Gross Reservoir facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gross Reservoir |
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The reservoir in 2014.
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 Gross Reservoir
Location in Colorado
Gross Reservoir
Location in the United States
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| Location | Boulder County, Colorado |
| Coordinates | 39°56′31″N 105°22′22″W / 39.94194°N 105.37278°W |
| Type | reservoir |
| Etymology | Named for Denver Water former Chief Engineer Dwight D. Gross. |
| Primary outflows | South Boulder Creek |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Managing agency | Denver Water |
| Water volume | 41,811 acre⋅ft (51,573,000 m3) |
| Surface elevation | 2,222 m (7,290 ft) |
Gross Reservoir is a large body of water in Boulder County, Colorado. It is owned and managed by Denver Water, which provides water to many homes. The reservoir was finished in 1954. It covers about 440 acres, which is like 330 football fields. The top of its spillway is 7,225 feet high.
Water flows into Gross Reservoir from the western side of the Continental Divide. This water comes through a long tunnel called the Moffat Tunnel. Water flows out of the reservoir into South Boulder Creek. The dam holding back the water is 340 feet tall.
Fun Things to Do
Gross Reservoir is a great place for outdoor activities. You can go fishing there, even when the water freezes in winter for ice fishing. Many people enjoy hiking around the reservoir. You can also go canoeing or kayaking on the water.
However, some activities are not allowed. You cannot swim or wade in the water. Only boats that don't have motors are permitted. These are usually smaller boats that can be carried on top of a car.
Plans to Make the Dam Bigger
There are plans to make Gross Reservoir much larger. This project would allow Denver Water to store about 77,000 more acre-feet of water. Most of this extra water would come from the Fraser and Williams Fork Rivers.
The construction is expected to be finished around 2025. The plan is to raise the dam by 131 feet (40 meters). This would make it the tallest dam in Colorado. It would also let the reservoir hold a lot more water.
To build the expansion, Denver Water needed special permission. They applied to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. This agency helps protect the environment and waterways. The permit was granted in 2017.
Some environmental groups were worried about the project. They believed it might harm the environment. They filed a lawsuit because they thought the permit process did not follow rules like the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act. In 2020, another group called the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission also approved a change needed for the dam's license.
A company called Stantec was chosen in 2017 to design the expansion.
In 2019, Boulder County said Denver Water also needed a local permit. Denver Water applied for this permit in September 2020.
