Environmentalists, activists and climate experts anticipated that Denver Water would sue Boulder County over the utility’s $464 million proposal to expand the Gross Reservoir. They just didn’t think it’d be so soon. The utility filed its federal lawsuit July 14, claiming commissioners are taking too long to consider its application for a 1041 permit needed to break ground on the five-year-long project southwest of Boulder. Not only did the lawsuit catch Boulder County officials off guard, but it surprised others keeping tabs on the project — largely because they don’t think Denver Water completed its permit application.