
On Monday, March 4, 2019, the Town of Frisco hosted a ceremonial groundbreaking with Frisco Mayor Gary Wilkinson on the long planned for “Big Dig” project at the Frisco Bay Marina. This project is part of the Marina Master Plan, which was approved in June 2018 by the Frisco Town Council. This project is anticipated to positively impact the Frisco Bay Marina for generations to come.
In January, ordinance 19-01 was passed on second reading by the Frisco Town Council to authorize the issuance by the Town of Frisco, acting by and through its Frisco Bay Marina enterprise, of Marina enterprise revenue bonds. These bonds were issued for a total of $5,000,000 in February 2019 to fund the Marina Master Plan projects.
Denver Water’s involvement in Frisco’s Big Dig stems from the Colorado River Cooperative Agreement, signed in 2013. The agreement settled decades of legal challenges over water rights and ushered in a new era of cooperation between Denver Water and West Slope stakeholders.
The agreement called for Denver Water to work with stakeholders to improve high-country rivers and also included payments to local governments to benefit water supply and quality, the environment and recreation. In Frisco’s case, the money from Denver Water, about $700,000 since 2013 with an additional $450,000 pledged, helped pay for the Big Dig project.
The “Big Dig” started on March 4, 2019, was significantly completed by June 21, 2019, and was completed in later summer 2019 with dock work, paddle sport rack relocations and railing installations. This phase of construction was named the “Big Dig” because it involves significant excavation of the lake bed in the Frisco Bay to improve navigation; lengthen the boating season; and expand recreational facilities at the Marina. Work during the “Big Dig” phase included:
Future phases will be completed progressively over the years, as conditions and budget allow. Here are some of the improvements identified by the Marina Master Plan.