Montgomery Reservoir Enlargement

About the Continental-Hoosier System (CHS) 

The Continental-Hoosier System (CHS) takes water from the Blue River watershed through the Hoosier Tunnel into Montgomery Reservoir in Park County. From there, the water is gravity fed through a pipeline to terminal storage near Colorado Springs.

The CHS project will improve operational resiliency for Colorado Springs Utilities through better water management and the ability to serve customers when the utility’s Homestake pipeline is not in service. 

Montgomery Reservoir Project

The project calls for the enlargement of Montgomery Reservoir to allow for additional storage of legally and physically available supplies that could be realized from diversions in average-to-wet years. The additional capacity will also facilitate more efficient management of the timing of deliveries. 

Enlarging the reservoir at a point in the future was contemplated when it was originally built in 1957. The system has performed well over time, but the nearly 70-year-old infrastructure must be updated. It makes sense to complete an enlargement while the reservoir undergoes life-cycle upgrades. 

Existing Reservoir:                                                                      Expanded Reservoir:

*Elements in these renderings may change prior to final design completion.

Project Timeline

2026: Submit federal, state and local permit applications

2026-2027: Permitting decisions

2028-2032: Construction activities

Construction Impacts

Pre-construction, September-October 2025

Colorado Springs Utilities contractors will be conducting geotechnical investigation work for the proposed expansion of the reservoir for approximately eight weeks, beginning Sept. 2.  

The work includes the drilling of three boreholes on U.S. Forest Service lands, requiring temporary access routes for the equipment. Up to four days will be required for each borehole. This drilling will not require the closure of public access roads, or impact other recreational activities near the reservoir. 

However, additional drilling activities on Springs Utilities’ private property will occur in September, which may impact recreators trying to access Wheeler Lake Trailhead. Please be advised before heading to the area during these times:

•    Sept. 9-11, 2025: The Lower Reservoir Road (Springs Utilities’ private road) to the parking lot by the spillway will be closed.

•    Sept. 15-18, 2025: One lane of the Upper 6 Road near the dam will be closed. Traffic control (flaggers) will be present to safely move traffic past the drilling activities.

•    Sept-Oct, 2025: There will be intermittent closures of about 15 minutes in duration of the Upper 6 Road near the Wheeler Lake trailhead parking.  This will occur primarily during weekdays but may include some weekends. These closures will allow equipment to be moved safely.

During construction

While recreation at Montgomery Reservoir will be unavailable during construction, that is anticipated to resume when the project is completed. If possible, access to U.S. Forest Service lands around the reservoir will be preserved during construction.

Colorado Springs Utilities is committed to working with the reservoir's neighbors and stakeholders throughout this process to answer questions and mitigate construction impacts. 

Resources

• Colorado Springs Utilities project FAQ: CHS project Frequently Asked Questions 
• Colorado Springs Utilities project page: Continental-Hoosier System 

For more information or to sign up for email updates, contact projectinfo@csu.org or (719) 668-8504.