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Reuter Hesse Reservoir sees rising visitation, plans docks and phased capital work
Summary
Reuter Hesse Reservoir officials told the Castle Pines Parks & Recreation Advisory Board that 2024 brought higher visitation and more special events, the rangers performed multiple rescues and staff plan capital work including docks, fishery management and a possible vehicle purchase funded from a restricted reservoir fund.
Amy Knop, the Reuter Hesse Reservoir recreation manager, told the Castle Pines Parks & Recreation Advisory Board on Feb. 27 that 2024 was the reservoir’s first full year of operations and showed marked increases in events and visitation.
Knop said special events rose by roughly 45 events—about a one‑third increase—and that trail use accounted for much of the visitation increase. She credited operator social‑media outreach and board efforts for the higher turnout, and noted partner days and partner programming as tools the reservoir offers to support local outreach, including discounted offerings for the city.
On finances and staffing, Knop presented a year‑end comparison for 2023 (seven months of operation) and 2024 (a full year). She said the county provided about $500,250 in supplemental behind‑the‑scenes support in 2024 and reported salary savings across the program. Knop described internal fund allocations: a supervisory ranger position is now fully charged to parks and trails, while an administrative assistant’s time is split roughly 60/40 between the reservoir and the parks and trails program.
Knop outlined planned capital work to come from the Rooter Hess Fund, which she said remains restricted to reservoir uses. Projects discussed included a likely vehicle purchase to replenish the loaner fleet, fishery management and habitat stocking work, and the addition of three docks in the coming year to improve paddlesports access at a currently unimproved shore.
On safety, Knop said rangers made 14 rescues of people who could not reach shore and otherwise assisted 87 visitors in 2024; board members noted a reported voluntary life‑jacket compliance rate of about 96 percent. Knop also described routine inspections and water‑safety monitoring.
During Q&A she clarified operating hours (winter closing around 5 p.m.; longer summer hours) and explained the visitor fee and reservation structure: the presentation listed a $10 vehicle entry fee, fishing reservations are limited to protect the fishery, and the operator’s reservation system controls angling numbers. Knop said hiking or biking onto the property is free but anglers still must use the reservation system to fish.
Board members pressed on access from Parker and Castle Pines; Knop and staff said the license agreement and intergovernmental agreement (IGA) give Parker Water authority over secondary access and that Parker Water has not authorized secondary entrances from adjacent canyon areas. Knop said staff will continue to raise the access question with Parker Water but described the existing arrangement as controlled by the reservoir’s licensing structure.
Knop closed by reminding the board that the RAD budget had moved from proposed to recommended, that the presentation combined annual operating budgets and CIP items, and that larger or supplemental improvements (for example, an Incline Trailhead build) would require additional approvals and likely a supplemental process. The board thanked Knop for the briefing and will monitor forthcoming capital and CIP items.
Ending: Knop left the meeting after questions and the board moved on to the Leguay roundabout presentation.
