Boulder County is poised to accept $10 million in mitigation from Denver Water in exchange for stepping out of the way of the controversial Gross Reservoir expansion, though environmental opponents say county leaders took a cheap deal and they will continue their fight.
Boulder County’s commissioners will vote Tuesday on the settlement, which has Denver Water putting up the fund to mitigate noise, light and dust impacts on reservoir neighbors, trading land to expand Walker Ranch Open Space, and paying for South St. Vrain Creek wildlife improvements.
In exchange, Boulder County would accept Denver Water arguments filed in federal court over the summer that the expansion is exempt from county review. Denver Water’s suit accusing Boulder County of slowing down the project said Denver already has the federal permits it needs through a federally-regulated hydroelectric generator at the base of Gross Dam.
