Dam Outlet

Dillon Dam is an important facility within Denver Water’s raw water storage reservoir system. Water stored in Dillon reservoir is distributed to Denver residents via the Robert’sTunnel and to water users on the western slope via the Blue River Outlet Works. The outlet works facility for Dillon Dam was first commissioned in 1964 which was comprised of a 15-foot diameter vertical shaft spillway referred to as the Glory Hole and one 15- foot horizontal slide gate that served as an isolation point between the reservoir and the four slide gates at the outlet works.In 2009 improvements to the Outlet Works facility were recommended and scheduled.

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Triking Breck

While triking the Blue River path, the MYOW trike took a photo opportunity with the water and the American Flag, both are photo worthy.

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Yoga and Puppets

Leslie and Jason met up with the MYOW trike outside of the Old Masonic Hall of BreckCreate. This dynamic and charming couple shared water stories and personal stories of life in Breckenridge and beyond. The two easy going individuals are super community oriented, hands on involved in activities and own the yoga studio intown. Back in the day, Leslie  worked with a life sized puppeteer group that was committed to social action, awareness and change."We are all in this together and we are connected."

Thanks for the offer to paddle board on the Dillon Reservoir!

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Summer Ice

Curious about the "cost" of ice? Check out the Energy Department's website for the cost of energy for ice making calculator. The mission of the Energy Department is to ensure America’s security and prosperity by addressing its energy, environmental and nuclear challenges through transformative science and technology solutions.

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Bike Path Sign

The MYOW trike out on the recreation path along the Blue River in Breckenridge.

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Kayaks on the Reservoir

"Completed in December 1963, Dillon Reservoir is the largest water storage facility in the Denver Water system. The entire town of Dillon, Colorado, and a hydroelectric plant were relocated to build the dam. The dam was built to divert water from the Blue River Basin through the Harold D. Roberts Tunnel under the Continental Divide into the South Platte River Basin. Dillon Dam is an earth-fill dam, 5,888 feet long by 231 feet above the Blue River stream bed. Dillon Reservoir's surface area of 3,233 acres and 26.8 miles of shoreline support many recreational activities."

Don't own a kayak? No problem. Kayaks and other boating vessels can be rented at the marina in Frisco.

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Snowmelt

As the weather warms up, Colorado’s water supply makes the transition from fluffy snow to liquid gold.The National Water and Climate Center is the technical lead for the Snow Survey and Water Supply Forecasting Program, the national Soil Climate Analysis Network (SCAN), and a large number of water and climate activities. The NWCC provides data for conservation, tools for assessing water supplies and climate, and resources for addressing questions on local and regional conditions, drought and climate trends. 

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Copper Mountain

Copper Mountain is a mountain and ski resort located in Summit County, Colorado, about 75 miles west of Denver on Interstate 70. The resort has 2,465 acres of in-bounds terrain under lease from the U.S. Forest Service, White River National Forest, Dillon Ranger District.

" The snow pack is beautiful and living here lets me enjoy the mountains and all the amazing things that the landscape offers."

This was contributed by Holly. Copper Mountain, Colorado.

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 Culvert

A culvert is a structure that allows water to flow under a road, railroad, trail, or similar obstruction from one side to the other side. Typically embedded so as to be surrounded by soil, a culvert may be made from a pipe, reinforced concrete or other material.  

This image was submitted by Joan C from Breckenridge, CO.

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Mining a Landscape

Gold was discovered in Colorado in 1859 and the rush of miners soon followed. In the beginning,  methods of panning or ground sluicing were used but Hydraulic mining was quickly introduced to areas such as Breckenridge. Hydraulic mining or  hydraulicking, uses high-pressure jets of water to dislodge rock material or move sediment. Though successful in extracting gold-rich minerals, the widespread use of the process resulted in extensive environmental damage, such as increased flooding and erosion, and sediment blocking waterways and covering over farm fields. The mining landscape still remains.

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Wastewater

Wastewater is used water. It includes substances such as human waste, food scraps, oils, soaps and chemicals. In homes, this includes water from sinks, showers, bathtubs, toilets, washing machines and dishwashers. Businesses and industries also contribute their share of used water that must be cleaned. Wastewater also includes storm runoff. Although some people assume that the rain that runs down the street during a storm is fairly clean, it isn't. Harmful substances that wash off roads, parking lots, and rooftops can harm our rivers and lakes.

