Dillon Reservoir Reaches Capacity

For the first time in four years Dillon Reservoir is full.

On Monday morning the reservoir reached capacity and started to spill water through the Glory Hole for the first time since 2001. The reservoir came within 9 inches of reaching capacity in 2003.

Dillon holds 254,000 acre-feet of water and is the largest of Denver Water's storage areas. It filled this year despite a below-average snowpack in the Blue River watershed and below-normal streamflows for much of the spring.

Timely spring moisture in the South Platte Basin allowed Denver Water to leave the Roberts Tunnel shut off through most of the spring. The tunnel is used to divert water from the reservoir to the Front Range for consumption.

The wet spring combined with Denver Water's customer conservation helped fill Dillon. The reservoir will remain within a couple of feet of full through Labor Day, according to Denver Water.

Good news, indeed.