Rueter–Hess Reservoir in Newlin Gulch, behind Frank Jaeger Dam, was built to strengthen long-term water security for Parker and nearby communities as growth increased pressure on limited supplies. The Parker Water and Sanitation District, formed in 1962, secured a Cherry Creek water right in 1985, but years of conflict over a proposed site at Castlewood Canyon State Park delayed the project until courts blocked condemnation of park land and attention shifted to Newlin Gulch. Construction began in 2004, and the reservoir was completed in 2012 with a capacity of 75,000 acre-feet. It stores Cherry Creek water and return flows to reduce reliance on deep Denver Basin aquifers and has since also gained regional and recreational roles.