Wild Horse Reservoir Project Presentation Q&A
Thank you to everyone who attended either the virtual presentation on February 25 or the in-person Lunch and Learn at the Hartsel Fire Station on February 27. We have consolidated your questions and provided answers. If you have a question that is not addressed, please email it to us at WildHorseReservoir@auroragov.org.
Q. Why build another reservoir in Park County rather than in Aurora?
A. Aurora Water evaluated several alternatives located within or nearby the city, including expanding existing reservoirs, constructing new reservoirs, and groundwater storage in Aurora. However, most of these alternatives were dismissed because they would not meet the project’s purpose and need. For example, most of the options near Aurora could not store the required volume while other sites would have required pumping in and out of the reservoir. Groundwater storage was considered as a combination with Small Wild Horse Reservoir alternative and was also the No Action Alternative.
The Wild Horse Reservoir Project sites in Park County did meet the required volume as well as other considerations. Water evaporation and water quality are major issues for reservoirs at lower elevations. The higher elevation in Park County means that reservoirs lose less water through evaporation. Additionally, Aurora Water needed the reservoir to be in the South Platte River basin to ensure that stored water could be accessed during emergency conditions. The project can be easily integrated into Aurora Water’s existing water supply system in Park County, which includes the Otero pipeline and Spinney Mountain Reservoir.
Q. What is the length and height of the Wild Horse South Reservoir dam?
A. The dam will be approximately 170 feet high, and approximately 3800 feet long.
Q. What is the final elevation of the water when the reservoir is full?
A. The normal water surface level when full would be 9300 feet at the spillway crest.
Q. How will this project be funded?
A. Aurora Water intends to fund the Wild Horse Reservoir Project with a combination of rates and connection fees as the project will benefit both existing and future Aurora customers. It is likely Aurora Water’s ten-year capital program, including the Wild Horse Reservoir Project, will require debt issuance and any available state and federal funding assistance opportunities.
Q. Is there a chance that the site could be changed back to the north site?
A. Aurora Water is moving forward with the Wild Horse South Reservoir site for environmental reviews and permitting processes. Like any large infrastructure project, it will undergo detailed review during permitting and final design. There are no plans to change sites again, though alternatives would only be reconsidered if a significant issue were identified.
Q. Will the data that informed Aurora Water’s decision be available to the public?
A. Yes, some data from Aurora Water’s analyses will be publicly available during the environmental reviews and permitting processes.
Q. What is the status and timeline for the Wild Horse Reservoir Project now?
A. The Wild Horse Reservoir Project is the planning and pre-permitting phase. Aurora Water is working with federal, state, and local government agencies to determine the best path forward for environmental reviews and permitting processes. We expect that the review and permitting processes will take at least two more years. More information will be provided as it becomes available.
Q. Will there be a separate county review process for local impacts from the project?
A. Yes, Park County’s 1041 permit process will evaluate the local impacts from the Wild Horse Reservoir Project. More information on timing for the Park County 1041 will be provided as it becomes available.
For even more information for property owners, please visit the Working with Landowners webpage.
Q. Can I get more information on where my property is in proximity to the Wild Horse South Reservoir site?
A. Yes, please send an email to WildHorseReservoir@auroragov.org and include your Park County Assessor parcel account number and/or address.
Q. Is Aurora Water going to start acquiring land for the Wild Horse South Reservoir site?
A. In an effort to acquire property that would be needed for the project, we will continue to engage in good-faith outreach with affected landowners to extend fair market value offers in 2026. If you have any questions or would like more information about your property, please email us at WildHorseReservoir@AuroraGov.org and include your Park County Assessor parcel account number or address.
Q. What is Aurora Water going to do with all the property already acquired for the north site?
A. We are open to potential land swaps for property owners on the south site. We are not selling any of the property at the north site at this time. We are considering utilizing the north site for materials, such as clay, to construct the dam at the Wild Horse South Reservoir site.
Q. If Aurora Water sells property on the north site, will you flood the Park County market and weaken other property values?
A. No, Aurora Water would not flood the Park County property market if we ever were to sell the properties at the north site.
Q. How much land around the periphery of the reservoir will Aurora Water own? Would this land be available for grazing?
A. Aurora Water will acquire the land required for the reservoir and surrounding operational and environmental areas. The final acreage will depend on design and permitting. Decisions about future land management—including whether grazing may be appropriate—have not yet been made.
Q. How will property around the shoreline of the proposed Wild Horse South Reservoir site be impacted?
A. Impacts to properties near the shoreline or in the buffer zone will need to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Final shoreline location, operational areas, and environmental buffers will be established through design and permitting. If your property is close to the shoreline or in the buffer zones of the project, please email us at WildHorseReservoir@auroragov.org and include your Park County Assessor parcel account number or address so that we can get information specific to your property.
Q. Will Aurora Water use eminent domain if someone does not want to sell their land?
A. Our goal is to partner with property owners to find fair and flexible solutions that meet their needs. Aurora Water is open to land swaps with property owners for land we own at the north site. Eminent domain does not mean property is taken without compensation—it’s a process of last resort to ensure fair compensation for property owners. If you have specific questions about eminent domain, please reach out to Lyle Whitney at 303.579.2990 or gwhitney@auroragov.org.
