Laramie-Poudre Tunnel
Encyclopedia
The Laramie-Poudre Tunnel is an early transmountain tunnel
in the U.S. state
of Colorado
. The tunnel transfers water from the west side of the Laramie River
basin, which drains to the North Platte River
, to the east side Cache la Poudre River
basin that drains to the South Platte River
. The tunnel is about 11500 feet (3,505.2 m) long with variable diameters with a minimum diameter of about 5.3 feet (1.6 m). The diameter varied due to the different material mined through and the erosion of almost 90 years of water flow. It is located at about 8400 feet (2,560.3 m) elevation with about a 1.7 degree down slope. The Laramie River lies about 225 feet (68.6 m) higher than the Cache La Poudre River at this location separated only by a mountain ridge. The Laramie-Poudre Tunnel is located about 45 miles (72.4 km) west-northwest of Fort Collins, Colorado
, about 20 miles (32.2 km) south of the Wyoming
border and about 25 miles (40.2 km) north of Rocky Mountain National Park
. It was built between 1909 and 1911 to convey water from the Laramie River
to the Poudre River for Front Range
irrigation. Court battles between Colorado
and Wyoming
over water rights prevented operation until 1914 (Case 1995).
As a result of the court battles the tunnel is restricted to a maximum of 9.9 cubic m/s of water from the Laramie river instead of its designed 22.9 cubic m/s. Most of the flow occurs during the peak snow melt season of mid May to Mid July. The Laramie-Poudre Tunnel typically transfers about 14,000 acre ft (17,300,000 cubic meters) from the Laramie River basin to the Cache La Poudre Basin. Agriculture users typically use about 450,000 acre ft and municipal users use a further 75,000 acre ft in the Cache La Poudre drainage basin.
In the spring of 2000 after almost 90 years of use, part of the tunnel collapsed, requiring extensive rebuilding of part of the tunnel. This rebuild cost $4,500,000 and took from November 2000 to May 16 2001.
Greeley, Colorado
's partnered with North Weld County Water and Fort Collins-Loveland Water District to purchase the Laramie Poudre Tunnel in 2006.
Tunnel
A tunnel is an underground passageway, completely enclosed except for openings for egress, commonly at each end.A tunnel may be for foot or vehicular road traffic, for rail traffic, or for a canal. Some tunnels are aqueducts to supply water for consumption or for hydroelectric stations or are sewers...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
. The tunnel transfers water from the west side of the Laramie River
Laramie River
The Laramie River is a tributary of the North Platte River, approximately long, in the U.S. states of Colorado and Wyoming.It rises in northern Colorado, in the Roosevelt National Forest in the Front Range, in western Larimer County...
basin, which drains to the North Platte River
North Platte River
The North Platte River is a major tributary of the Platte River and is approximately long counting its many curves, It travels about distance. Its course lies in the U.S...
, to the east side Cache la Poudre River
Cache La Poudre River
The Cache la Poudre River is in the state of Colorado in the United States.Its headwaters are in the Front Range in Larimer County, in the northern part of Rocky Mountain National Park. The river descends eastward in the mountains through the Roosevelt National Forest in Poudre Canyon...
basin that drains to the South Platte River
South Platte River
The South Platte River is one of the two principal tributaries of the Platte River and itself a major river of the American Midwest and the American Southwest/Mountain West, located in the U.S. states of Colorado and Nebraska...
. The tunnel is about 11500 feet (3,505.2 m) long with variable diameters with a minimum diameter of about 5.3 feet (1.6 m). The diameter varied due to the different material mined through and the erosion of almost 90 years of water flow. It is located at about 8400 feet (2,560.3 m) elevation with about a 1.7 degree down slope. The Laramie River lies about 225 feet (68.6 m) higher than the Cache La Poudre River at this location separated only by a mountain ridge. The Laramie-Poudre Tunnel is located about 45 miles (72.4 km) west-northwest of Fort Collins, Colorado
Fort Collins, Colorado
Fort Collins is a Home Rule Municipality situated on the Cache La Poudre River along the Colorado Front Range, and is the county seat and most populous city of Larimer County, Colorado, United States. Fort Collins is located north of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver. With a 2010 census...
, about 20 miles (32.2 km) south of the Wyoming
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
border and about 25 miles (40.2 km) north of Rocky Mountain National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park is a national park located in the north-central region of the U.S. state of Colorado.It features majestic mountain views, a variety of wildlife, varied climates and environments—from wooded forests to mountain tundra—and easy access to back-country trails...
. It was built between 1909 and 1911 to convey water from the Laramie River
Laramie River
The Laramie River is a tributary of the North Platte River, approximately long, in the U.S. states of Colorado and Wyoming.It rises in northern Colorado, in the Roosevelt National Forest in the Front Range, in western Larimer County...
to the Poudre River for Front Range
Front Range
The Front Range is a mountain range of the Southern Rocky Mountains of North America located in the north-central portion of the U.S. State of Colorado and southeastern portion of the U.S. State of Wyoming. It is the first mountain range encountered moving west along the 40th parallel north across...
irrigation. Court battles between Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
and Wyoming
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
over water rights prevented operation until 1914 (Case 1995).
As a result of the court battles the tunnel is restricted to a maximum of 9.9 cubic m/s of water from the Laramie river instead of its designed 22.9 cubic m/s. Most of the flow occurs during the peak snow melt season of mid May to Mid July. The Laramie-Poudre Tunnel typically transfers about 14,000 acre ft (17,300,000 cubic meters) from the Laramie River basin to the Cache La Poudre Basin. Agriculture users typically use about 450,000 acre ft and municipal users use a further 75,000 acre ft in the Cache La Poudre drainage basin.
In the spring of 2000 after almost 90 years of use, part of the tunnel collapsed, requiring extensive rebuilding of part of the tunnel. This rebuild cost $4,500,000 and took from November 2000 to May 16 2001.
Greeley, Colorado
Greeley, Colorado
The City of Greeley is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Weld County, Colorado, United States. Greeley is located in the region known as Northern Colorado. Greeley is situated north-northeast of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver. According to the...
's partnered with North Weld County Water and Fort Collins-Loveland Water District to purchase the Laramie Poudre Tunnel in 2006.