Horsetooth Reservoir

Located west of Fort Collins, Colorado at an elevation of over 5,000 feet, Horsetooth Reservoir has a total capacity of about 151,750 acre-feet and comprises the main supply of water for the Poudre Valley, where 50 percent of the Colorado-Big Thompson project water is utilized. The Colorado-Big Thompson projects purpose is to divert water from the west slope to the east slope for irrigation, hydropower generation and for drinking water.  The reservoir is 6.5 miles long, and is formed by four large earthfill dams. Soldier Canyon, Dixon Canyon and Spring Canyon Dams close natural outlets eroded through the hogback ridge and Horsetooth dam closes the north end of the reservoir.  These dams range in height from 155 to 240 feet.  The four dams on the Horsetooth Reservoir contain more than 10 million cubic yards of earthfill.