Pueblo Waterworks Park Grand Opening

Our newest project, Waterworks Park in Pueblo, Colorado, is hosting a celebration of completion on May 24th, 2025.

The REP team was hired by Pueblo Water in 2022 to design modifications to the Southside Diversion Dam, located a few miles west of downtown Pueblo, CO. Gary Lacy is the licensed engineer of record for this project. REP partnered with SG1 Water Consulting, whom we have worked with on other projects. The construction contractor for this project was Holcim. It was a pleasure to work with Pueblo Water, SG1, and Holcim and it was important to have a very strong team for this large project. The total price tag including design, permitting, and construction was approximately $14M.

The Southside Diversion Dam was a 12 foot tall low-head dam had been the site of several known drownings, including a father and son on Father's Day 2020. Low-head dams are extremely hazardous to river users as they create an inescapable recirculating hydraulic at certain flows and are hardly visible from river level upstream. Pueblo Water, who owns the dam, initiated the project in order to create boater passage and an amenity for the community. As the dam is still needed for water diversion, our design modified the dam rather than removing or lowering it. The project extends the upstream to downstream boatable section from Pueblo Dam to Runyon Lake, creates a recreational mecca, improves the river environment, and creates upstream fish passage.

The park's innovative design features a north channel and a south channel, seven strategically placed drop structures, two new pedestrian bridges, riverside ADA accessible trails, many river access points, beaches, and a surf wave.

The drop structures, built out of large grouted natural boulders and concrete slabs, are all unique and are engineered to provide whitewater recreational value while remaining navigable for boaters, tubers, swimmers etc. of all skill levels. The south channel incorporates a large "spillway" - a concrete slide with a low-flow notch down the center. The south channel is intended for experience paddlers and will have very strong hydraulics at certain flows - though none that are recirculatory in nature. The north channel is the "boater bypass" channel and features 5 smaller drop structures that can be navigated by users of various skill levels and are ideal for learning to kayak and river surf. The last drop structure downstream of where the north and south channels come back together is a more advanced whitewater feature. The hydraulics at the last structure are characterized by a fast green standing wave that is ideal for river surfing. All of the drops incorporate a segregated fish passage constructed with natural boulders.

The park aims to create a vibrant hub for instream activity as well as riverside activity. There is a regional shared-use path running through the project area as well as riverside pathways along both banks of the park and on the island between the north and south channels. Meticulously placed boulder terracing and flagstone steps at strategic locations make it easy to enter and exit the river. Large pools with large beaches will make riverside lounging and picnicking popular at this park. Planting pockets and fenced off vegetated areas planted with native trees, shrubs, and grass give the park a natural feel.

With an emphasis on safety and accessibility, this project is expected to attract outdoor enthusiasts and foster community engagement, making Pueblo a premier destination for river enthusiasts and casual park visitors.