Work Continues at Chimney Hollow Despite Wintry Conditions

The final winter of construction at Chimney Hollow Reservoir is under way, and while the weather has put a pause to some of the work, plenty of activity is happening to bring the reservoir to completion this summer.

The main dam at the site has climbed to more than 300 feet in elevation, on its way to a final height of 350 feet. Placement of the asphalt core at the center of the dam requires air temperatures of at least 25 degrees, however, and the frigid January and February weather has hampered those efforts. The core is raised in lifts of 9 inches, meaning there are fewer than 70 more lifts required to reach the dam’s final crest.

Much of the work occurring at the dam this winter revolves around the movement of water from the Colorado-Big Thompson Project infrastructure into Chimney Hollow Reservoir. That includes the four-way valve house at the base of the dam that will allow water to be placed into the reservoir or released to water users via Carter Lake, the Charles Hansen Feeder Canal and Horsetooth Reservoir. In addition, work continues on the inlet-outlet tower inside the reservoir footprint that will be connected by a tunnel under the reservoir’s right abutment to the valve house below the dam.

The full winter construction update can be found on YouTube.