Denver Water Gross Reservoir Expansion

About This Project

Denver Water’s Gross Reservoir Expansion Project will raise Gross Dam by 131 feet and add 77,000 acre-feet of water storage capacity, solving an imbalance in their distribution system. In addition to the physical challenges of pursuing a large-scale construction project on a 60-year-old dam, Denver Water faced both community and environmental sensitivities and pushback. The long project development process resulted in lengthy periods of minimal communication with those in the immediate vicinity, Boulder County residents and others in the Front Range area. Building trust, raising awareness of the purpose and need for the project, as well as addressing technical and regulatory challenges, became a priority for Denver Water’s project team.

K&A is currently working with Denver Water to support community engagement and outreach initiatives associated with the Gross Reservoir Expansion Project, including developing and maintaining a project-specific website, designing outdoor signage at various points along the reservoir shore and in other areas where visitors may congregate, and providing on-site outreach staff for the community information center located in a yurt near the boat ramp so that residents and visitors can learn more about the project. Construction-related activities are expected to begin in 2022, with project completion by 2027.