PLATTE RIVER BASIN

06742500 CARTER LAKE NEAR BERTHOUD, CO

LOCATION.--Lat 40°19'28", long 105°12'41", in SE14, sec.10, T.4 N., R.70 W., Larimer County, Hydrologic Unit 10190006, in hoist house 293 ft from right abutment of Carter Lake Dam on Dry Creek, 7.0 mi west of Berthoud, and 8.9 mi upstream from mouth. Water-quality sampling site near center of reservoir.

RESERVOIR ELEVATIONS AND CONTENTS RECORDS

PERIOD OF RECORD.--March 1954 to current year. For a complete listing of historical data available for this site, see http://waterdata.usgs.gov/co/nwis/inventory/?site_no=06742500

GAGE.--Nonrecording gage read at irregular intervals from 1 to 13 days. Datum of gage is 5,763.00 ft above NGVD of 1929, (levels by U.S. Bureau of Reclamation); gage readings have been reduced to elevations above NGVD of 1929.

REMARKS.--Reservoir is formed by an earth and rockfill dike enlarging the natural basin of Carter Lake. Storage began in February 1954. Usable capacity, 113,500 acre-ft between elevations 5,618.00 ft, trashrack sill at outlet, and 5,763.00 ft, maximum water surface, 6 ft below crest of dam. Dead storage, 3,306 acre-ft. Figures given represent usable contents. Water diverted from Colorado River basin through Alva B. Adams tunnel is pumped from Flatiron Reservoir into Carter Lake for supplemental irrigation supply to Little Thompson River and St. Vrain and Boulder Creek basins. Water above elevation 5,620 ft may be released for return to Flatiron Reservoir where pump turbines can operate in reverse to generate power and water can be used for irrigation in Big Thompson or Cache la Poudre River basins.

COOPERATION.--Records provided by U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

EXTREMES FOR PERIOD OF RECORD.--Maximum contents observed, 109,100 acre-ft, Apr. 27-29, 1971, elevation, 5,759.12 ft; minimum observed since appreciable storage was attained, 960 acre-ft, Oct. 25, 1954, elevation, 5,621.40 ft.

EXTREMES (AT 0800) FOR CURRENT YEAR.--Maximum contents, 101,600 acre-ft, Feb. 18, elevation, 5,752.53 ft; minimum contents, 47,370 acre-ft, Nov. 11, elevation, 5,698.25 ft.

MONTHEND ELEVATION AND CONTENTS, AT 0800, WATER YEAR OCTOBER 2002 TO SEPTEMBER 2003

Date	Elevation (feet)	Contents (acre-feet)	Change in contents (acre-feet)
Sept. 30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	5,705.54	53,830	-
Oct. 31 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	5,699.06	48,080	-5,760
Nov. 30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	5,712.22	59,990	+11,910
Dec. 31 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	5,731.65	79,180	+19,190
CAL YR 2002. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	-	-	+19,580
Jan. 31 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	5,747.72	96,280	+17,100
Feb. 28 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	5,752.04	101,100	+4,780
Mar. 31 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	5,750.72	95,590	-1,470
Apr. 30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	5,747.76	96,330	-3,270
May 31. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	5,743.39	91,570	-4,760
June 30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	5,738.72	86,570	-4,990
July 31 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	5,728.39	75,840	-10,730
Aug. 31 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	5,709.72	57,650	-18,190
Sept. 30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	5,700.42	49,260	-8,390
WTR YR 2003. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	-	-	-4,570