A federal judge has halted the Gross Reservoir expansion project near Denver, which was 60% complete and aimed to nearly triple the reservoir’s capacity.
The ruling prohibits Denver Water from enlarging the dam, which involves removing 500,000 trees and diverting water from the Colorado River until environmental permitting processes are redone.
Residents and environmental groups had sued to stop the project in 2018 over concerns of ecological damage. Denver Water, which had permits for the expansion, continued work while the litigation was pending.
Denver Water plans to appeal the ruling, which it called a “radical” move jeopardizing long-term water security and highlighting a “broken permitting process.”