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PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS

August 16, 1962 Project Authorized under Public Law 87-590
August 1964 Construction began on Ruedi Dam
November 2, 1965 Started excavating Charles H. Boustead Tunnel
December 1965 Construction began on Sugar Loaf Dam
April 15, 1968 Breached old Sugar Loaf Dam
May 1968 Began storing water in Ruedi Reservoir
June 15, 1969 Charles H. Boustead Tunnel "holed through"
July 1970 Construction started on Pueblo Dam - first contract
May 16, 1972 Initial Project diversion (Chapman, South Fork, and Fryingpan)
June 7, 1972 Initial diversion from Sawyer Creek
July 1972 Construction began on Pueblo Dam - second contract
January 9, 1974 Began storing water in Pueblo Reservoir
May 6, 1974 Initial diversion from Lily Pad
May 4, 1976 Initial diversion from Ivanhoe Creek
May 1977 First replacement water released from Ruedi Reservoir
June 1977 First sale of water from Ruedi Reservoir
November 22, 1977 Adopted the recommended bypass flow of 15 ft/s or natural inflow, whichever is less on Lake Creek below Twin Lakes Dam
June 1, 1979 Initial diversion from Middle Cunningham Creek
June 4, 1979 Initial diversion from Mormon Creek
June 14, 1979 Initial diversion from North Cunningham Creek
May 8, 1980 Initial diversion from Hunter, Midway and No Name Creek Diversions
June 4, 1980 Initial diversion from North Fork and South Cunningham
December 8, 1980 Federal Register notification of availability of water from Ruedi Reservoir
April 28, 1981 Initial diversion from Carter
May 1, 1981 Initial diversion form North Fork
May 6, 1981 Initial diversion from Granite Creek
June 1, 1981 Assume operation at Twin Lakes Dam
June 23, 1981 Mt. Elbert Forebay filled
September 29, 1981 Mt. Elbert Powerplant dedicated
October 1, 1981 Mt. Elbert Unit #1 was made commercially available to Western Area Power Authority for their use
May 5, 1982 Initial diversion from Halfmoon Creek
July 29, 1982 Turquoise Lake filled for first time
September 14, 1983 Initial diversion from south outlet works at Pueblo Dam for Pueblo West
August 9, 1984 Mt. Elbert Unit #2 was made commercially available to Western Area Power Authority for their use
May 24, 1985 Began storing water under Arkansas River Decree
July 1, 1985 Initial diversion through Fountain Valley Conduit
August 1985 Ruedi Hydroplant began operations
November 27, 1985 Twin Lakes pipeline began operations
May 7, 1986 Sugar Loaf Hydroplant began operations
June 1986 Imports restricted due to high east slope storage
November 10, 1987 Winter water storage decree approved and signed
November 17, 1989 Completed the removal of dikes and constructed the bypass channel around the old outlet works in the old Twin Lakes dam
July 1990 Initial release from Twin Lakes Reservoir for recreational benefits on the Arkansas River
August 14, 1990 Initial release from Ruedi Reservoir for endangered fish (conservation flows pursuant to the biological opinion) in the Colorado's River's "15-mile reach" for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from water leased by the Colorado Water Conservation Board
September 28, 1990 Dedication of Pueblo Fish Hatchery and the completion of construction of the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project ceremony
November 1990 Final winter storage decree signed by court
July 21, 1992 Dedication of Leadville Mine Drainage Tunnel Water Treatment Plant
September 29, 1994 Transfer of Phase II of the Pueblo Fish Hatchery at Pueblo Reservoir to Colorado Division of Wildlife
May 15, 1995 Final transfer of recreational facilities at Pueblo to the Department of Parks and Outdoor Recreation
July 7, 1995 Began storing water under Arkansas River Decree
July 18, 1995 Began restricting  imports due to high east slope storage
July 1997 Reservoir level at Pueblo Reservoir restricted after a routine risk assessment of Pueblo Dam was completed and raised concern about the foundation below the spillway section of the dam
May 1999 Reservoir restriction lifted
July 2000 Risk Analysis Study of Pueblo Dam completed
July 11, 2000 Long-term contract between United States government and the Pueblo Board of Water Works executed
September 11, 2001 As a result of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, all Fryinpan-Arkansas Project facilities were closed to the public. The facilities remained closed until security measures to safeguard the federal investment were implemented. Reclamation has maintained a heightened level of security at Fry-Ark facilities since that time.
July 23, 2002 Initial release of water through Pueblo Board of Water Works south outlet works joint-use manifold

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