We’ve entered a very busy period of time with the fight to keep our community, reservoir and wildlife safe from heavy industrial threats like fracking. It can be overwhelming and difficult to keep up with everything going on! While we encourage our supporters to be as engaged and involved as possible, we will begin providing overview updates on the FIVE most important things to know about the “State of the Fight”.
Today’s edition focuses on the well pads within Lowry Ranch that already have applications submitted to both the state of Colorado and Arapahoe County. In order for a well pad to begin construction, BOTH the County and the State need to review the application and grant approval. Arapahoe County updates are called out in red below, and state of Colorado updates are called out in orange.
#1 STATE-SUNLIGHT-LONG
Arapahoe County: APPLICATION COMPLETE; PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD COMPLETE.
The county received a RECORD-BREAKING response from our community and is reviewing comments as well as Civitas’s application. STAR has submitted a formal “Request for Hearing” to the county as well, and is awaiting response. In the request, STAR cited critical new health data related to fracking risks, Lowry Landfill Superfund Site concerns, deficiencies in the air quality monitoring and emergency preparedness plans, the operator’s history of noncompliance, and both groundwater and reservoir contamination concerns.
State of Colorado: APPLICATION IN COMPLETENESS REVIEW.
The Sunlight-Long application has not yet reached the “completeness” phase with the state of Colorado (ECMC).
#2 STATE LA PLATA SOUTH
State of Colorado: DECISION HEARING SET.
State La Plata South has already been through the 511 Hearing with the state (ECMC). The final decision-making hearing with the ECMC was temporarily delayed with the state due to legal issues with another operator, but the ECMC is now ready to hear final comments and most likely make its decision during a virtual session on April 30.
While this is a very problematic site that includes fracking underneath Aurora Reservoir, it is being billed as an expansion to an existing location and therefore may not face as much scrutiny from the ECMC.
Arapahoe County: APPLICATION IN COMPLETENESS REVIEW.
The La Plata South application with Arapahoe County has not reached a “completeness” determination yet.
#3 SECRET STASH
State of Colorado: APPLICATION APPROVED.
The Secret Stash location, which is situated less than 2,000 feet east of the Overland Ranch community, which is actively being developed just east of Blackstone, received unanimous approval from the state (ECMC) in March 2025.
Arapahoe County: APPLICATION IN REVIEW.
The site is awaiting application “completeness” determination from Arapahoe County, which STAR expects to be imminent. The community will then have a 14-day public comment period, similar to Sunlight-Long.
Note: Although it’s clear that the Overland Ranch community is moving forward, and is no longer simply a “proposed” development, an Arapahoe County representative has stated to STAR, “the Trails Overland Ranch site plan has been recorded… but the developer has not recorded their final plat, so the 3,000-foot setback does not apply between Secret Stash and any future Overland Ranch lots.” STAR has reached out to the Overland Ranch developer and home builders for more perspective and is awaiting a response
#4 STATE WETTERHORN-HANDIES/HARVARD-YALE (“WHHY”)
State of Colorado: PUBLIC HEARING SET.
The applications for each of these two sites (Wetterhorn-Handies and Harvard-Yale) have reached completeness with the state (ECMC) and will have a joint “511 hearing” held on May 13 at 5pm at Arapahoe County Fairgrounds. Sign up to attend on the STAR website! This is your opportunity to speak up to the state to oppose these 38 additional fracking wells proposed east of Aurora Reservoir, contributing to additional negative cumulative impacts for the area.
Arapahoe County: APPLICATION IN REVIEW.
The Wetterhorn-Handies and Harvard-Yale applications have not yet reached “completeness” determination with Arapahoe County.
#5 STATE BEAVER:
Arapahoe County: NO LONGER BEING PURSUED.
Great news here!! STAR has confirmed with Arapahoe County that the proposed State Beaver pad is “gone/no longer being pursued”.
Note: STAR has no clear indication on whether this location may be pursued again down the road (i.e., in 2-3 years), but for now, this is a win for the community, as the Beaver pad site was to be situated right between Southshore, Blackstone and Overland Ranch.
–Save the Aurora Reservoir (STAR) Leadership Team
