To make water deliveries to and from Chimney Hollow Reservoir, crews are tying the new reservoir into the existing Colorado-Big Thompson (C-BT) Project infrastructure. The Carter Lake Interconnect will provide a valuable connection to allow the new reservoir to function efficiently.  

Carter Lake and its associated conduits were constructed in the 1950s by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation as part of the C-BT Project. Water stored in Carter Lake originates in the headwaters of the Colorado River and travels east through the Alva B. Adams Tunnel and other C-BT Project infrastructure to Flatiron Reservoir. The water is then pumped through the 1.4-mile Carter Lake Pressure Conduit to Carter Lake.  

Last fall, crews added concrete encasement to the Carter Lake Pressure Conduit, which reinforced and improved the existing system. This fall, crews will be installing a vault and valve into the existing infrastructure that will allow Chimney Hollow water to be delivered into Carter Lake and ultimately make its way to southern project participants. 

The work began on Aug. 29 and is anticipated to be completed by Dec. 15.