Since the 1980s, the South Platte River basin has seen few new large storage reservoirs constructed. Therefore, it is significant that two large-scale storage projects are currently underway in the upper portions of the basin: the Chimney Hollow Reservoir Project (Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District) and the Gross Reservoir Expansion Project (Denver Water). Combined, these projects will add 167,000 acre-feet of storage in the basin.

Despite cold temperatures in January, concrete and grout operations continued at the Chimney Hollow dam. The Gross Reservoir expansion project has quarry operations and dam foundation preparation scheduled for 2023, and transportation safety improvements to Highway 72 and Gross Dam Road are also underway. Placement of concrete for the new, higher dam face at Gross Reservoir is not scheduled until 2024.

Work on Chimney Hollow Reservoir is expected to last until 2025, and work on the Gross Reservoir Expansion project is expected to last until 2027.