Q. Will the project impact property taxes for Park County residents?
A. Aurora Water does not set or control Park County property taxes. Property taxes are determined by Park County and other taxing authorities based on assessed property values. While properties near water features sometimes experience changes in value, it is too early to determine whether the project could influence nearby property values or taxes.
Q. The proposed County Road (CR) 53 realignment goes through my property. What does that mean for me?
A. The current realignment plan for CR 53 is only conceptual at this stage. We are working on designing a more detailed route that accounts for existing roads, property lines, and road grades. Discussions on the CR 53 realignment are ongoing with Park County staff. Please send an email to WildHorseReservoir@auroragov.org and include your Park County Assessor parcel account number or address so that we can provide information specific to your property.
Q. The road I currently use to access my property goes through the footprint of the reservoir. How will I access my property?
A. Through the duration of the project, some roads may be detoured or closed for short periods; however, access to properties in the area will be maintained. We are currently working on road designs and access routes to ensure that all property owners can access their properties year-round. More information will be shared as it becomes available.
Q. If more material for the project is coming from Park County quarries, what are the anticipated traffic impacts to CR 53, Highway 24, and Highway 9?
A. We will be maintaining CR 53 during construction to mitigate damage caused by traffic to and from the project site. We are still evaluating the estimated impacts on other roads in Park County from increased truck traffic and intend to mitigate issues caused directly by the project. More information will be released when it becomes available.
Q. When will the realignment of CR 53 be permitted? When would construction occur?
A. The timing for permitting and construction of the CR 53 realignment has not yet been finalized. The realignment would likely occur later in the project after major permits are secured and construction of the dam is underway. Aurora Water will coordinate closely with Park County on permitting and construction timing as the project progresses. More information will be released when it becomes available.
Q. Will residents be able to get water from the reservoir?
A. The water that would be stored in the Wild Horse Reservoir Project would be untreated water. Aurora Water does not provide treated water to Park County; however, Aurora Water currently provides water storage and some untreated water from Spinney Mountain Reservoir to Park County and other users in the Hartsel area through intergovernmental agreements and lease agreements.
Q. Where will the water used to fill the Wild Horse Reservoir Project come from?
A. The proposed Wild Horse Reservoir Project would store water Aurora Water already owns under existing decrees from the Colorado and Arkansas river basins. The reservoir would be filled by the existing Otero pipeline. The project would not require new water rights or additional diversions. Aurora Water does not hold groundwater rights in Park County, so Park County groundwater would not be used to fill the reservoir.
Q. Would Park County groundwater be used to fill the reservoir?
A. No. Aurora Water doesn’t have any groundwater rights in Park County so we cannot use Park County groundwater to fill the Wild Horse Reservoir Project.
Q. Will using existing Park County quarries mean that the project would not need another quarry?
A. Yes, the purpose of getting rock from existing quarries is that we would not need to develop a new quarry at the reservoir project site. We will need to use soil from the inside of the reservoir areas at both the south and north sites from borrow areas (not a quarry).
Q. Will power lines be brought down to the Wild Horse South Reservoir site? If so, can other property owners get power to their property/home?
A. We are working with Core Electric to understand what an extension of power might look like as the reservoir infrastructure will need electric power. Other residents who would like to be able to tie into that power should coordinate directly with Core Electric.
Q. How does the Wild Horse South Reservoir impact wildlife compared to the north site?
A. There are no threatened or endangered species based on the surveys that we have done for the Wild Horse South Reservoir site. There was a golden eagle nest that had been active in the last several years at the north site. We would expect that the reservoir will create additional wildlife habitat to complement the existing grasslands. Additional analysis will be conducted in conjunction with Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW).
Q. Will there be a separate county review process for local impacts from the project?
A. Yes, Park County’s 1041 permit process will evaluate the local impacts from the Wild Horse Reservoir Project. More information on timing for the Park County 1041 will be provided as it becomes available.
Q. How long will it take to fill the Wild Horse Reservoir Project after the dam is complete?
A. The time needed to fill the reservoir will depend on snowpack, runoff conditions, and Aurora Water’s available water rights. Because these factors vary from year to year, a specific timeline has not yet been determined.
Q. Will the Wild Horse Reservoir Project have recreation? If so, what types of recreation?
A. Yes, Wild Horse South reservoir will include recreation. Discussions are the types of recreation opportunities that will be available at the reservoir are ongoing with several government agencies. Final recreation opportunities will depend on that process and partnerships with managing agencies.
Q. What maintenance and operational activities will be conducted at the reservoir after it is built? Will there be full-time employees on site?
A. Yes, there will be full-time employees living at the Wild Horse Reservoir Project site. Maintenance and operational activities include monitoring water levels, ensuring that equipment is functioning properly, and maintaining the dam to ensure dam safety.
Q. Is there a list that property owners can get on to provide the construction workers places to stay during construction?
A. We are developing a plan for temporary workers’ housing in conjunction with Park County. More information will be released when it becomes available.
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