The Adams Tunnel 8-8-22

In 1940 construction began on the Adams Tunnel Project which was  to bring water and power from the Grand Lake area on the western side of the continental divide to Estes Park on the east side. Contractors starting from each side and drilled the 9 feet high tunnel and met each other in 1944. The alignment when they met was off by less than the width of a penny. Water started flowing through in 1947.

The tunnel drops 109 feet in elevation from west to east so the water flows downhill by gravity. It has a capacity of 550 cubic feet per second. It helps produce electricity to Estes Park and north eastern Colorado.

The water from the tunnel collects in a basic now called  Mary's Lake. In the late 1940's one day we walked from Cheley Camp to the new  Mary's Lake dam. The lake was empty and we had a barbecue by the dam.

At regular intervals they open up the water flow producing a spectacular spout. That's the lake with the power house in the background.The lake is stocked with trout. 

Jan and I went down from the road to check it out. Amazing.