Flows expected to reach 450 cubic feet per second near County Road 5a
LOVELAND, Colo. — The Bureau of Reclamation will increase the volume of water released from Turquoise Lake near Leadville, Colorado, directly to Lake Fork Creek. Flows on Lake Fork Creek will increase from roughly 350 cubic feet per second to approximately 450 cubic feet per second. County Road 5a remains closed at the Lake Fork crossing.
This increase in flow through Lake Fork Creek may help reduce the potential for higher flows through the creek later in the spring. Reclamation has been moving water through Lake Fork Creek since April 26 due to scheduled and unscheduled maintenance at Mt. Elbert Powerplant. Engineers expect that water movement through the Mt. Elbert Conduit can resume in July.
The Fryingpan-Arkansas 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. Mt. Elbert Powerplant began operating in 1982. On average, the plant generates enough electricity each year to power 20,000 households.
Media inquiries or general questions about Reclamation should be directed to Anna Perea, Public Affairs Specialist, 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.
# # #
The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.
