayment (see Brochure No. 3). Project authorization under Public Law 87-590 approved August 16, 1962 is documented by House COLLECTION SYSTEM Document No. 187 and House Document No. 353. West Slope Features The basic pion for the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project was completed in 19 50, and approved by the Secre­ Ruedi Dam and Reservoir tary of the Interior in 1951. In 1953, the report was submitted to the Congress and was printed and dis­ Rued i Dam is an earthfill structure 285 feet tributed as House Document No. 187, 83rd Congress, high. It has been constructed on the Fryingpan River 1st Session. .. approximately 14 miles Ea st of Basalt, Colorado, a nd ' will provide water for replacement and other bene­ The Fryingpon-Arkonsos Project, located wholly ficial uses on the West Slope. The Reservoir has a within the State of Colorado, is a multiple-purpose storage capacity of l O1 ,000 acre-feet, a nd was com­ development which will serve the functions of irri- pleted in 1968. 5 6 . \ ( ).., , \, ' FRYINGPAN-ARKANSASWAT(R PROJECT \ ( I - ~ l COLORADO "'<'~~.:..::...~,. ) 'DENYER- •

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FRYINGPAN-ARKANSAS PROJECT RESERVOIRS

Acre-Feet Capacity Height Dam (Feel) Surface Acres Shoreline (Miles)

Present Proposed Present Proposed Present Proposed Proposed 101,000 285 1,000 12 ..____RUEDI 11 TURQUOISE 17,371 130,000 48 135 800 1,800 280 2.9 ELBERT FORBAY .. 9,926 - 92 ·---- 13.8 TWIN LAKES 117,550 166,000 41 70 2,300 3,137 '---- 4.3 CLEAR CREEK 11,440 11,440 80 80 421 421 5,700 60 PUEBLO 357,000 ... 185 104 TOTALS 146,361 775,366 3,521 12,338

COLLECTION SYSTEMS TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM POWER PLAN TS Generating Conduits (mi) Tunnels (mi) Copocity Length (mi) Copocity Penstock (3) 9.4 Mollo Canal 2.0 350 cfs •• Length Diamet er Copocity Capacity Southside 8.3 - - 1--- - ~ - I--- 11 3300 cfs 100 mw North side 4.1 (4) 7.2 Elbert Canal 14.5 500 cfs ·--Elbert 2,600' 180 11 10.5 dia. Otero Canal 5.7 725 cfs Otero 735' 94 575 cfs 11 mw Divide 5.3 945 cfs Ark. River 300 varied Planned to , gement to 200 will be increased to 130,000 covering 1,800 surface acres. This will be accomplished by constructing a 135 foot high earthfill dam below the existing dam. Construction of the dam was started in 1965, and is scheduled for completion in early 1968 to receive the first Project waters diverted from the West Slope col­ lection system. Elbe rt Canal The Elbert Canal, 14.5 miles in length, will have a capacity of 500 cubic-feet per second, sufficient to carry diversions from the Arkansas River during the spring and early summer runoff season and to trans­ fer Project water from Turquoise Lake to Twin Lakes.

Twin La kes and Twin Lakes Da m Twin Lakes is located 20 miles northwest of Buena Vista, Colorado. Its capacity will be increased RUED! DAM to 166,000 acre-feet by constructing an earthfill dam 70 feet high. The reservoir will store and regu­ Collection Syste m and Divide Tunnel late water imported by the Twin Lakes Company, The Project collection system is located on the flows of Lake Creek, and water discharged from the Western Slope of the Continental Divide and collects Elbert Powerplant. water from tributaries of the Roaring Fork River at Otero Canal an altitude of approximately 10,000 feet. The collection system consists of three main The Otero Canal, 5.7 miles in length with a parts, the ~~rth Side System, the South Side System, capacity of 725 cubic feet per second, will deliver and the D1v1de Tunnel, all integrated to divert an water from Twin Lakes to Clear Creek Reservoir. average of 69,200 acre-feet of water per year from Clea r Creek Reservoir the West to the East Slope of the Continental Divide. The South Side System will divert water from the Clear Creek Reservoir with an existing capacity headwaters of Hunter Creek and tributaries of the of 11,440 acre-feet is located on Clear Creek 14 miles Fryingpan River through 8.3 miles of conduits and 9 4 north of Buena Vista, Colorado and will regulate miles of tunnels to the central collection point at the Project flows to the Arkansas River. West Portal of the Divide Tunnel. The North Side System diverts water from other tributary headwaters of the Fryingpan River through a system of 4.1 miles of conduit and 7.2 miles of tunnels to the West Portal of the Divide Tunnel. The third main feature of the collection system and backbone of the Project is the ~.3 mile long Divide Tunnel. The tunnel's function is to convey the water collected in the North and South Systems to the East Slope of the Continental Divide. The Divide Tunnel will be 10.5 feet in diam­ eter a_fter concrete lining, and will have a carrying ca.pacity of 9~5 cubic feet per second. It is expected this Tunnel will be completed in time for delivery of Project water in 1969.

