Adams County staff say whitewater plan at Little Dry Creek stalls after BNSF talks fail; $8.45M in county funds at issue

Adams County staff told commissioners at a study session on 2025-10-15 that negotiations with BNSF Railway to convert a 9-foot drop structure at Little Dry Creek into a spread-out, recreational whitewater feature have stalled, leaving an aging, hazardous structure in place and millions of dollars in project funding unresolved.

County staff said the Mile High Flood District first identified the drop as a safety concern and that a multi-agency plan developed over several years had reached about 95% design by 2023 but could not proceed because the county could not secure a liability agreement with BNSF. “It is a liability. It is purely BNSF’s liability currently,” a parks staff member told the board during the presentation.

The board was shown a funding history and several specific figures: the project’s 2023 estimate was about $21 million; the county and partners had assembled roughly $19.7 million at that time, leaving an estimated shortfall of about $2 million. Commissioners were told that Adams County has $2.3 million in PLD (parkland dedication/development) fees available, a $4.5 million placeholder in the open-space competitive grant program tied to this project, $3.2 million already transferred to the Mile High Flood District, and a prior $750,000 transfer from public works in 2018. County staff said BNSF did not increase an earlier contribution they had offered and ultimately would not sign the agreement needed to proceed.

Because of the failed railroad agreement, staff recommended closing the open-space grant tied to Little Dry Creek and returning the $4.5 million placeholder to the open-space projects fund, returning $750,000 to the road and bridge fund, and deciding whether to pull back the $3.2 million that is currently held by the Mile High Flood District or to keep it there for use on a related South Platte River project. Staff said the county will present a related update on the South Platte River project on Oct. 29 and suggested the board wait for that discussion before making a final decision on the $3.2 million.

Commissioners pressed staff on two connected issues: the immediate public-safety problem posed by the existing drop structure and whether county staff had exhausted all avenues to secure a railroad agreement. A commissioner asked whether federal engagement had been attempted; staff replied that the county had pursued the issue at the staff and legal levels but had not engaged federal officials or lobbyists. Several commissioners said the structure “needs to be replaced” and noted that responsibility for the structure rests with the railroad and the flood district.

Beyond the site-specific discussion, commissioners raised broader concerns about parks planning and the county’s capital-prioritization process. Multiple commissioners said they want a single, up-to-date overview of parks projects and priorities (including timelines, maintenance liabilities, and budget impacts) before directing staff to reallocate significant open-space funds. One commissioner expressed support for using recovered funds for land acquisition in the eastern plains, arguing that early purchases can save money over time; another urged caution and a methodical approach that aligns with master plans and budget realities.

Next steps documented at the session: staff will (a) present a South Platte River project update on Oct. 29, (b) bring back options for how to handle the $4.5 million open-space placeholder and the $3.2 million currently held at the flood district, and (c) prepare a broader parks capital/prioritization overview for the board so commissioners can weigh strategic alternatives.

Ending: The board did not take formal action at the study session. Commissioners directed staff to return with the South Platte River update and to provide a recommended process and timeline for deciding whether to close out the Little Dry Creek grant and reallocate the related funds.