Boulder County begins to consider how to spend $5M to offset Gross Reservoir expansion impacts

Jun. 14—Boulder County is beginning to consider how it will spend the $5 million it received from Denver Water that's meant to help mitigate the construction impacts on residents who live near the Gross Reservoir expansion project.

One of the first steps being taken by the county is an environmental evaluation that assesses impacts such as noise, light pollution, air quality and general visual impacts.

The study will help the county better understand the effects of the project. However, the $55,600 contract for this work, which will be conducted by Lakewood-based environmental consulting firm Pinyon Environmental Inc. will not come out of the $5 million fund specifically earmarked for residents.

Conversations regarding that money are just beginning and the county commissioners conducted a virtual community meeting Monday evening to ask residents who are directly impacted by the controversial Gross Reservoir expansion project for ideas about mitigation efforts they'd find helpful.

This is the latest step in the process after the Boulder County Commissioners last fall unanimously agreed to accept a settlement agreement with Denver Water.

The settlement effectively removed the county's right to review the project in exchange for $12.5 million in money that can be used for mitigation efforts for nearby residents and the environmental impacts of the expansion.

The $12.5 million includes $5 million to mitigate construction impacts on nearby residents, $5.1 million to Boulder County Open Space to purchase new land or repair trails, $1.5 million to mitigate construction greenhouse gas emissions and $1 million for South St. Vrain Creek restoration.

Further, Denver Water will transfer 70 acres of land near the reservoir to the county to be added to Walker Ranch Open Space.

The settlement agreement marks the conclusion of years of contention, including several legal battles, around the dam expansion project led by the state's largest water provider. It has drawn opposition from nearby residents and environmentalists, who argue the project will have significant environmental impacts.

The project will raise the height of the existing dam by 131 feet, which will increase the capacity of the reservoir by 77,000 acre-feet. It is considered the biggest construction project in Boulder County history.

Construction began this year and is expected to continue through 2027.

All three commissioners have maintained that they do not support the project and said the decision to settle was one of the most challenging of their time in office thus far.

But it came down to a choice: Either take the case to court and risk losing and obtaining no money for mitigation or work together with Denver Water on a settlement that would help offset the impacts.

"People are very frustrated and disappointed by the fact that this project is proceeding, and I share that frustration," Commissioner Claire Levy said Monday.

With construction underway, there have been a variety of impacts for neighboring residents. But according to those who spoke in Monday's meeting, the nighttime is often the worst.

Many residents do not have central air conditioning and rely on open windows in the summer, but noise and light from the construction has affected people's sleep.

With this in mind, Eric Marcum suggested the county purchase air conditioning units for the approximately 50 people directly impacted by the light and noise.

This would require moving faster than the county currently expects unless the county instead decides to offer some form of reimbursement to those who choose to foot the cost of such efforts on their own.

Chris Passarelli with the Coal Creek Canyon Improvement Association asked whether the county would consider offering financial support for the nonprofit organization, which runs a community hall that's used for everything from Cub Scout meetings to weddings and funerals.

"The hall is one of the only indoor public spaces in our area," he said, later adding, "We anticipate a pretty heavy impact on our rental revenue."

The community hall is at the intersection of Colo. 72 and Gross Dam Road, which will undergo improvements as the project progresses.

Other suggestions included closing off public access to Road 68J, a rough four-wheel drive road just north of the reservoir, and considering fire mitigation efforts.

Resident Rick Myers provided the county commissioners with a list of project recommendations that could benefit community members surrounding Gross Reservoir some six months ago and said he never received a response.

On Monday evening, he shared a number of those ideas, including providing better parking options for visitors who use Flagstaff Road and finding a way to offer mountain residents better Internet access.

He also expressed concerns about fire.

"We have it good up here. We live in a beautiful area with million dollar views," Myers said in an interview ahead of the meeting. "But we do worry about things like forest fires."

Boulder County did not provide answers for many of the questions or make any official decisions about the ways in which the $5 million will be spent. But in the days after Monday's meeting, the county will review the questions and suggestions and provide responses online.

The impact study will be conducted over the summer and fall and Boulder County has said it will continue the dialogue with residents who are affected by the construction.

Additionally, the commissioners acknowledged that the dam expansion project has larger implications. For example, there are concerns about drought and the capacity of the Colorado River.

But many of those concerns extend beyond the scope of what the money provided by Denver Water can be used for, Levy noted.

"The money we have received from Denver Water is designated for specific purposes," she said.