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Pacific Side of the Continental Divide

The Continental Divide of the Americas is the principal and mostly mountainous, hydrological divide of the Americas. The Continental Divide extends from the Bering Strait to the Strait of Magellan. It separates the watersheds that drain into the Pacific Ocean from  those river systems that drain into the Atlantic Ocean (including those that drain into the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea as well as the river systems that drain into the Arctic Ocean. There are other hydrological divides in the Americas but the Continental Divide is the most well known because it generally follows a line of high peaks along the main ranges of the Rocky Mountains and Andes, at a generally much higher elevation than the other hydrological divisions. This image is on the Pacific side of Hoosier Pass. 

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TAKE OUT

Believe it or not there are individuals who take  kayaks in the restored upper Blue River. The MYOW trike is at the point along the river just passed the Breckenridge Recreation center where  signage indicates the "take out"area.

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No Bait

The sign reads, Fishing by flys and lures only. Catch and release. No bait.

The Blue River is know for it's ample conditions for fly fishing. Beginning on the upper reaches of Hoosier Pass, the Blue River flows north through Breckenridge and Silverthorne on its way to its confluence with the Colorado River. During its trek north, the Blue fills two reservoirs and features many different fishing environments.

The Upper Blue, locally called the "Stair Steps," is located just north of the town’s rec center. The town improved this Colorado fly fishing stretch with a series of drop pools to hold trout during low water conditions and to offer an easy access fishery for visitors. This major restoration project was completed in the 1990’s to mitigate the damage of decades of mining

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Mermaid

My Your Our Water would like to use and abuse this blog opportunity 

to wish this mermaid a Happy 7th Birthday! 

 Just keep swimming.

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Water Drinkers

 These two ladies are water connoisseurs.

Amanda on the left,  has lived in Breckenridge for 15 years and has learned the ins and outs of  Colorado water rights. Literally, she has come to understand the difference between inside water usage and outside water usage as per Colorado well water ways

Beth Groundwater, that's her real last name, just returned from a trip to Iceland. Beth was excited to share the history of her Scottish family name and her adventures in water abroad and TSA water mishaps.

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Denver Erin

During the WAVE festival MYOW had the opportunity to talk with many individuals who weren't local to Breckenridge. This is Erin, from Denver. We had a lengthy conversation as the sunset on the dredge pond and the sign began to glow. This young mother is committed to leaving a healthy planet for her son while leading by as an innovative and engaged community member. Erin uses the bath water to flush the house hold toilets, she picks up litter and trash on her daily hikes, and is taking advantage of the newly passed rain barrel laws. Erin believes that, "everyone can do their part, no matter how tiny the gesture, it makes a difference." Hats off to this incredible woman!

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Tennessee  Valley Authority

The My Your Our Water trike was out along the Blue River when this charming couple from Tennessee stopped to chat. Brian and Kasie are from Knoxville, Tennessee and were excited to share their story about the seeming abundance of water in their area because of the Tennessee Valley Authority. The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is a federally owned corporation in the United States created by congressional charter in May 1933 to provide navigation, flood control, electricity generation, fertilizer manufacturing, and economic development to the Tennessee Valley, a region particularly affected by the Great Depression.  There are currently 29 hydroelectric dams as part of TVA.
 

"To improve the navigability and to provide for the flood control of the Tennessee River; to provide for reforestation and the proper use of marginal lands in the Tennessee Valley; to provide for the agricultural and industrial development of said valley; to provide for the national defense by thecreation of a corporation for the operation of Government properties at and near Muscle Shoals in the State of Alabama, and for other purposes."

 

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Summer Snow Caps

Breckenridge has had an average annual snowfall of 107.6 inches over the last 30 years, which is 380% more than the national average. 43% of Breckenridge's snow fell during the winter months. It is the 671st snowiest city in the United States.

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Hot Shop

This is Martha. She is a jewelry artist who lives in Breck and offers workshops at Breckenridge Creative Arts. The Hot Shop, where she works, is adjacent to the Robert Whyte House where My Your Our Water was in residence. We had many a chance to chat about local water and Arizona water, river water and well water, water for drinking and water for cleaning. Martha was generous enough to volunteer her time to help launch My Your Our Water into the Dredge Pond. Thanks for the assistance!

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Breck to Ajo

Bob and Tammy are from Breckenridge but head south to Ajo, Arizona in the winter to escape the many feet of Colorado snow.  Ajo, a desert city, is the closest community to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument located on route 85 just 43 miles from the Mexican border. Similar to the gold rush in Colorado, miners made their way to Arizona to strike it rich. In the 1880's high-grade native copper made Ajo the first copper mine in Arizona. Bob and Tammy chatted with MYOW about water issues unique to their desert escape and shared water issues related to mining in both Arizona and Colorado. This couple says that if you head to Ajo, don't miss the beautiful old fountain in the center of town square.

