Environmental study next stage for water project

Before the Northern Integrated Supply Project can bring water to the 15 thirsty towns and water districts that are participating, there’s a political process that must be navigated.

Plans call for the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District to build two reservoirs – the 177,000-acre-foot Glade Reservoir near LaPorte, and the 20,000-acre-foot Galeton Reservoir in Weld County.

As planned, the Northern Integrated Supply Project’s two-reservoir system that would provide 36,000 acre-feet of annual water yield (117 billion gallons) to the 15 participants, all located in Northern Colorado. Construction on the project could begin as soon as 2009. The project is expected to be completed by 2019.

But first comes the requisite Environmental Impact Study that will assess the project’s impacts on surface water flows and water quality – all after collecting questionnaires from participants and residents. The environmental study will also address impacts on wildlife, fish and aquatic life and on water rights.

It’s uncertain how the public will receive the proposal, but current drought, which appears to have peaked in 2002, has changed the awareness level of the public. People now understand that Colorado is an arid state and additional water storage is needed to maintain Colorado’s quality of life.

“The political climate ebbs and flows … the drought has built momentum within the public for more storage,´ said Brian Werner, spokesman for the water district.

According to the water district, “By 2010, a majority of NISP participants will have a demand greater than their firm supplies … a joint project spreads the cost of permitting and construction among many entities, potentially reducing the cost to each participant.”

The conservancy district plans to use the two reservoirs to temporarily divert agricultural water from the Cache la Poudre River.

The Army Corps of Engineers began the scoping process in September with a series of public meetings to inform attendees and gather questions. The Corps of Engineers then took the information gathered at the meetings and during a submittal period, then formed the scoping report to help outline the Environmental Impact Study. The purpose of scoping is to focus the detailed environmental review on those issues that are relevant to the proposal and the decision to be made.

According to the report, the Corps of Engineers considered every comment and grouped it by relevance. Issues or concerns are considered significant if they reflect environmental impacts that warrant resolution. Resolution means the development of alternatives that reduce impacts while also achieving the proposed project’s purpose or need.

The scoping report discovered that NISP might affect the economies and social conditions of Larimer, Weld and Boulder counties because the additional water has the potential to increase growth.

During the environmental study, engineers will study the current surface water flow and the water quality as water mixes between the Cache la Poudre and South Platte Rivers. The engineers will also study traffic and transportation issues, which include the movement of U.S. Highway 287 to the east to make room for the reservoir.

Recreation on the reservoirs will also be investigated. Some of the comments requested the reservoir not be used for recreational purposes because it would increase the likelihood of trespassing on private lands.

The reservoir is still in the permitting phase and the next step of the environmental study process includes developing alternatives for the relocation of U.S. Highway 287 and continuing to analyze impacts to the environment.

Kim Lock is the agribusiness reporter for the Northern Colorado Business Report. To suggest a column feature contact her at (970) 221-5400 ext. 222 or by e-mail at klock@ncbr.com.

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