Denver Water proposes infrastructure and storage deal with Dominion
The proposed partnership would give Dominion access to Denver Water facilities and let Denver Water use part of Dominion’s Chatfield storage, while addressing a Waterton Canyon land dispute and setting out streamflow and water-quality safeguards.
Denver Water staff proposed a long-term partnership that would let Dominion Water & Sanitation District use Denver Water facilities and give Denver Water access to part of Dominion’s storage at Chatfield Reservoir. The proposal also aims to resolve condemnation litigation over Denver Water property in Waterton Canyon and includes proposed protections for canyon streamflows and South Platte River water quality.
Under the proposal described in the Sept. 23 board agenda, Dominion would use Denver Water facilities to divert, convey, store and recover its water through the High Line Canal and Platte Canyon Reservoir. Denver Water would use a portion of Dominion’s Chatfield storage. The agenda does not state how much storage would be involved.
The proposed payments include a one-time $1 million easement payment to Denver Water and annual payments for use of its infrastructure, starting at $448,000. The agenda also lists payments for “book-overs,” a new streamflow gauge and infrastructure improvements, along with contributions toward future capital costs for certain facilities; it does not state amounts for those items.
The agenda says the arrangement is intended to maintain minimum streamflows in Waterton Canyon and eliminate direct discharges of treated effluent to the South Platte River. It does not specify flow thresholds or monitoring requirements. Staff characterized the partnership as perpetual. Dominion would dismiss its condemnation actions after easements are conveyed and staff agrees to specific operating protocols.
The agenda asked the Denver Board of Water Commissioners to approve the agreement; it does not establish whether the board acted.