The Water Information Program

An expanded reservoir south of the city will be 50 percent larger than Cherry Creek Reservoir, help thirsty Douglas County residents whose wells are low and provide a place to fish and play. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently approved the Parker Water and Sanitation District's request to quadruple the size of the Rueter-Hess Reservoir near Parker. When it is completed in 2011, it will serve the Parker area as well as Castle Rock, Castle Pines North and Stonegate, all of which agreed to buy into the partnership. Although it won't be a full solution to the area's water problems, it will help as Douglas County continues to add houses. It will also bring in new sources of water to existing homes. "Rueter-Hess is only a water-management tool," said Frank Jaeger, manager of the Parker Water and Sanitation District. "We are going to have to find other sources of water. We're looking in every river basin. In order to sustain the type of growth on the Front Range, water is going to have to be developed on all those basins." 

To view the full article, visit the Denver Post. For a copy of the original article contact the WIP at (970) 247-1302 or stop by the office at 841 East Second Avenue in Durango.