Public Hearing on Monday, January 7th, 5pm regarding proposed expansion of Gross Dam Reservoir
On Monday, January 7th, 5pm on the 3rd floor of the Downtown Boulder Courthouse at 1325 Pearl Street, the Boulder County Commissioners will hold a public hearing to take comment on a draft Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with the Denver Board of Water Commissioners for the Moffat Collection System Project (Expansion of Gross Dam Reservoir).
This Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) is a document drafted by Denver Water and County Staff that would override Boulder County’s well-established Land Use Code Article 8, better known as their 1041 powers. The citizens of Boulder County have long hoped that the County would exert its 1041 powers to the maximum to stop the project entirely – a point they made clear at a Public Hearing on the matter in September, 2011.
Last month, when Boulder County announced it would hold this public on December 20th, just 4 days before Christmas, citizens responded by submitting over 120 letters requesting the meeting be postponed until after the holidays. Due to this pressure, the Commissioners scheduled two dates for the hearing – December 20th and January 7th – with public comment to be taken at both. On December 20th, seventy-five citizens showed up and, unanimously, urged the Commissioners not to sign the draft IGA. (The entire December 20th hearing can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_8ouIJ1sF8 )
Denver Water’s attempt to coerce Boulder County to abandon proper mitigation of the proposed expansion of Gross Dam Reservoir is the final check-mate in a game Denver Water has played over the past 9 years with the numerous counties of Colorado who would be affected by the expansion. The majority of those counties signed into the Colorado River Cooperative Agreement – each one accepting the expansion project in exchange for money (in the millions) and promises from Denver Water.
This Monday, January 7th, 5pm at the Boulder Courthouse at 1325 Pearl Street, the Boulder County Commissioners will take comment from citizens. Everyone is encouraged to attend and speak their mind for up to 3 minutes, or donate their 3 minutes to one of several organizations that have prepared extensive comment.
A copy of the draft IGA can be found online at TEGColorado.org