History

NISP Milestones

An endeavor the size and scope of the Northern Integrated Supply Project takes years of planning, preparation, studies and analysis. NISP demonstrates how people and the environment can both benefit when projects are done properly. This timeline highlights some of the important dates and milestones the project has experienced thus far.

  • 1980
    1980
    Grey Mountain water rights are filed on by Cache la Poudre Water Users Association (CLPWUA) and Northern Water.
  • 1985
    1985
    CLPWUA transfers 7/8 of water right to Northern Water.
  • 1986
    1986
    The Poudre River is designated as Colorado’s first “wild and scenic river,” with the lower eight miles in the canyon left undesignated and open for a future water storage project.
  • 1988
    1988
    Northern Water pursues “Poudre Project” to build a large on-channel reservoir (“Grey Mountain Reservoir”).
  • 1990
    1990
    Northern Water reconfigures the “Poudre Project” to include an off-channel reservoir site.
  • 1992
    1992
    Northern Water files on water rights for South Platte Water Conservation Project (the Galeton Reservoir for exchanges with ditch companies).
  • 2000
    2000
    Northern Water releases a Regional Water Demand Study.
  • 2000
    Regional water providers meet at Northern Water to discuss a potential collaborative project.
  • 2001
    2001
    Northern Water completes Glade Reservoir feasibility study.
  • 2003
    2003
    Participants agree to move forward and fund an Alternatives Analysis Study.
  • 2004
    2004
    The Alternative Analysis Study is completed, with 215 options studied.
  • 2004
    Formal Environmental Impact Statement permitting process begins with the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers serving as the lead federal agency.
  • September 2004
    The Army Corps of Engineers holds public scoping meetings.
  • 2005
    March 2005
    Public open houses held pertaining to the U.S. 287 Highway realignment at the Glade Reservoir site.
  • December 2005
    Final alternatives for supplying water selected as permitting process moves forward.
  • 2006
    2006
    The Army Corps of Engineers oversees studies being conducted for Draft Environmental Impact Statement.
  • 2008
    2008
    Draft Environmental Impact Statement is released and a public comment period begins.
  • June 2008
    Public hearings on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement are held in Fort Collins and Greeley.
  • July 2008
    The public comment period on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement is extended until September 2008.
  • 2009
    February 2009
    The Army Corps of Engineers announces a Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement will be prepared. Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement studies are conducted from 2009 through early 2014 (includes preparation of common technical platform between Halligan-Seaman and NISP projects, additional modeling studies).
  • 2014
    September 2014
    Army Corps of Engineers and consultants prepare the Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement and complete additional studies.
  • 2015
    June 2015
    Release of the Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement.
  • July 2015
    Public hearings on the Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement are held in Fort Collins and Greeley.
  • 2017
    September 2017
    NISP's State Fish and Wildlife Mitigation and Enhancement Plan is approved by the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission and the Colorado Water Conservation Board.
  • November 2017
    Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper announces the adoption of NISP's State Fish and Wildlife Mitigation and Enhancement Plan as the official state position.
  • 2018
    July 2018
    Officials from the Army Corps of Engineers release the Final Environmental Impact Statement.
  • 2019
    2019
    Final design work begins and is anticipated to go through 2022.
  • January 2019
    Submission of 401 water quality certification application to Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
  • 2020
    January 2020
    The Water Quality Control Division of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment issues NISP the Colorado 401 Water Quality Certification.
  • July 2020
    The Larimer County Planning Commission recommends approval of a county 1041 permit for the Northern Integrated Supply Project to the Board of County Commissioners, which ultimately will decide whether to issue a permit.
  • Sept. 2, 2020
    The Northern Integrated Supply Project achieves an important milestone with the Larimer County Board of County Commissioners approving the 1041 Land Use Permit application.
  • 2022
    Dec. 9, 2022
    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issues a federal Clean Water Act Section 404 Record of Decision for the Northern Integrated Supply Project. This is a major milestone for NISP, as it reflects the lead federal regulatory agency’s review and approval of the project. The Corps’ approval was based on a lengthy and rigorous scientific analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act and a host of other environmental laws, including the federal Endangered Species Act, National Historic Preservation Act, State Water Quality compliance certification, and State Fish and Wildlife Mitigation Plan requirements.
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