Gross Reservoir Expansion Project
Document library
Federal District Court Lawsuit
In late 2018, groups opposing the Gross Reservoir Expansion Project filed suit against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in opposition to the 404 Permit and Record of Decision that Denver Water received in July 2017. Denver Water intervened as a respondent and is defending the permit alongside the federal respondents. Below are the primary court filings in order of submittal.
- Petition for Review of Agency Action – Dec. 19, 2018
- Denver Water’s Unopposed MOTION to Intervene and to Extend Time to Answer Petition – Feb. 7, 2019
- DECLARATION of James Lochhead – Feb. 7, 2019
- ORDER granting Denver water motion to intervene – Feb. 8, 2019
- Supplemental Petition for Review of Agency Action – Aug. 13, 2020
- Denver Water’s Memo in Support of Motion To Dismiss – Aug. 17, 2020
- Federal Defendants Memo in Support of Motion To Dismiss – Aug. 17, 2020
- Petitioners’ Response to Motion To Dismiss – Sept. 25, 2020
- Denver Water’s Reply in Support of Motion To Dismiss – Oct. 23, 2020
- Federal Defendants Reply on Motion To Dismiss – Oct. 23, 2020
- Petitioners’ Motion for Surreply – Oct. 30, 2020
- Denver Water’s Opposition to Surreply – Nov. 4, 2020
- Order Denying Surreply Redacted – Nov. 9, 2020
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Order
In July 2020 the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued an order to proceed with design and construction to expand Gross Reservoir in Boulder County. The order can be found below.
Final Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Hydropower License Amendment Application
Feb 2019: FERC published the Final Supplemental Environmental Assessment, including the Finding of No Significant Impact.
Feb 2018: FERC published notice of availability of a Supplemental Environmental Assessment. Public comment will be accepted until April 9, 2018; instructions may be found here.
May 2017: We responded to public comments received by FERC during their 60-day comment period. Those responses can be found here.
April 2017: We provided FERC with details about our consultation with the U.S. Forest Service regarding changes to our Recreational Management Plan.
March 2017: We responded to FERC’s February 2017 request for more information with this letter.
February 2017: FERC notified Denver Water that the public comment period has started on our application to amend our hydropower license. They also wrote us a letter requesting more information.
November 2016: Denver Water filed our final license amendment application with the FERC. Multiple Documents and Volumes available here:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 404 Permit and Record of Decision
In July 2017 the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers approved the Gross Reservoir Expansion Project by granting Denver Water its’ 404 permit and Record of Decision. The 404 permit and Record of Decision can be found below.
U.S. Forest Service Agreement
- Settlement Agreement – the overall master agreement describing the negotiations and resolution of issues.
- Appendix 1 – 4(e) Conditions related to operation and maintenance of the Gross Expansion Project – these conditions will be part of the amended Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) license.
- Appendix 2 – Off-license Agreement – commitments by Denver Water and USFS related to Denver Water’s past, existing and future operations on USFS lands.
Clean Water Act, Section 401 Water Quality Certification
June 2016: The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment issued the Section 401 Water Quality Certification for the Gross Reservoir Expansion Project that certifies – with the approved mitigation and enhancement measures – the project will create a “Net Environmental Benefit” on both the West and East slopes. This certification includes the following documents:
Endangered Species Act, Section 7 Consultation
December 2013: U.S. Fish and Wildlife issued its Biological Opinion on impacts of depletions of Denver Water’s entire system (not just the Gross Reservoir Expansion Project).
National Historic Preservation Act, Section 106 Consultation
2015 Availability Sessions
Handouts:
Posters:
Presentation:
2008 Public Meetings
Construction Traffic Documents
Documents:
- Noise Vibration Analysis
- Map – Gross Reservoir Sound Vibration Monitors
- Map – Proposed Gross Reservoir Haul Route
During construction, the volume of construction traffic will vary day-to-day and month-to-month, depending on the type and number of construction activities taking place.
There may be delays caused by slow-moving construction vehicles on Gross Dam Road and Colorado 72. Other roads, such as Colorado 93, Colorado 128, U.S. 287, Arapahoe Road (U.S. 287 bypass to County Line Road) and County Line Road may be affected depending on the location of the construction materials needed to be transported to the site.