Major East Slope Features Turquoise La ke and Sugar Loaf Dam The Lake is located five miles west of Leadville, Colorado. Its present capacity of 17,371 acre-feet SUGAR LOAF DAM AND STILLING BASIN

9 10 viding for the development of peaking power. Pump­ turbines will act as pumps when water is lifted from Twin Lakes into the forebay during off-peak hours, and then will act as turbines when releases are made from the forebay during hours of peak power de­ mand.

From Twin Lakes the water releases will be con­ veyed to the Otero Powerplant at Clear Creek Reser­ voir via the Otero Canal and penstock. The Otero Powerplant will have a capacity of 11 megawatts of power. Regulated water releases from Clear C:eek Reservoir will be returned to the Arkansas River. Provisions will be made for interconnection with other Bureau power facilities. Cooperation of the Homestake Project has been coordinated with the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project without modifications or increase in Project features SPILLWAY, SUGAR LOAF DAM and by agreement, water stored or conveyed in Proj­ ect facilities will be delivered to the Homestake Pueblo Dam and Reservoir Project at a point on the Otero Canal just above t~e Otero Powerplant. This Program was worked out tn Pueblo Dam will be located on the Arkansas cooperation with the Cities of Colorado Springs and River six miles west of the City of Pueblo, Colorado. Aurora, and is a cooperative Program which will The earthfill dam will be 185 feet high with a crest provide benefits not only to the Fryingpan Arkansas length of 10,600 feet and will create the largest Project, but also for the Cities. reservoir on the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project. It will have a storage capacity of 357,000 acre-feet includ­ WATER DEVELOPMENT AND BENEFITS ing 93,000 acre-feet of flood storage space, 234,000 acre-feet of conservation storage and a 30,000 acre­ Over the economic life of the Project, the bene­ foot permanent pool for recreation and fish and fit-cost ratio is 1 .47 to I for total Project benefits. wildlife. Initial construction on this feature involves 1 That is, for each dollar invested $1.47 worth of relocating 16 and 2 miles of Denver and Rio Grande goods and services will be returned to the local area, Western Railroad, which was started on August 26, State, and Nation. 1967. It is anticipated that construction on the actual dam will begin in the spring of 1969.

POWER SYSTEM

The Project power system will include 22 .2 miles of canals, two powerplants, switchyards and trans­ mission lines. The generation system will have a peaking capacity of 111 megawatts including a pumped storage plant.

Water released from Turquoise Lake combined with native water intercepted from the Arkansas River will be conveyed by the Elbert Canal to the Elbert Forebay, near Twin Lakes. The forebay, with a storage capacity of 9,926 acre-feet, will regulate and feed water into the Elbert Powerplant. The Elbert Powerplant is being designed for a capacity of I 00 megawatts with provisions for an additional 100 megawatts for future installation. Elbert Powerplant will be equipped for pumped storage operations pro- DIVERSION WORKS 11 12 Irrigation Water Recreation - Fish and Wildlife Project irrigation water will be supplied only The streams and lakes in the Project area will for supplemental use to a total service oreo of provide excellent fishing. The Upper Volleys, with 280,600 irrigable acres. These lands ore located their open porks and meadows with heavy stands of within the Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy Aspen, Spruce and Fir, provide both summer and District and will be served by existing distribution winter range for large herds of elk and deer. systems. The Bureau of Reclamation in cooperation with When fully developed, increased gross form in­ other Federal, State and local agencies is planning come from Project lands will exceed nine million dol­ and developing major recreation areas around Proj­ lars annually. Approximately one-third of this amount ect reservoirs. The water surfaces and adjacent lands will directly accrue to oreo formers os increased form will be developed into high quality recreation areas, income with the remainder distributed throughout and will become attractions to tourists and the local the agricultural, industrial and commercial sections people of Colorado. Pueblo Reservoir will develop thru all form related activities, including processing into one of Colorado's more popular recreation areas, and marketing increased agricultural production. as there ore no bodies of water of any significant size located near the large population centers of Municipal and Industrial Water Colorado Springs and Pueblo. The present Project pion provides for 20,500 acre-feet of water for municipal and industrial use Municipal Pipelines to supplement existing supplies. All cities and towns It is planned, at the request of Colorado Springs in the Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy and municipalities east of Pueblo, to construct closed District are eligible to apply for allotments of Project pipelines to provide Fryingpon-Arkonsos Project water water. for the citizens of those communities. These pipelines will be constructed at the specific expense to the mu­ Flood Control nicipalities involved, although authorization for the construction of such pipelines is included in the Damaging floods have occurred from Canon City Fryingpon-Arkonsas Project approved by Congress. eastward. The largest flood of record, which occurred in June 1921, reached on estimated flow of 200,000 No port of the single purpose municipal and industrial water supply works involved in the Fryingpan-Arkon­ second-feet in Lo Junta. The loss of life was high, and sos Project shall be constructed by the Secretory in property damage in the Valley was estimated ot the absence of evidence satisfactory to him that it more than $19 million. Pueblo Reservoir with 93,000 would be infeasible for the communities involved to acre-feet flood control space will provide approxi­ construct the works themselves, singly or jointly. Ne­ mately $780,000 of benefits annually. gotiations will be carried on with the municipalities to determine their projected needs and their willingness to obligate themselves for the repayment of the pipe­ lines. Such pipelines will provide supplemental water to that which the municipalities already own, and will enable the leaders of those communities to make plans for future growth and development.

