Carter, Horsetooth haven't been this full in 7 years
Normally, Carter Lake is sporting a 30-foot-wide shoreline this time of year.
Right now, there is virtually none.
The Bureau of Reclamation reservoir west of Berthoud is completely full, and officials expect Horsetooth Reservoir west of Fort Collins to be full within 10 days -- conditions not seen for at least seven years.
"There's a whole generation of boaters that haven't seen Carter Lake this full and definitely not this full this long," said Dan Rieves, visitor services manager for the Larimer County Department of Natural Resources.
That means excellent conditions for boaters and fishers, who will likely enjoy an extended season at both reservoirs, Rieves said.
"We will have high water longer in the season," he said.
The reservoirs are owned by the federal Bureau of Reclamation, the water distributed by Northern Water, and recreation on them and their surrounding parks handled by Larimer County.
Most of the water is from the Western Slope and carried to Larimer County through a system of pipes, tunnels and the Big Thompson River.
This year, though, heavy snowpack and rain have lessened the amount of water pulled from the Western Slope because more runoff is available, said Dana Strongin, spokeswoman for Northern Water, the water conservancy district based in Berthoud.
Carter Lake is so full that as soon as some water is released to farmers and other users, it is replaced.
"The Bureau of Reclamation will not put another gallon into Carter Lake," Rieves said. "It's as full as they're going to fill it."
In fact, in some areas at Carter Lake, boaters are able to pull up next to campsites, and anglers are able to cast right from the road in certain campground areas, he said.
Horsetooth is not as full as Carter, but it was reported at 93 percent full Wednesday. The reservoir rose 10 feet in 30 days and should be full within another 10, officials said.
"It's been quite a while since these reservoirs have been that full," Rieves said.
Pamela Dickman can be reached at 669-5050, ext. 526, or pdickman@reporter-herald.com
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