Missouri Basin and Arkansas-Rio Grande-Texas Gulf – Eastern Colorado Area Office

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Eastern Colorado Area Office Overview

The Eastern Colorado Area Office manages two large projects that benefit Coloradoans across the state: 

• The Colorado-Big Thompson (C-BT) 
• The Fryingpan-Arkansas (Fry-Ark) 

It also manages the Leadville Mine Drainage Tunnel and Treatment Plant, which removes heavy metals resulting from historic mining activity before the water enters the Arkansas River.

C-BT Overview

The C-BT Project is one of the largest and most complex projects undertaken by the Bureau of Reclamation. It provides water for beneficial use to Colorado water users across the state.

• On Colorado’s West Slope, Green Mountain Reservoir stores water for irrigation, domestic and municipal water supply, industrial, recreational and environmental purposes such as fish and wildlife enhancement.
• On Colorado’s East Slope, diversions from the Colorado River provide supplemental irrigation water for 615,000 acres east of the Continental Divide, supplemental municipal and industrial water supply for more than 1 million residents in Northeastern Colorado, and many recreational opportunities.
• The CB-T Project’s six hydroelectric plants produce enough electricity to power nearly 68,000 households.

Managing partners include:

• Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District (Northern Water)
• Larimer County Department of Natural Resources
• Estes Valley Recreation and Park District
• U.S. Forest Service

Fry-Ark Overview:

The Fry-Ark Project provides water for beneficial use to Colorado water users across the state.

• On Colorado’s West Slope, Ruedi Reservoir stores water for irrigation, domestic and municipal water supply, industrial, and environmental purposes such as fish and wildlife enhancement.
• On Colorado’s East Slope, diversions from the Fryingpan River and its tributaries provide supplemental irrigation water for 217,000 irrigated acres and over 900,000 residents in Southeastern Colorado.
• The Mt. Elbert powerplant also produces enough electricity each year to power approximately 20,000 households.

Managing partners include:

• Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District
• Colorado Parks and Wildlife
• U.S. Forest Service