Oil Shale Maps - Transmountain Diversions
Transmountain diversions (TMD) are water transfers across the Continental Divide from Colorado's wetter West Slope to the drier, but more populous, Front Range. The map and table below provide information about the larger TMDs. Roughly, 80% of Colorado's precipitation occurs in western Colorado, while over 80% of the population resides in the large metropolitan areas of Fort Collins, Boulder, Denver, Colorado Springs and Pueblo on the east side of the Divide.
Approximately half of the Denver metro area's water supply is taken from the Colorado River basin in western Colorado. The other major towns also receive a very significant portion of their water supply from across the Divide. To understand how these major urban water rights stand in priority with oil shale water rights, consult the Water on the Rocks report's Appendix E.
By hovering or clicking on the numbers on the map below, data about the diversion structures shows up in the left column.
| Map Location | Structure Name | Appropriation Owner | Appropriation Date | Beneficiaries | Average Annual Diversion (af) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adams Tunnel | C-BT project, NCWCD | 1935 | Cities, towns and agriculture in Northern Colorado and eastern South Platte River Basin |
205,718 |
| 2 | Grand River Ditch | Water Supply and Storage Company |
1890 | Agricultural interests in northern Colorado | 20,460 |
| 3 | Moffat Tunnel | Denver Water | 1921 | Denver Metro area | 53,160 |
| 4 | Roberts Tunnel | Denver Water | 1946 | Denver Metro area | 61,789 |
| 5 | Homestake Tunnel | Colorado Springs Utilities, City of Aurora |
1956 | Colorado Springs, Aurora | 27,600 |
| 6 | Twin Lakes Tunnel | Twin Lakes Canal and Reservoir Company) |
1930 | Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Aurora and a consortium of other municipalities and ag interests in the Arkansas River Basin |
40,615 |
| 7 | Bousted Tunnel | (Fry- Ark Project) SECWCD | 1957 | Colorado Springs, Pueblo, other municipalities and ag interests in the Arkansas River Basin |
61,550 (w/Busk/Ivanhoe) |
| 8 | Busk-Ivanhoe Tunnel | City of Pueblo, City of Aurora |
1957 | Pueblo, Aurora | 5,208 |
| 9 | Continental Hoosier Tunnel | City of Colorado Springs | 1952 | Colorado Springs | 9,600 |
| 10 | Columbine, Ewing & Wurtz ditches | City of Pueblo | 1930, 1911, 1929 | Pueblo | 5,590 |