Colorado Water Conservation Board studying possible expansion of Bear Creek Lake

Water conservation is a hot topic as supply continues to dwindle, and a new partnership is exploring the idea of expanding a west metro reservoir to address supply and demand gap. 

The Colorado Water Conservation Board and Army Corps of Engineers partnered on a study to examine gaps in water supply and demand, as part of the Colorado Water Plan. The City of Lakewood provided information on impacts of the proposed expansion, and Lakewood City Council has called for substantial weight to be given to alternatives to expanding the reservoir. The study looked at several different scenarios to forecast and address water supply gaps through the year 2050. The South Platte Basin, which serves the Denver metro area, Northern Colorado, and the northeastern plains, is projected to have a gap anywhere between 509,000 acre-feet and 835,000 acre-feet per year. 

The CWCB and Army Corps of Engineers chose Bear Lake because it has an existing dam and provides an opportunity to store more water at what the group calls a more reasonable cost. The study is examining whether an expansion can decrease the supply/demand gap, possible impacts to flood control, and environmental and recreational impacts. 

If deemed feasible, funding for expansion and enhancement of recreational areas and open space would be a large part of the project. 

There is no set timeline for the project. The feasibility study is ongoing.