2026
Comparably’s Best Company Outlook
Southwest • Colorado
Georgetown Hydroelectric Project - Decommissioning and Licensing Support
SWCA is providing regulatory support for the decommissioning of the Georgetown Project’s aging Forebay Dam and restoration of the former reservoir site.
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Salt Lake City
257 East 200 South
Suite 825
Salt Lake City, Utah 84111
Suite 825
Salt Lake City, Utah 84111
Details
Description
SWCA is providing regulatory support to the Public Service Company of Colorado (PSCo) for the Georgetown Hydroelectric Project in support of PSCo’s planned decommissioning of the Forebay Dam, restoration of the Forebay Reservoir, installation of a microturbine at the project’s Clear Lake Dam, proposed adjustments to the project’s powerhouse, and proposed changes to the project license. Since 2023, SWCA has guided PSCo through the three-stage consultation process required for these efforts and is currently developing a small hydroelectric exemption application to support revised changes to the project license following decommissioning.
SWCA is also providing cultural resources support to PSCo to comply with the directive of a 2025 memorandum of agreement among the Colorado State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), FERC, the Town of Georgetown, the U.S. Forest Service, and other key interested parties to revise and amend the Historic Structures Assessment for the Georgetown Powerhouse as a result of emergency actions which were taken at the project penstock in 2022.
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Meet the Experts
Senior Project Manager and Hydropower Team Lead
Emily Waters
Emily Waters is a collaborative leader focused on strategic planning, technical excellence, and thoughtful project management. She spends her days engaging with hydropower clients and developing strategies for licensing, relicensing, amendments, and exemptions, and currently serves as the team lead for SWCA’s FERC Hydropower Team. She has been working in the water and hydropower industry for 11 years.
Principal Cultural Resources Team Lead
Rachel D. Kline
Dr. Rachel Kline is a historian and cultural resources leader specializing in historic preservation, regulatory compliance, and the management of historic built environments. She works with hydropower clients to navigate Section 106 compliance, historic property identification and evaluation, effects assessments, and mitigation for FERC-licensed projects. Her hydropower work includes historic structures assessments, documentation and treatment planning, and consultation involving historic hydroelectric facilities and associated infrastructure. Rachel brings more than 19 years of experience in historical research, cultural resources management, and preservation, with an emphasis on developing practical approaches that balance project needs with the stewardship of historic resources.
