First Dillon Reservoir filled to capacity, now Green Mountain Reservoir is as well. Green Mountain is pictured at left, before it filled to capacity.
Located near Heeney, north of Breckenridge approximately 35 miles, Green Mountain Reservoir reached capacity recently and began "spilling" water into the Blue River.
As both reservoirs are now full, the Blue River is now "free." Calling the Blue "free" means there is more than enough water in the system to meet all the adjudicated water rights.
"For the first time in a long time, there's more water in the system than there is demand," said Scott Hummer, Division 5 water commissioner for the State Engineer's Office.
"This is a very unusual situation," Hummer added, explaining that during his 15 years of administering water rights in the Blue River Basis, he's only seen it happen twice - once in 1995 and again in 1997.
Green Mountain Reservoir has a capacity of 154,645 acre feet; a surface area of 2,123 acres; is at an altitude fo 7,950 feet above sea level and the dam is 309 feet tall.
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