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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