One project has been years in the making, necessitated by aging, overtaxed infrastructure.

The other was not planned at all, sprung on the city by strict federal environmental regulations.

In 2022, the city of Ouray started making headway on the two biggest public works projects in its history, breaking ground on a new $18 million wastewater treatment plant and completing most of the design for a new $12 million water treatment plant. City officials began the year working with its engineering firm...