Due to an area-wide power outage, the Pole Hill and Flatiron Power Plants of the Eastern Colorado Area Office of the Bureau of Reclamation experienced unplanned outages after 2 p.m. today, 25 May. Due to these outages, we are redirecting flows back into the Big Thompson River from the Olympus Tunnel. Our current release level from Olympus Dam is at 125 cubic feet per second. We will start incrementally raising releases at 3:00 p.m. by 50 cubic feet per second every half hour until we reach approximately 550 cubic feet per second.
A release of 550 cubic feet per second allows us to maintain an equilibrium between the natural inflows to Lake Estes and the release from Olympus Dam. No west slope water is entering the Colorado-Big Thompson east slope system at this time.
Alternatively, if the area-wide power outage is resolved sooner than expected, we will resume normal diversions into the Olympus Tunnel reducing releases to the Big Thompson River.
More to follow as the situation develops. Updates will also be posted at:https://www.facebook.com/LakeEstesandOlyDam/
James Bishop - Public Involvement Specialist
A release of 550 cubic feet per second allows us to maintain an equilibrium between the natural inflows to Lake Estes and the release from Olympus Dam. No west slope water is entering the Colorado-Big Thompson east slope system at this time.
Alternatively, if the area-wide power outage is resolved sooner than expected, we will resume normal diversions into the Olympus Tunnel reducing releases to the Big Thompson River.
More to follow as the situation develops. Updates will also be posted at:https://www.facebook.com/LakeEstesandOlyDam/
James Bishop - Public Involvement Specialist