C-BT Nutrient Project

The Colorado-Big Thompson Project is a source of supplemental water for northeastern Colorado. The C-BT also provides aquatic habitat, recreational opportunities and hydroelectric power to the East and West slopes. The Project’s multiple functions occasionally lead to competing needs and concerns, including nutrient-related water quality issues.

Individuals and entities have studied C-BT water quality for decades. However, to date there has been no truly comprehensive water quality assessment of the C-BT system. The C-BT Nutrient Project is designed to fill that gap by identifying nutrient related water quality issues, analyzing the problems and causes, and recommending feasible options to improve C-BT water quality. This will occur via a three-phase process.

Phase 1 (Scoping): Develop a consensus-based scope of study identifying project goals and objectives, water quality issues requiring assessment, and the studies needed to determine the cause of nutrient related problems.

Phase 2 (Studies and Results): Fund and carry out the studies identified in Phase 1, synthesize information gathered, analyze the cause and effect relationships behind those problems, and identify key causal areas.

Phase 3 (Recommendations): Identify key causal areas that management strategies could most effectively and efficiently address (feasible options will be implemented after Phase 3 completion).

Phase 1 is currently underway and will last through the end of 2007. The District recently created a Technical Advisory Team to assist with this effort. Team members are technically proficient and represent federal, state, regional, and local organizations interested in or affected by C-BT Project water quality. The Technical Advisory Team likely will be engaged in all three phases of the process.

For more information on the C-BT Nutrient Project, download the Overview. Or, contact Esther Vincent at 970-622-2256 or evincent@ncwcd.org.