Road Access Update (Again) For Colorado’s Blue River

Road Access Update (Again) For Colorado’s Blue River

On August 1, the Bureau of Reclamation will reopen Summit County Road 1812 near Green Mountain Dam and Powerplant to vehicles and pedestrians. Periodic road closures may occur in the future if rain or snowmelt cause unsafe conditions below the slope.

Removal of unstable slide material was successful, but future closures are still possible following precipitation.

The road closed in early April when mud and debris blocked the roadway. Unstable slope conditions above the road have kept the road closed to the public throughout the summer. Recently, crews removed unstable material to reduce the risks to road users. Visitors are cautioned to not park or linger in slide zones, which are marked with road signs.

“Reclamation looks forward to reopening this road and allowing safe access to recreation below Green Mountain Dam,” said Patrick Fischer, Eastern Colorado Area Office Deputy Manager. “We appreciate the community’s patience this summer.”

Future unplanned closures may occur if snowmelt or rain cause the slope to become unstable. The public can contact Anna Perea, Public Affairs Specialist, at (970) 290-1185 or aperea@usbr.gov or the Eastern Colorado Area Main Office at (970) 461-5410 to confirm the status of the road before traveling to the dam.

The Colorado-Big Thompson Project (C-BT) is one of the largest and most complex natural resource developments undertaken by the Bureau of Reclamation, in partnership with the project’s local partner, Northern Water. C-BT stores, regulates and diverts water from the Colorado River west of the Continental Divide to provide supplemental irrigation water for 615,000 acres east of the Rocky Mountains. In addition, the C-BT provides a supplemental municipal and industrial water supply for more than 1 million residents in Northeastern Colorado, as well as providing recreation in the area. It also produces enough electricity to power nearly 68,000 households.