The Bureau of Reclamation is conducting a temporary draining of Pinewood Reservoir to allow work to be completed on two projects.
Pinewood Reservoir will begin being drawn down from its typical level of about 6,570 feet in elevation on Friday, September 9, 2022. Levels will drop to an elevation of 6,542.75 feet (Deadpool) by September 15, 2022. The first of the projects will allow Northern Water to connect to the Bald Mountain Tunnel for a conduit to bring water to Chimney Hollow Reservoir, which is currently in construction. The second project is a rehabilitation on the East Portal of Adams Tunnel.
Reclamation expects to refill Pinewood Reservoir to an elevation of 6,554.25 feet on September 16 and 17, 2022. Levels will remain at this elevation until mid-December, when the Adams Tunnel will be back in operation and can refill Pinewood Reservoir. Unexpected events could change these dates.
Pinewood Reservoir is part of the Colorado-Big Thompson Project, which spreads over approximately 250 miles in the State of Colorado. It stores, regulates, and diverts water from the Colorado River on the western slope of the Continental Divide to the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains. It provides supplemental water for irrigation of about 615,000 acres of land and municipal and industrial and recreational water more than 1 million residents in Northeastern Colorado. The Project generates enough electricity to power nearly 68,000 households each year.
Media inquiries or general questions about Reclamation and its maintenance procedures should be directed to Anna Perea at 970-290-1185 or aperea@usbr.gov. If you are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
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