Gross Reservoir Expansion Project
News and Updates
Gross expansion is a go after federal, state and local reviews finalized
TAP - November 8, 2021 - Project to raise dam will improve water reliability for more than 1.5 million people while benefiting the environment. After nearly 20 years of preparations, the expansion of Gross Reservoir in Boulder County is moving ahead. Last week, Denver...
Denver Water, Boulder County strike agreement to address construction impacts, improve road safety, and enhance environment, open space and recreation as part of reservoir project
Denver — Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021 — Denver Water and Boulder County have entered into an agreement related to the Gross Reservoir expansion that marks the final step in a nearly 20-year federal, state and local review to permit the project. Denver Water will commit...
Breathtaking work nearly 300 feet underwater
August 23, 2021 - TAP - Major project replacing large debris grate at Gross Dam requires experts in the harrowing field of saturation diving. Raitt stresses the project is wholly unrelated to the planned expansion of Gross Reservoir. It would be happening regardless...
All the ways we save (It’s not just shorter showers!)
August 6, 2021 - TAP There are a few things many customers might know about Denver Water’s efforts to use water efficiently. There was that fun and flashy and very effective 10-year “Use Only What You Need” campaign that cut per person water use by 22%. Denver Water...
Could Colorado cities save enough water to stop building dams?
Aug. 6, 2021 - Colorado Sun - Conservation groups want more “cash for grass” and other plans to acquire new water by saving it. But Denver and Aurora, among others, say there’s only so much to cut before a new dam is needed. Denver Water, serving 1.5 million customers...
A gleaming gift to the great outdoors
July 29,2021 - TAP - Denver Water conveying stunningly scenic parcels to Forest Service as part of Gross Reservoir Expansion Project. Denver Water is in the process of conveying 539 acres of wetlands, meadows and forests in Gilpin County to the Forest Service to be...
With critical water supply project facing unacceptable risk, Denver Water seeks relief from Boulder County process in federal court
DENVER — July 14, 2021 — Denver Water today filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court against Boulder County, asserting the county is overreaching its authority and jeopardizing a federally ordered reservoir expansion critical to a safe and secure water supply for one...
Hot, dry conditions stressing Grand County waterways
July 1, 2021 - TAP - Denver Water cuts back on some of its West Slope supplies to help struggling streams. On June 5, the Colorado River District asked Denver Water for help after reporting extremely low water levels and critically high water temperatures on the...
Have fun, stay safe on the water
May 28, 2021 - TAP - Here’s what to expect when boating, paddleboarding on Denver Water reservoirs this summer. “It’s important to remember that the primary purpose of our reservoirs is to store water for more than 1.5 million people in the metro area,” Ransom said....
Getting a (big) jump on a healthy environment
May 21, 2021 - TAP - Denver Water completing required stream and habitat improvements years ahead of final go-ahead for Gross Reservoir expansion. “Our No. 1 objective is to do right by our partners, by our customers and by the environment,” said Jeff Martin, project...
2020 Year-End Report
Last year was unique and required a lot of adaptation but we are proud of what we were able to progress throughout 2020. The 2020 Year-End Report can be viewed by clicking the image below.
Federal Lawsuit Dismissal Order
April 1, 2021 - Today’s decision is an important step. We will continue working earnestly through Boulder’s land-use process and look forward to beginning work on a project critical to water security for 1½ million people and to our many partners on the Front Range...
Denver Water submits response to agency and public comments on 1041 Permit Application
Denver Water received referral agency and public comments on its 1041 Permit Application from Boulder County on December 23, 2020. On February 19, 2021, Denver Water completed and filed its response to referral agency and public comments to Boulder County. Additional...
Gross Reservoir Expansion Proposal Presents Water Demand, Environmental Concerns
Law Week Colorado - Nov. 24, 2020 - "... the agreement obligates Denver Water to reduce diversions during drought years. “The project itself was shaped and designed to avoid damaging or affecting flows in the driest of years,” he said. “The project will only take...
Osprey Point Closure
Nov. 30, 2020 - Beginning the week of Nov. 30, Denver Water will be performing a safety project at the Osprey Point boat ramp at Gross Reservoir. This project will remove unstable rock at the boat ramp to ensure a safe environment for the public and Denver Water...
Going electrofishing on the Fraser Flats
TAP - Nov. 20, 2020 - "The data from the fish surveys are shared with Learning By Doing, a unique partnership between East and West Slope organizations in Colorado that focuses on maintaining the aquatic environment in Grand County and improving conditions when...
Aging outlet works at base of Denver Water dam call for major upgrade to valves, pipes.
October 16, 2020 - TAP - "At Gross Reservoir, one of the most important reservoirs in Denver Water’s system, it’s time to replace the outlet works, a seven-month job so big it will require sawing up massive slabs of concrete and removing fat steel pipes so big a short...
Denver Water submits 1041 permit application with Boulder County
On Sept. 21, Denver Water submitted its 1041 permit application with Boulder County for the Gross Reservoir Expansion Project. The application document is available to view here. We look forward to Boulder County’s 1041 review of the Gross Reservoir expansion with...