About Us
Restore the Headwaters is a community resource brought to you by the Town of Grand Lake and the Three Lakes Watershed Association. The site serves as a central hub where the public can explore the legislation driving Grand Lake clarity, read news coverage from local publications, and learn about two key restoration projects launching in summer 2026 within the Upper Colorado River Watershed. These projects focus on Grand Lake, Shadow Mountain Reservoir, and Little Columbine Creek — a tributary that plays an important role in the broader watershed system. While many dedicated organizations are working toward the restoration and long-term health of Grand Lake, this site highlights two initiatives made possible through grant funding from the Grand Foundation Windy Gap Environmental Fund.
Above, the west end of Grand Lake is seen on August 30, 2011, after a rare summer with no water being pumped through it from Shadow Mountain Reservoir.
A photo of Grand Lake on Sept. 8 2011, when Colorado-Big Thompson pumps were turned on and reversed the lake’s natural water flow and introduced reservoir water.Byron Hetzler Sky-Hi News archive photo/Courtesy of LightHawk volunteer pilot Steve Paul.
For further research:
The Bureau of Reclamation (https://www.usbr.gov/main/about/mission.html)
Northern Water Conservancy District (https://www.northernwater.org/about )
Colorado Park and Wildlife (https://cpw.state.co.us/what-we-do)
Colorado River District (https://www.coloradoriverdistrict.org/about/)
Grand County (https://www.co.grand.co.us/1387/Water-Quality)
Town of Grand Lake (https://www.townofgrandlake.com/)
Northwest Colorado Council of Governments (https://www.nwccog.org/programs/water-quality-quantity/)
Three Lakes Water Shed Association (https://threelakeswatershed.org/pages/about)
Grand Foundation Windy Gap Environmental Fund (https://www.grandfoundation.com/Grants/Windy-Gap-Fund)
Grand County Information Network - https://www.gcwin.org/
Project Partners
