The 8-Inch Flume is a Plexiglas walled flume allowing for maximum observability of hydraulic conditions during small scale testing. The flume is 8.5-inches in width, 15-inches in height, and 30-feet in length with an adjustable slope ranging from horizontal to about 4-percent. Flow is recirculated from a closed system standalone water tank and is controlled by a multi-speed pump with a discharge of 0.1 to 1.0-cfs measured using an Orifice plate, Rosemount Pressure Transducer and digital readout box.

The 2-Foot Flume is a wood walled flume with multiple Plexiglas viewing windows on each side for observation of hydraulic conditions during small scale testing. The 60-foot long, 2-feet wide and 2-foot high flume has an adjustable slope ranging between horizontal and 8-percent. Low flows are achieved using the 4-inch PVC direct connection to the Horsetooth line with discharge measured using an Orifice plate and Rosemount Pressure Transducer. If higher flows are needed, discharge can be controlled by a 12-inch, 75 horsepower pump with variable frequency drive producing a range between 0.75 and 10.0-cfs. Flow run in this configuration is measured be a George Signet 2550 Magmeter with a digital readout box. The flume has a hand pushed data collection cart spanning the width of the flume for mounting of experimental instrumentation.

The Green and Gold 4-Foot Flume is a 4-feet wide, 2.5-feet in height, 60-feet long aluminum walled flume with multiple single side Plexiglas viewing widows for observation during hydraulic testing. The flume has an adjustable slope ranging between horizontal and about 3 percent. Discharge in the flume is produced by a 100-horsepower fixed speed recirculating pump from the laboratory sump with bypass control valve via a 24-inch supply line and two lines sizes available to supply the flume. The 6-inch bypass line achieves low flows in the flume with a discharge range from 0.25 to 5.0-cfs measured using an Orifice plate and Rosemount Pressure Transducer. High flows are supplied directly via the 24-inch supply and has a discharge range of 4.0 to 25.0-cfs measured using an Annubar and Rosemount Pressure Transducer. The flume is currently undergoing an upgrade to automate the data collection cart that spans the width of the flume, driven by an electric motor and having multiple mounting locations for experimental instrumentation. In a planned and anticipated facility improvement, the Hydraulics Laboratory has recently purchased a new Endress and Hauser Promag 53W6H 24-inch Electromagnetic Flowmeter for improved and more accurate discharge measurement in the Green n’ Gold and Red 4-Foot flumes.

The Red 4-Foot Flume is a wood walled flume that is 4-feet wide, 4-feet wide and 30-feet long. The flume offers a wide range of testing slopes with an adjustable range of horizontal to about 50-percent at fixed increments. Flow in the flume is produced by a 100-horsepower fixed speed recirculating centrifugal pump with bypass control valve from the laboratory sump and delivered via a 24-inch line. Discharge ranges from 4.0 to 25.0-cfs and is measured using an Annubar and Rosemount Pressure Transducer. A winch assisted data collection cart, positional data-collection accuracy of ±0.01-ft, spans the width of the flume walls. In a planned and anticipated facility improvement, the Hydraulics Laboratory has recently purchased a new Endress and Hauser Promag 53W6H 24-inch Electromagnetic Flowmeter for improved and more accurate discharge measurement in the Green n' Gold and Red 4-Foot flumes.

The 4-Foot Earth Resources Flume is a wood walled with adjustable slope from 8 to 14-percent. The flume measures 3.9-feet in width, 2-feet in height, and 33-feet in length. It is possible to operate the flume in a variety of configurations using a 40-horsepower and 75-horsepower fixed speed centrifugal pumps with bypass or a direct feed from the Horsetooth line. Discharge is measured using an Orifice plate, Rosemount Pressure Transducer and digital readout box or a 3-inch Venturi Meter with Rosemount Pressure Transducer and digital readout box. The discharge ranges from 0.1 to 0.75-cfs for the Venturi configuration and 0.75 to 40-cfs using the Orrifice plate.

The Blue 6-Foot Flume is a steel walled flume with removable 43-inch tall by 38-inch wide Plexiglas viewing window enabling observation of hydraulic conditions during scale model testing or solid wall operation during erosion testing. The flume itself is 6-feet wide, 4-feet deep and 40-feet in length with an adjustable slope ranging from horizontal to approximately 23-percent. It is possible to operate the flume in a variety of configurations using a 40-horsepower and 75-horsepower centrifugal pump fixed speed pumps with bypass or a direct feed from the Horsetooth line. Discharge ranges from 0.75 to 55.0-cfs in total; 0.75 to 8.0-cfs with 40-hp pump measured Orifice plate, Rosemount Pressure Transducer and digital readout box, 4.0 to 25.0-cfs with 75-hp pump measured with Annubar, Rosemount Pressure Transducer and digital readout box, and 1.0 to 15.0-cfs with Horsetooth. A winch assisted experimental data collection cart, positional data-collection accuracy of ± 0.01-ft, spans the width of the flume walls.

