Follow the Process: Denver Water's Plan to Expand
BIG
PICTURE:
While the expansion of the Gross Reservoir will have a great impact on Boulder County over the next seven years or longer, the extra drinking water supply created from the expansion will exclusively serve Denver Water customers at the expense of Boulder and surrounding areas.
The project was intended to address an expected water shortfall that would have hit in 2016. However, due to conservation efforts, that shortfall never happened. Sustainable water management practices are required in this era of drying climate. Expanding Gross Dam is using 20th century technology to solve a 21st century challenge.
Rather than spending $380 to $450 million (and maybe more) on a dam expansion project that threatens our local environment, we should concentrate our efforts on continuing water conservation efforts in the Denver area and look for ongoing, sustainable solutions to support a growing population in a world affected by climate change. Climate scientists tell us that by the middle of this century there will likely not be enough water to fill even the existing reservoir, let alone a larger one. This ill advised project, should it proceed, may well result in Denver Water "building" a big, dry hole.
The timeline below features downloadable resources to follow the process from its origin to where we are today:
Denver Water requests dismissal in Gross Reservoir appeal - asks Boulder County to review expansion project
JUL 2020
Denver Water Submits 1041 Application and Boulder County Land Use Department will not accept until litigation ends.
JUL 2019
Save the Colorado & The Environmental Group Granted Motion to Intervene on behalf of Boulder County
JUNE 2019
Boulder County Commissioners unanimously vote to force Denver Water through local 1041 process.
MAR 2019
Federal Energy Regulation Commission (FERC) letter regarding drilling program plan
FERC responds to Boulder County's letter regarding the proposed amended drilling plan by Denver Water.
JUL
2018
Supplemental environmental assessment by Save the Colorado and The Environmental Group
These organizations filed public comments dependent on the work of several qualified experts who have prepared technical reports in their respective fields.
APR
2018
Comments on vegetation removal and associated activities as a result of Gross Dam expansion
Rocky Smith's assessment of the impacts of forestry issues and vegetation removal in the FERC Supplemental Environmental Assessment.
APR
2018
Supplemental environmental analysis regarding considerations for special aquatic resources
Grand Environmental Services focuses on Denver Water's proposals regarding special aquatic resources including riffle‐pool complexes and jurisdictional wetlands.
APR
2018
REPORT: Actual versus projected water demand for Denver Water customers
Report prepared by Lisa Buchanan of LRB Hydrology & Analytics analyzing Denver Water's projected demand versus actual demand over two decades.
APR 2018
Boulder County's comments to FERC on the Supplemental Environmental Assessment
Boulder County is an intervenor in this action and offers these comments related to the Gross Reservoir Hydroelectric Project.
MAR
2018
The Environmental Group's letter to Boulder County Commissioners about Gross Dam Expansion
The Environmental Group calls on the Boulder County Commission to oppose the Gross Dam expansion project due to increasing concerns.
JUN
2017
The Environmental Group's comments to FERC regarding Gross Dam expansion
The Environmental Group responds to Denver Water's Application Amendment to expand their hydroelectric project at Gross Reservoir.
APR
2017
US Army Corps of Engineers release draft Environmental Impact Statement
This Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) evaluates the effects of a water supply project called the Moffat Collection System Project (Moffat Project).
OCT
2016
Denver Water's final borrow haul study and alternatives analysis
HDR Engineering, Inc. analyses methods of transporting and hauling materials to complete the Gross Reservoir expansion project.
DEC
2012
Boulder County Commission's letter to FERC, Denver Water, and the Army Corps of Engineers
Boulder County Comments on the Moffat Collection System Draft EIS and Draft FERC
License Amendment Application