Rocky Mountain Cycling Club - Colorado Cycling Club - RMCC - Article20060123

Some of you may be aware of this, but others may not -- the Genesee Water District is proposing to construct a massive dam (124 feet high, 506 feet wide) just a few hundred feet on the north side of Bear Creek Road (Highway 74) close to the western end of Lair O' the Bear Park. Despite protestations and testimonies of dozens of alarmed canyon residents and the Jeffco Planning Commission's unanimous denial of the project, the Water District is planning to move forward (due to an arcane state statute, this specially formed body is allowed to override the County's decision).

Not only will the construction of this dam forever mar the incredible beauty of Bear Creek Canyon Road, but it will also endanger cyclists as construction trucks tear up and down this shoulder less road.

We have just learned that State Statute 1041 would allow Jefferson County to authorize stopping this dam and forcing the water district to consider alternative sites. Unfortunately, they never got around to passing enabling legislation for this statute. The county commissioners said they would consider placing a moratorium on the dam until they can enable the legislation if they hear substantial feedback from those who oppose the dam. It is critical that they hear from opponents within the next week.

Please send a short email voicing your concern and request that they exercise this moratorium. The email does not need to be long -- a couple sentences on why you oppose the dam and the request for a moratorium is all that is needed. Please pass this on to as many cyclists as possible as soon as you get this. You can reach all three commissioners at once by addressing your letter to
commish1@jeffco.us (Jim Congrove), commish2@jeffco.us (Kevin McCasky), and commish3@jeffco.us (Dave Auburn). If you'd prefer to mail letters, you could put three copies in one envelope and send it to Jefferson County Commission, 100 Jefferson County Parkway, Golden 80419. If you'd prefer to call, you can leave a voice message for any or all three of them by calling the Commission office at 303.271.8525.

I encourage you to pass this on to anyone else, besides cyclists, who recreate at the parks along Bear Creek Rd and would be chagrined to see a massive concrete structure spring up in this beautiful view shed.