The Large Gross article has received lots of reads and I have received some useful comments. I have also received some updated data and explanation. I will try to catalog all them here as they come in. I have also created an RSS feed on the Front Page for people who want to be updated automatically. Just click on the funny orange icon in the lower left column of the Front Page and follow the instructions.

Update: 12/20/09

MUDBUG ONLINE GOOGLE EARTH TOURS: New feature on MudBugCo ... Geographical tours using Google Earth. See the Large Gross project from all angles. Click on the MudBugCo Tours menu item under the "Featured" menu bar.

LAST WEEK THE BOULDER DAILY CAMERA PUBLISHED MY LETTER TO THE EDITOR ON THE LARGE GROSS PROJECT. Here is the letter...

Denver needs more water. Due to unlimited growth and lackluster water conservation, Denver needs to steal -- excuse me, I meant to say take water from where it belongs and put it where it does not belong.

You can blame the Denver Water Board, but that`s just as useful as blaming the liquor store for alcoholism. We are the substance abusers and in this case the substance is water. When I say "we," I primarily mean humans, secondarily, those of us who live on the Front Range. We are the addicts. The addiction is universal and withdrawal is fatal. There are only three ways to address the issue: limit the number of addicts, restrict waste and overuse of the substance, or get more water.

Our enabler, Denver Water Board has been doing its job; getting more water. For over 70 years, they have been engineering new and improved ways of "taking" water that was destined for the Pacific Ocean and sending it to the Gulf of Mexico by way of our Kentucky Blue Grass.

Their latest project is called "Large Gross." It could have just as easily been called "Big Large Gross" or "Big Fat Large Gross." It`s actually not new. Large Gross "simply" brings the 1954 Gross Reservoir project to its original design. "Simply" means devastating construction impact for at least three years for the people who live in the area, and additional water taken from Grand County on the western slope. Don`t blame Denver Water. Until we are willing to tell our elected officials to address our addiction by restricting water and growth, then we must blame ourselves.

CHECK OUT THIS MAP OF FRASER WATER DIVERSIONS (the black dots): Click here to get the whole EIS

PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD EXTENDED: Denver Water and the US Army Corps of Engineers have extended the public comment period 32 days from January 28th to March 1st. Click here for details.

 

Update: 12/9/09

IMPORTANT PROTECTION FOR FRASER RIVER: Colorado Trout Unlimited (CTU) is circulating a request that you petition U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mayor Hickenlooper, and members of the Denver Water to protect the Fraser River. If you are a CTU member, you have already received this request in the mail.) Whether you agree with the Large Gross projectd or not, it is important that you participate and let these folks know that you want to protect the Fraser. CTU is requesting that you send a written petition to them. They will collect them and foward to Corp, the mayor, and Denver Water. You can download their well-written petition HERE (MSword doc.) Put your name and address info, add personal comments and mail to:

Colorado Trout Unlimited
1320 Pearl St. Ste 320
Boulder, CO 80302-9913

CTU INFORMATION ON FRASER AND PROJECT: On the CTU website there is great information related to the Large Gross project. I recommend that you visit this site Moffat Firming EIS. Besires current information they have the historical information of the Moffat tunnel and its relation to the Fraser, including this remarkable chart that shows Fraser flows before the tunnel (1936.)

 

Update: 12/4/09

  • As promised Denver Water has sent me to chart projections for the Fraser River:

Upper Fraser Differentials with Large Gross

Middle Fraser Projections

  • My language expert Dylan suggested some alternatives to the Large Gross project name:
    • Big Large Gross
    • Big Fat Large Gross
    • Big Fat Large Icky Gross
  • Guide buddy TJ Pence pointed out that waterfall above the NNW bank of Gross will be underwater.
  • Bob Crifasi, with City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks explained to me how the 5000 AF reserved for SBC (potential Boulder, Lafayette, and Denver agreement should the Large Gross alternative be selected)
    • No Western Slope water will be used for this allocation
    • Therefore allocations to this reserved pool in the reservoir will come from the natural in-flows from SBC and other measured feeders above Gross Reservoir.
    • It is estimated that natural flows will fill this pool 1 out of every 3 years. This and all following estimates are rough numbers.
    • Based on that projection, they have set minimum flow goals for SBC all winter long (180 days)to South Boulder Road at 7cfs (DOW recommended minimum)
    • Additionally, 2.5 cfs from South Boulder Road to the confluence with Middle (regular?) Boulder Creek
    • That amounts to 2500 AF
    • Since there is already some water in the creek at that time, it reduces the amount they have to store to about 1600 AF
    • So, my arithmetic for this 5000 AF Fun Water Facts  was not incorrect, only my assumption that it would be simple.
    • If this happens, I guess that fish ladder upstream from South Boulder Road might actually get some use
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