The Boulder County Gross Reservoir Community Advisory Working Group met for the first time on April 6, 2023, at 5:30 p.m. at the Coal Creek Canyon Association hall. Earlier this month, the County had solicited applications from individuals interested in serving on this Working Group.

According to Barb Halpin, Gross Reservoir Community Impact Mitigation Fund Coordinator, after careful consideration, 12 community members were selected for the group. A team comprised of Boulder County and Peak Facilitation staff used a rigorous evaluation process to select the 12 working group members out of a total of 21 applicants. During the selection process, geographic representation was a primary focus to ensure that critical perspectives from various locations throughout the impacted area would be included in the process. Additionally, alignment with the purpose and structure of the working group, relevant experience, and availability for meetings were other criteria for consideration.

The purpose of the group is to weigh different scenarios, interests, and collective impacts from both scientific and subjective standpoints, and to make recommendations to Boulder County about what the community feels is the most equitable and fair way to distribute money from the Gross Reservoir Community Impact Mitigation Fund (“the Fund”).

The intent of this open public dialogue, facilitated by Peak Facilitation and Boulder County, is to create an inclusive, organized, and transparent process for working group members to develop recommendations for the Boulder County Commissioners to consider as to how best to distribute the first round of payouts from the Fund.

Boulder County invited all members of the community to follow the work of the advisory working group and to provide feedback and input into the process as they hold three meetings.

Working Group Members are Chris Passarelli, Coal Creek Canyon Drive; Sunday Antley, Chute Road / Juniper Heights; Mary Hainstock, Flagstaff Road / Pika; John Stevens, Gross Dam Road; Anna McDermott, Lakeshore / North Shore; Ed Wiegand, Lakeshore / North shore; Katrina Harms, Lazy Z and Bonnie Road; Don Ferguson, Miramonte; Jennifer Macoskey, North of SH 72 /View of GDE project; Brian Campbell, SH 72 and Gross Dam Road intersection; Paul Ewald, South of SH 72; John Gleason, Tunnel Road 19 / Lichen Lane.

The April 6 meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m. with Sammy Wallace as one of the associates. Boulder County Commissioner Claire Levy thanked the group members for stepping up to do a difficult job. Their process will involve allocating $5 million.

“We won’t try to get to perfect,” Levy said. “You, the community, are going to have the best sense. Barb Halpin has been an incredible asset. Tonight, they will kick this process off with three meetings. We take all of your input. Hopefully something fair will come out of this.”

Halpin said the Gross Dam expansion was a huge eyesore. In July 2020, Denver Water got federal approval for the project, taking away local control. “Now,what can we get out of this, the County asks.”

The agreement was for $12.5 million, but $5 million will go to community residents.

“Our role is running a survey about environmental impacts, and to determine [the amount of] checks to property owners. The Boulder Commission is looking for recommendations.”

The working group are including about 400 properties, and could expand or contract that circle. Halpin sent out 500 letters to community residents.

The working group can observe, logging their observations into comment sheets. They should focus on distribution of the funds that will distribute the community impact to the whole.

“All of you make a recommendation,” Halpin stated. “Boulder County Commissioners will decide. Try to find an outcome that will fit – not by voting, but by consensus.”

The group then divided into two to discuss impacts from the construction and how that can be identified in a way that is feasible to track.

Next meetings will be on April 25 and May 16, with a community meeting on Saturday, April 29, where residents will get a chance to ask questions and provide comments directly to the Boulder County Commissioners. Go to boco.org/grossreservoir for more information.