Denver Water is looking into alternatives for reducing construction traffic delays, including constructing and/or improving turnouts on Colorado 72 for slow-moving traffic.
To assure we fully understand the potential impacts, on Aug. 8, 2013, Denver Water conducted a test by using loaded trucks to gauge noise and safety issues using third-party experts who have conducted many similar studies. Learn more by viewing the videos at the following links:
Introduction
Study Overview
Passing Slow-Moving Vehicles
Intersection of Highway 72 and Gross Dam Road
Truck Noise
Dust
Conclusion
Draft FERC Hydropower License Amendment Application
- Denver Water operates a hydroelectric power plant at Gross Reservoir under a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) hydropower license. To expand the reservoir, Denver Water needs to amend its existing hydropower license. Denver Water is required to provide information on the proposed changes at Gross Reservoir to stakeholders (e.g., relocation of recreation facilities, changes in hydropower generation, etc.), before submitting a final application to the FERC.
Please note that the draft application is a large document and it may take a long time to download.
Draft FERC Hydropower License Amendment Application (29.34 MB)
Copies of the draft FERC hydropower license amendment application are also available for public review at:
-
- Denver Water Administrative Building, 1600 West 12th Ave., Denver, 80204
- Local libraries:
- Grand County:
- Fraser Valley Library, 421 Norgren Road, Fraser, Colo. 80442
- Granby Library, 55 Zero St., Granby, Colo. 80446
- Kremmling Library, 300 S. 8th St., Kremmling, Colo. 80459-1240
- Denver County:
- Central Library, 10 W. Fourteenth Ave. Parkway, Denver, 80204
- Boulder County:
- Main Library, 1001 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder, Colo. 80302
- Jefferson County:
- Arvada Library, 7525 W. 57th Ave., Arvada, Colo., 80002
- Golden Library, 1019 10th St. Golden, Colo., 80401
- Summit County:
- Summit County Library South Branch, 504 Airport Road, Breckenridge, Colo., 80424
- Summit County Library North Branch, 651 Center Circle, Silverthorne, Colo., 80498
- Grand County:
- Denver Water will provide an electronic copy on CD of the draft FERC hydropower license amendment application, if requested.
Environmental Impact Statement
Click here to visit the Moffat EIS Page on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Website.
FERC Amendment - Initial Consultation Document
Letters to Gross Reservoir Neighbors
Letters to Stakeholders
Former Gov. Endorses Gross Reservoir Expansion Project
Latest News / Blog
Denver Water statement on seeking dismissal of its appeal of 1041 case
July 29, 2020 - A year ago, Denver Water submitted an application with Boulder County to begin the 1041 process related to the Gross Reservoir expansion. At the same time, we sought clarity in the courts on whether the expansion was subject to that process. Boulder...
Final federal approval secured for Gross Reservoir Expansion Project
DENVER — July 17, 2020 — Today, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ordered Denver Water to proceed with design and construction to expand Gross Reservoir in Boulder County. Seventeen years ago, Denver Water began the federal environmental permitting process that...
Virtual Appointment Booking
Have you heard that the Gross Reservoir Expansion Project now offers virtual one-on-one appointments? Due to continued social distancing guidelines, we are not able to host our regular office hours at our public information yurt this year. However, we would still love...
Notice of utility locate survey work on Gross Dam Road
Beginning May 25, Lamb-Star Engineering, LLC, through a subcontract with Stantec and Denver Water, as part of Stantec’s work on roadway design for safety improvements of Gross Dam Road will be completing utility location surveys along Gross Dam Road. This work will...
Boating opens May 22 at Gross Reservoir; plan for possible crowds
Gross Reservoir opens for boating Friday, May 22, and recreation managers want visitors to be aware of the potential for crowds, slow traffic, lower water levels and parking challenges. The reservoir, southwest of Boulder, is popular with kayakers and others using...
Notice of on-site closure of Gross Dam Road
COAL CREEK CANYON — April 24, 2020 — Access to trails, viewpoints and shorelines on the south side of Gross Reservoir will be closed on weekdays between Monday, April 27, and Friday, May 8, for watershed protection activities in coordination with the Colorado State...