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Copper Mountain

"The wastewater facility/sewer plant was expanded and the $7.5 Million project will provide capacity for the future build-out of the resort. Water from three current wells in the valley floor is pumped up to the storage tank adjacent to Kokomo Lift just north of the road accessing the Lewis Ranch Development."

This is Holly. She  and her friends drove from Copper Mountain to Breckenridge for the Wave Festival. Copper Mountain is about 19 miles from Breck. We chatted about drought, living in the head waters area and the conservation protocol of " when it's yellow let it mellow." Thumbs up Holly!

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Blue River Trike Path

The Blue River Watershed includes all of Summit County, which encompasses approximately 619 square miles. An additional 61 square miles of the Lower Blue lie within Grand County, and the very top of the Tenmile Basin lies within Lake County.  Most of the total annual stream flow results from snow melt during the spring and early summer. The majority of snowfall typically occurs January through April. Thunderstorm activity produces significant, though short-lived, rainfall events in July and August. Impacts from mining, large water storage projects of Dillon and Green Mountain Reservoir and Interstate 70 play a large role in the water and habitat quality throughout the watershed.

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Law of the River

The Colorado River is managed and operated under numerous compacts, federal laws, court decisions and decrees, contracts, and regulatory guidelines collectively known as "The Law of the River." The Colorado River Compact of 1922 is an agreement among the seven states  of the Colorado River basin  that governs the allocation of water rights to the Colorado River. Colorado, Wyoming, Nevada, Utah, Arizona and California states governing the allocation of the water rights to the Colorado River. The states are divided in to upper and lower basin states. Arizona is the only state to receive an water allocation as both and upper and lower basin state. 

Connie is from the state of Arizona. She was visiting Breckenridge for WAVE festival. As a Colorado River water recipient, she was excited to see the Blue River, a tributary to the Colorado, flow through the heart of Breck.

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Denver Water

Breckenridge is a quick drive west on I 70 from Denver, especially during late spring when the snow and ice are melted off the road. Brandon interns at Rule Gallery in Denver and made day trip to Breck to check out the WAVE festival. Brandon was incredible excited to talk about his Denver water coming from the Blue River and even more excited to talk the about Drop a Brick which helps reduce the amount of water used for a single toilet flush. Thanks for making the drive to Breck and talking about water and art.

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Dynamic Trio

The MYOW trike was making a pit stop at the Robert Whyte House for water at the exact moment that Matt, Robin and Brian were making a pit stop of their own at the burro barn. The lengthy but incredible conversation that followed flowed from water, to politics, to war, to peace, to politics, to water. Matt and Brian are both veterans who saw more than their share of action. Their experiences altered how they view the world. Both are fully committed to changing the world through positive engagement.Their dedicated efforts to redefine possibilities of change and a better tomorrow are most appreciated.

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 Frequent Flyers

Frequent Flyers Productions is a non-profit founded in 1988 -- pioneering the art form of aerial dance through teaching and performance for over 28 years. The performers venture indoors and out, blending aerial work seamlessly with dance.  Dancers drink A LOT of water.\

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Summit 9

A mountain storm was hanging on the ridge line, when the MYOW trike stopped to take a photograph of the awesome cloud formations and happened to meet Allen. A long time resident of Breckenridge, he is an adjunct faculty member at Colorado Mountain College in the Business Department, where he encourages students to double major in both Sustainability and Business. Allen lives on Summit 9 and spoke about the destruction of the forest by the Pine Beetle, the regrowth of Blue Fur and Aspen trees, and the ski industry.

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Halli & Avrianna 

These two young ladies, Halli and Avrianna, were visiting Breckenridge for the weekend from Littleton, Colorado. They were super excited to talk about about how they did their water footprints at school to calculate an average water usage for each student. Hali admitted to taking "super duper long showers because it's so cold in the winter the the hot water feels awesome!"

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Family that Plays Together 

The Lopez family, from Colorado Springs prefer to spend the day outside. They love to hike and bike and fish. They moved around the country with the armed services but eventually landed in Colorado  on their own accord.  The Lopez family loves have easy access to the water for adventures. They venture to Breckridge for the incredible sense of community and activities that center around water.

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Frequent Flyers

Nancy is the Artistic Director for the Aerial Dance Company, the Frequent Flyers Productions. FFP is a non-profit founded in 1988 -- pioneering the art form of aerial dance through teaching and performance for over 28 years. Nancy live is Boulder, Colorado and takes water seriously. "We need to working together to conserve and solve water issues, where drought or lead pipes. It's ridiculous that Kentucky Blue Grass is growing in Denver, let it grow in Kentucky."

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