The Green and Gold 8-Foot Flume is an 8-feet wide, 4-feet high, 200-feet long aluminum walled flume with multiple single side Plexiglas viewing widows for observation during hydraulic testing. The flume has an adjustable slope ranging between horizontal and about 2-percent. An electric motor driven cart that spans the width of the flume, having positional data-collection accuracy is ±0.01-ft, allows for experimental data collection through the course of testing. Discharge is provided via three independently operated lines recirculating water from the laboratory sump; Line 1 powered by a 125-horsepower pump with bypass control capable of producing 1.0 to 25.0-cfs measured using an Orfice plate, Rosemount Pressure Transducer and digital readout box, Line 2 powered by a 250-horsepower pump with bypass control capable of producing 1.0 to 50.0-cfs measured using an Orfice plate, Rosemount Pressure Transducer and digital readout box, and Line 3 powered by a 125-horsepower pump with bypass control capable of producing 1.0 to 25.0-cfs measured using an Orfice plate, Rosemount Pressure Transducer and digital readout box. There is also a 3-inch bypass line on Line 3 capable of producing low flows of 0.05 to 0.5-cfs in the flume. Total flow capacity of the flume while using all three pumps simultaneously is approximately 100.0-cfs.

The 12-Foot Reservoir Flume is a 12-foot wide, 4-foot high, and 16-foot long flume with a horizontal slope. It is feed directly from the Horsetooth line and has a discharge ranging from 1.0 to 15.0-cfs that is measured by an In-line Sonic Bore Meter.

The Blue 16-Foot Flume is 16-feet wide, 50-feet long and 4-feet deep consisting of steel walls and a concrete floor. The flume consists of a headbox which captures and redirects flow through a transitional approach section, the test section, which can contain a wide variety of hydraulic models, and an 8.5-foot by 16-foot by 5-foot tailbox which directs flows back into the laboratory sump. A hand pushed data collection cart width positional data-collection accuracy of ±0.01-ft spans the width of the flume. Electric 40-horsepower and 75-horsepower centrifugal pumps are used to deliver flow from the laboratory sump to the flume head box. Discharge from the 40-hp pump measured using an Orifice plate, Rosemount Pressure Transducer and digital readout box and ranges between 0.75 and 9.0-cfs. Discharge from the 75-hp pump are measured with an Endress and Hauser Proline Promag 53 electromagnetic flow meter with approximate accuracy of ±0.5% and ranges from 4.0 to 31.0-cfs. Total flow rate capacity to the flume is 40-cfs.

The 20-Foot River Model Flume is constructed of cinder block walls with a concrete floor and is 22.75-feet wide, 3.3-feet high, and 100-feet in length with horizontal slope. The flume consists of a 5.3-foot long head box and baffle bars directing flow to the 94.7-foot long test section which then drains flow back into the laboratory sump from varying tailbox configurations depending on experimentation setup. The flume has a gear driven electric cart spanning its width, with positional data-collection accuracy of ±0.01-ft and has multiple mounting locations for instrumentation to collect experimental data. Discharge in the flume has a total capacity to the flume is 40-cfs and produced using electric 40-horsepower and 75-horsepower centrifugal pumps to deliver flow from the laboratory sump to the flume head box. Discharge from the 40-hp pump measured using an Orifice plate, Rosemount Pressure Transducer and digital readout box and ranges between 0.75 and 9.0-cfs. Discharge from the 75-hp pump are measured with an Endress and Hauser Proline Promag 53 Electromagnetic Flowmeter with approximate accuracy of ± 0.5% and ranges from 4.0 to 31.0-cfs.

The Wave Overtopping Test Facility simulates intermittent wave overtopping by controlled periodic releases of specified volumes of water held in a vertical tank. With maximum average overtopping discharges up to 4.0-cfs/ft with a total simulator tank capacity of 958ft3 and is the largest wave overtopping simulator in the world. The facility design features two side-by-side 6-ft wide test channels. Each test channel includes a horizontal concrete approach approximately 15-foot long modeling a hardened levee crown. The horizontal approach terminates in a steel support structure with 28-foot of 3:1 Horizontal:Vertical (H:V) slope transitioning to 12 foot of 25:1 H:V slope, matching the common levee geometry of the test trays. The wave overtopping simulator was designed to be easily moved to either test channel, expediting testing by permitting preparation of the next test specimen in one channel while testing is in progress in the other channel. An overhead gantry crane facilitates placement and removal of the test planter trays.

