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Old Dillon Reservoir To Be Drained

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Jul 29, 2008 9:10 am US/Mountain

Old Dillon Reservoir To Be Drained

Pine Beetles Threaten Dam's Safety

Reporting
Andrea Lopez
DILLON, Colo. (CBS4) ― The effects of the pine beetles are forcing a mountain community in Summit County to drain a reservoir. The Old Dillon Reservoir is located above the Dillon Dam Road near the Glory Hole.

Most of the lodgepole pines around the reservoir have been killed by pine beetles. State inspectors believe the dead trees pose a serious threat because their roots are integrated into the north dam. If the trees blew over, they could cause damage and water would spill out.

The drainage pipes are also in danger of failing, officials said. The town of Dillon had plans to drain the reservoir soon to prepare for an expansion project.

That work now has to be done a few months earlier than planned.

"We're going to drain it slowly so people can fish it out," said Eric Holgerson of Dillon Public Works.

The reservoir will be made nearly seven times bigger when the work is done. Construction on the new reservoir won't happen until 2009.

It will serve Dillon, Silverthorne and other parts of Summit County.

The current supply of water will be gone in a couple of months.

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