Gross Reservoir Expansion Project
As a federally permitted project, the purpose, need and environmental impacts of the project have been vetted through almost a decade of research. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released the Final Environmental Impact Statement in 2014 that details project mitigation measures and addresses public comment received after publication of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement. Like many water supply projects, there are a number of permits at the federal, state and local level that are needed before construction can begin:
401 Certification
- Also a component of the Clean Water Act of 1972, 401 Certification is a process handled at the state level. In the case of the Gross Reservoir Expansion Project, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is responsible for evaluating the impacts of and ensuring water quality associated with this project.
- Secured: June 2016
Record of Decision and 404 Permit
- A major responsibility of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is administering the permitting program under Section 404 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972, also known as the Clean Water Act. Permit review and authorization is a thoughtful and lengthy process that encourages avoidance of impacts, followed by minimizing impacts and, finally, requiring mitigation for unavoidable impacts to the aquatic environment.
- 404 Permit
- Secured: July 2017
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Hydropower License Amendment
- The Gross Reservoir Dam includes a 7.6 mW hydropower unit, which is licensed for operation by FERC. Under the Federal Power Act, FERC has exclusive authority to license non-federal hydropower projects. The amendment of license process requires that FERC address both the economics and engineering issues and the potential environmental and socioeconomic effects of project development and operation.
- Secured: July 2020
Latest News / Blog
Gross Reservoir recreation opening Saturday, July 2
Boulder, Colo. — July 1, 2022 — Recreation at Gross Reservoir will reopen Saturday, July 2, after a two-week closure to recover a vehicle from the reservoir following a fatal accident at the construction site for the dam expansion project on June 18. Operations for...
Long-term recreation closure at Gross Reservoir
Boulder, Colo. — June 22, 2022 — Recreation at Gross Reservoir will remain closed for multiple weeks following the June 18 fatal accident at the Gross Reservoir Expansion Project where an engineer with six years of experience lost his life. This is essential as crews...
Gross Reservoir recreation closed until further notice
Boulder, Colo. — June 18, 2022— Emergency responders are working on an accident that took place overnight at the Gross Reservoir Expansion Project site, in which a construction haul vehicle veered off the road into the reservoir. First responders and other agencies...
May 2022 Recreation Update
May 26, 2022 - As a reminder, some recreation areas have closed or been relocated to ensure safety during the Gross Reservoir Expansion Project. The overall recreation experience will also be different throughout the project. Below are some of the changes and things...