Water to operate the Wave Overtopping Test Facility comes from Horsetooth Reservoir. Reservoir water is initially supplied through a 36-inch diameter pipe with maximum head pressure of 250-ft (110 psi). The simulator is fed by a 4-inch diameter pipe for average overtopping discharges from 0.01 to 0.2-cfs/ft measured by an Endress and Hauser Promag 53W1H 4-inch Electromagnetic Flowmeter with 4-inch ball valve control. A 12-inch diameter pipe feeds the simulator for average overtopping discharges up to 4.0-cfs/ft (depending on the overtopping wave condition being simulated)measured by an Endress and Hauser Promag 53W3H 12-inch Electrometric Flowmeter with 12-inch ball valve control. The Wave Generator is capable of individual wave volumes up to 170-ft3/ft. A 24-inch diameter pipe feeds a headbox upstream of the simulator to provide steady overtopping flows up to approximately 90-cfs or combined steady and wave overtopping flows. After water passes through the test facility, it flows to College Lake to serve as an irrigation source for CSU.

To provide the range of environmental conditions necessary to establish and maintain vegetative covers for projects throughout the world, the CSU Hydraulics Laboratory includes two 5400-square foot automated greenhouses. The greenhouses allow for the recreation of peak growing season conditions all year round with climate control, grow lights, and irrigation. With the ability to maintain a specific climate comes the ability to target specific root characteristics for performance testing, thereby providing more accurate results and increased understanding of the role roots play in slope protection.

The Tarbella Flume is and outdoor concrete lined flume 180-feet long, 20-feet wide and 8-feet deep with a horizontal slope. The flume consists of a pipe type flow energy dissipation inlet, a 100-foot long approach section followed by a 50-foot long and 5-foot deep pit, and a 50-foot long exit section draining to College Lake. Flow to the flume is produced via gravity feed from Horsetooth Reservoir and delivered by a 36-inch water line controlled using a 36-inch gate valve. Discharge capacity is approximately 200-cfs and is measured using an In-line Sonic Bore Meter and digital readout box with associated accuracy of approximately ±3.0% of the total measured flow rate. For experimental data collection there is an electrically driven cart spanning the width of the flume with spatial data collection accuracy of ±0.01-ft.

There are three available experimental flumes on the tail end of the main Tarbella Flume; the East Apron Flume is 6-feet wide, the Middle Apron Flume is 6.5-feet wide and the West Apron Flume is 6-feet wide. Each has a wall height of 4-feet, length of 70-feet, and is at fixed slope of 13 percent. Flow to the flumes is produced by gravity feed from the 36-inch Horsetooth Reservoir water line and controlled using a 36-inch gate valve. Discharge is measured using an In-line Sonic Bore Meter and digital readout box with associated accuracy of approximately ±3.0% of the total measured flow rate. Total flow rate capacity to the flumes is approximately 200-cfs.

Steep Flume is an outdoor concrete lined flume that is 10-feet wide, 8-feet high, and-120 feet long consisting of an inlet headbox, baffle box, 20-foot horizontal approach section and 100-foot long test section at a 2:1 (Horizontal:Vertical) or 50-percent fixed slope. In its current configuration Steep Flume is divided into two independently operated flumes by an 8-foot tall steel wall, the north flume being 5.5-feet in width and south flume 4.0-feet in width. Flow to the flume is produced by gravity feed from the 36-inch Horsetooth Reservoir water line and directed to either the north or south flume by installing a headbox wall to block flow to the other. Discharge is controlled using a 24-inch ball valve and measured by an In-line Sonic Bore Meter with digital readout box having associated accuracy of approximately ±3.0% of the total measured flow rate. Discharge ranges between 1.0 and 115.0-cfs with direct Horsetooth supply, additional flow can be achieved using a recirculating diesel motor pump and can reach a total flow rate of approximately 170-cfs, with water draining to College Lake. An electric winch and pulley driven cart with positional data-collection accuracy of ±0.01-ft for experimental data collection spans the width of the flume walls.

The Hydro-Machinery Laboratory is a 10,000-square foot standalone building able to accommodate the construction of custom scale models and flume setups of varying width, length, and height. Currently housed in the facility is a 1:12 scale model of a reach of the Rio Grande River. The facility is capable of a discharge range of 1.0 to 115.0-cfs when fed directly from the 36-inch Horsetooth water line via a 24-inch pipe inlet. In its current configuration the flume is set up to run two recirculating 40 horsepower centrifugal pumps delivering flow from the laboratory sump to the flume head box, each pump is capable of delivering up to 8.0-cfs with a maximum discharge of about 16.0-cfs. Flow is measured using an In-line Sonic Bore Meter when running water through the Horsetooth supply line and two Signet 2550 Insertion Magnetic Flowmeters when using the recirculating pumps. Both meters have digital readout boxes.