OMAHA, NE - Colorado’s Tri-Lakes Dams continue to evacuate flood pools from early spring runoff.
Releases began ramping down at the three Tri-Lakes dams at the beginning of July to slow the rate of elevation drop in the reservoirs. After releases were reduced, rainfall runoff increased inflows to Chatfield and Bear Creek causing the reservoirs to experience slight pool rises. Both reservoirs have begun falling again.
The flood pool at Cherry Creek Dam was evacuated on July 2 and releases are matching inflows to maintain a stable pool elevation.
The flood pool at Bear Creek Dam is 8 percent full following increased inflows from last week’s rain. The flood pool is forecast to be evacuated by the end of July. Releases from Bear Creek Dam are 225 cubic feet per second.
At Chatfield Dam the flood pool is 5.5 percent full. In coordination with the State of Colorado, releases from Chatfield Dam will be cut today to 800 cfs to allow the Brighton area to repair water supply infrastructure. Releases will be held at 800 cfs for two days and increased to 2,100 cfs on Thursday to evacuate the remaining flood storage. The Chatfield pool elevation is forecast to rise less than a foot due to the release reduction and the flood pool is forecast to be evacuated by the end of next week.
Release no. 20150714-002