The Grand Mesa is a unique land feature that was formed where uplift and erosion created a plateau that was once a large flat plain. The melting and retreat of the icecaps approximately 20,000 years ago shaped the geology and topography that we now see today. Deposits of glacial till formed hummocks, moraines and crevasses across the plateau which now support over 350 natural lakes and reservoirs.
These waters are protected under the Clean Water Act administered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and many are located on U. S. Forest Service lands. Permits from both agencies (as well as other Federal, state, and local agencies) are usually required for work within these water bodies.
It is because of these water bodies and subsequently the maintenance, operation and rehabilitation of the reservoirs by many different parties that we have identified a potential need for another mechanism by which project permitting can be guided. In the interest of these important water resources and their continued service to Grand Valley and lower Gunnison Basin users, the identification of a more predictable and efficient permitting process is being examined.
WestWater Engineering in conjunction with Painted Sky RC&D and the Colorado Water Conservation Board are embarking on a feasibility study to determine if this process is warranted and needed to serve the water provider group.
This purpose of this website is to provide a clearinghouse to distribute information, as well as provide a central point of contact regarding this process.
WestWater Engineering