No Capacity at Elev. The Collbran Project, in west-central Colorado, has developed, for multiple purposes, a major part of the unused water in Plateau Creek and its principal tributaries. Supplemental irrigation water can be furnished to 19,710 acres and full irrigation service can be supplied to 2,500 acres of land.
Electrical energy is generated for use in west-central Colorado.
Major project works include Vega Dam and Reservoir, two powerplants, two major diversion dams, about 37 miles of canal, and about 18 miles of pipeline and penstock. The project also has rehabilitated and modified the operation of 17 small privately owned storage reservoirs on the Grand Mesa situated in the Cottonwood Creek and Big Creek watersheds. Fifteen of the 17 reservoirs provide water for power generation through the exchange of storage water on Grand Mesa for irrigation water from Vega Reservoir. The other reservoirs also are reserved for irrigation exchanges. Water used for the generation of power is collected from the Big and Cottonwood Creek drainage areas at elevations of more than 9800 feet above sea level.