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Scroll down for more views and maps of the Fishing Canal
that pours into the south end of Shadow Mountain Lake.
The fishing canal is almost two miles long with many scenic
bends. It is part of the Colorado Big Thompson Project.
It transports a huge amount of water (up to 600 cubic feet per
second pumped) from Lake Granby to Shadow Mountain Lake.
The concrete-cube Farr Pumping Plant at the north end of Lake
Granby lifts the the lake water (snowmelt) approximately
150± feet
(depending on the lake's storage level) to a natural ridge
overlooking Lake Granby. From there is flows by gravity through
the
canal to Shadow Mountain Lake. The huge flow creates excellent
habitat for trout and (delicious) kokanee salmon where it
spills into the south end of Shadow Mountain Lake. The water is a
long ways from its designated use in the Great Plains
(originally to grow sugar beats to beat Cuban sugar cane ....
that's another story on the quirks of history and geopolitics).
The water starts its downward flow through the canal and
eventually to the natural Chanel from Shadow Mountain Lake
to Grand Lake. It then finds its way to tunnel below the
surface of the Grand Lake near her east end. The water tunnels
under The Continental Divide for 13 miles to Estes Park. From Estes Park, the water still has a two thousand foot fall
to
The Great Plains via the Big Thompson River and Canyon. Hydroelectricity is generated in the almost 10 foot wide tunnel
to
power the Farr Pumping Plant and more. Additional electricity is generated in the long drop to the Great Plains.
The Fishing Canal is great for dog walks. It almost never freezes
because it carries water in the winter that has been pumped up from Lake
Granby. Scroll down for winter fishing.
In the Winter, the canal area can be serene and poetic. Scroll down for 4 misty morning views.
If you would like to get to know the
area on your own and spend a night along the canal . . . at Mountain Lake Lodge.
Scroll down to zoom in on the goose that is using the canal as a
flyway.
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