Winter Storage Owners of native water along the Arkansas River will be afforded on opportunity to store their " winter water" in Pueblo Reservoir and thereby be enabled to put this water to more beneficial use during the growing season. At the present time, it is impossible for the various ditch companies to hold this critical water during the non-productive months because of the lock of the storage facilities. It is ex­ pected this " w inter storage" program will enable the owners of that water to be better assured of crop A BENEFIT OF THE FRYINGPAN PROJ ECT completion, and thereby, o more stable income factor. 13 14 SOUTHEASTERN COLORADO WATER CONSERVANCY DISTRICT 905 Hiwoy 50 West Pueblo, Colorado 544-20 40 OFFICERS J Sid Nicholl, President, 208 Pawnee Street, Manitou Springs, Colorado 80829, omce · 471-6203 Roy 0. Cooper, Vice President, Rt. 2, Box 181, Los Animo,, Colorado 81054, Re,. - 456-0686 Thoma, McCurdy, Secretory, Rt. I, Box 165, Olney Spring,, Colorado 81062, Re,. • Ordway 5526 Jame, G. Shoun, Trea,urer, P O. Box 1040, Conan City, Colorado 81212, Re, .• 275 2471 Chorle, L. Thomson, General Manager, 905 Howey 50 We,t, P. 0. Box 440, Pueblo, Colorado 81002 • Office · 5<44-2040 DIRECTORS William Bousermon, Jr., Monz.onolo, Colorado 81058, Res - -462·5589 Harold H. Christy. 511 Polk Street, Pueblo, Colorolo 81005, Re,•. 544-2158 Dave Ciruli, P 0. Box 398, Pueblo, Colorado 81002, Re, · 544-2554 Fronk Dilley Garden Pork, Canon City, Colorado 81212 Re, . 275-5238 G..,rge E Everett, Jr., Adobe Pork, Salida, Colorado 81201, Re,.• 539-6052 Or. Wendell f . Hutchin,on, OVM, Rainbow Blvd., Salida, Colorado 81201, Off,ce - 539-6427 frank Milen,ki, RR I, la Junta, Colorado 81050, Re,.• 384-4184 Joe W. Purv,s, P.O. Box 270, las Anima,, Colorado 81054, Office · 456-1512 Herbert Schroeder, Ordway, Colorado 81063, Re,. · Ordway 4442 Jomes E. Wagner, No. 1 Cedar Hill,, Lamar, Colorado 81052, Res • 336-2633 J. Selby Young, 2915 Marilyn Road, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80909, Re,.• 634-5424

Charles J. Beise Attorney for the District, Fairfield & Wood. Attorneys, 1536 First National Bonk BuTidong, Denver, Colorado 80201, Office • 534-6135

Jomes Ogilv,e, Proiect Monoger, Fryingpon-Arkonso, Proiect, Bureau of Reclom 4 ation, P. 0. Box 515, Pueblo, Colorado Office • 544-5277 Ext. 201 or 200 COMMON WATE R CO NVERS ION FACTORS 1 Cubic Foot Per Second equals 1 Cubic foot of water pouing o point in one second of time 1 Acre fool equals Quantity of Water required to cover 1 acre of land 1 foot deep. SURFACE 1 Square Mile 27,878,400 Square Feet 1 Square M1fe 64'0 Acres 1 Acre = • J,560 Square feet V OLUME I Acre foot _ 325,851 Gallon, 1 Acre foot _ .CJ,560 Cubi( feet 1 Cubic foot _ 7.4805 Gallons 1 Cubi( foot Second .C.C8 8 Gallons/Minute 1 Cvboc Foot/Second 646.317 Gallons Day 1 Cubic Foot/Second - 86.400 Cubic Feet Doy 1 Cub,c foot Second - 1.9835 Acre Feet/Doy 1 Cub,c foot/Second - 723.96 Aero Feet Year 1 Million Gallons Doy - 1 547 Cubic Fee/Second 1 Molloon Gollon,/Ooy - 3 07 Acre Feet Doy 1 Million Gallon,_ 133.681 Cvboc feet 1 Cubic Foot/Second - 0 68 Mile, Hour 1 Cuboc foot/Second foll,ng 8 81 feet - 1 Horsepower 1 Cubic foot Second falling 100 Feet _ 1 135 Horsepower t Cubi( Foot/Second flowing for one ye-ar will cover 1 Square M ile 1.13 t feet deep 1 Cubi( foot Per Second equol, 1 Cubic Foot of woter pouing o point in one second of time. t A.ere foot equols Ouonhty of W ater required to cover 1 Acre of land 1 Foot deep