Fort Collins staff recommends against supporting NISP

Fort Collins city staff members are recommending the City Council not support the controversial Northern Integrated Supply Project and Glade Reservoir.

The council on Tuesday is expected to consider comments the city would submit to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on its draft Environmental Impact Statement regarding the project, which would draw water from the Poudre River.

After studying the document, city staff members and consultants concluded the project would adversely impact the river’s ecology and go against the city’s interests if it were built.

A resolution drafted to go with the staff comments proposed to be submitted to the Corps states the council “cannot support NISP as it currently described and proposed” in the document.

The city’s 108-page report details technical issues with the draft EIS as well as impacts NISP would have by reducing the river’s flow levels through town during times of high runoff.

Potential problems cited in the report include degraded water quality, wildlife habitat and recreational opportunities. The draft EIS does not adequately analyze alternatives to building the project as proposed by Northern Water and 15 participating water districts and towns, according to the report.

NISP would yield about 40,000 acre feet of water a year for the participants, who say the project is needed to provide water for the region’s anticipated growth. An acre foot of water would meet the annual water needs of three to four urban households.

The project would include building Glade Reservoir north of Ted’s Place and Galeton Reservoir near Greeley. Galeton would draw water from the Platte River.

In 2008, Fort Collins came out against the project as it was described in the initial draft EIS. After seven years of more research and analysis, the Corps issued a supplemental draft EIS in June.

Comments on the document are due Sept. 3. The Corps is expected to review comments and potentially issue a final EIS next year.

Take part

The Fort Collins City Council will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday at city hall, 200 Laporte Ave. The meeting will be broadcast on cable Channel 14.

Information: fcgov.com