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…Dillon Reservoir, the largest in Denver Water’s system, is celebrating 50 years as one of Denver Water’s most important water storage sites.
Water leaders began tossing around the idea for the project in the early 1900s when it became apparent that Denver could not subsist on South Platte River water alone. After years of geologic studies, engineering reports and legal wrangling, Denver Water began making formal plans to build the project. Lawyers worked to buy the rest of the town, offering to help people move structures or rebuild on a site east of the reservoir.
Denver’s $77.6 million Blue River Diversion Project was a massive plan to divert water from the West Slope to the East Slope. It included building the Harold D. Roberts Tunnel — which conveys water from Dillon Reservoir, 23.3 miles to the South Platte River — as well as buying land, securing water rights and building Dillon Dam.
Originally, Denver’s Board of Water Commissioners planned to build a small dam and diversion structures to send water to the tunnel. But the Board rethought those plans, opting instead to build what became Denver Water’s largest reservoir.
More Denver Water coverage here.