Water Sources
Most of Greeley's water begins as rain and snow runoff into rivers in the Colorado, Laramie, Big Thompson and Cache La Poudre water basins. Greeley operates six mountain reservoirs in the Poudre River Basin and uses Boyd Lake, Lake Loveland, and Horsetooth Reservoir, which deliver water from the Big Thompson and Colorado Rivers.
6 High Mountain Reservoirs
Capturing fresh snow melt and feeding rivers that run to Greeley treatment plant
2 Greeley water treatment plants
Bellvue and Boyd Lake treatment plants process 9 billion gallons of water
4 sources for non-potable water for irrigation
Reservoir System
Greeley Water team members operate the system to capture water in reservoirs during spring snowmelt and release it as needed throughout the year. Greeley water may travel up to 45 miles before it reaches a plant for treatment and delivery. City demands are highest in June, July, and August. Staff who operate the high mountain reservoirs monitor the remote dams and their supplies in all weather conditions. Workers snowshoe to reach the dams and dig through snow 4 feet deep. They break through ice 2 feet thick to read gauges. Snowplowing some reservoir roads can take up to two weeks due to 12- to 15-foot snowdrifts.
We rely on reservoirs to serve various purposes. For instance, we use Milton Seaman Reservoir water for drought protection. We reserve Barnes Meadow water for winter releases to a city treatment plant.
Water Source Information
- Built 1941
- Storage: 5,008 acre-feet
- Elevation: 5,478 feet
- Dam height: 115 feet
We voluntarily restricted filling the reservoir after 1983 due to spillway deterioration. The spillway was rehabilitated in 1996 for a total of $3.42 million. This included construction of a new labyrinth spillway, remediation of a 43,396 cubic yard landslide and placement of 9,877 cubic yards of dental concrete.
- Built: 1922
- Storage: 2,349 acre-feet
- Elevation: 9,094 feet
- Dam height: 47 feet
The reservoir was under a fill restriction from the Colorado Division of Water Resources prior to 1991. In 1992, the dam was rehabilitated for a total of $511,000. This included relining the dam outlet, replacing the primary & secondary spillways, and installing a toe-drain system. A SCADA system was installed in 2005.
- Built 1922
- Storage: 1,183 acre-feet
- Elevation: 9,492 feet
- Dam height: 38 feet
The reservoir was under a fill restriction from the Division of Water Resources prior to 1985. In 1995 and 1996, the dam was rehabilitated for a total of $1.732 million. The work included replacement of the embankment dam with a new roller compacted concrete dam, a new outlet and spillway, construction of a new saddle dam, and removal of the emergency spillway. A SCADA system was installed in 2005.
- Built 1924
- Storage: 2,628 acre-feet
- Elevation: 9,401 feet
- Dam height: 46 feet
Prior to 1990, the Division of Water Resources issued a directive to drain, breach or rehabilitate the dam. It was rehabilitated from 1990-1991 for a total of $1.75 Million. This included installation of filter blanket and toe drain system, deactivating the emergency spillway, installing a roller compacted concrete spillway, raising the dam for the required probable maximum flood freeboard and installing new outlet works. In 2002, a SCADA system was installed. In 2005, dam toe drain section was repaired and hydraulics were installed on the gate structure.
- Built 1898
- Enlarged: 1901
- Storage: 1,693 acre-feet
- Elevation: 9,070 feet
- Dam height: 45 feet
Reservoir was under a fill restriction from the Colorado Division of Water Resources for more than 20 years. The dam was rehabilitated in 1996 for a total of $278,000. This included installation of a filter blanket and toe drain system, deactivation of the emergency spillway, placement of a new concrete spillway control structure and rip rap. A new SCADA system was installed in 2002.
- Built 1924
- Storage: 278 acre-feet
- Elevation: 9,295 feet
- Dam height: 35 feet
The Colorado Division of Water Resources placed the reservoir on a zero fill or no storage allowed restriction in 1982. The City was required to weld the release gate open. The reservoir was rehabilitated in 1998 for a total of $1.08 million. The original dam was replaced with a zoned-earth embankment structure; new outlet works and a concrete grade berm were constructed.
Non-Potable Water Storage and Delivery
Greeley has used non-potable water (water not treated to drinking water standards) to irrigate for over 100 years. In 1870, Greeley began using the No. 3 Ditch for watering parks and gardens. When cost-effective, the city continues to build non-potable facilities to irrigate grass on large properties such as parks, businesses, and common areas of homeowners' associations. The city is developing a policy to encourage more non-potable irrigation by commercial and residential development. The Water Department’s Non-potable Team operates 40 non-potable pump stations between March 30 and October 31 but is adding more each year.
Snow Surveys
Snow surveys project how much water Greeley has available the following spring and summer. City employees, with the Colorado Division of Water Resources and the City of Fort Collins, measure snowfall on the last five days of each month between January and May. Deep snow doesn't necessarily mean a good runoff into reservoirs. Dry soils can absorb the water before it travels to streams and rivers. A snow core sample measures the water content. The data helps staff know how much water to store in the reservoirs and how to forecast possible drought.