Environment

High Standards of Environmental Responsibility

The Northern Integrated Supply Project (NISP) has undergone more than 20 years of rigorous environmental review and permitting, ensuring the project is both sustainable and environmentally responsible.

Water projects in Colorado are subject to some of the strictest environmental laws in the country. Experts evaluated 16 project concepts and 215 potential configurations, ultimately determining that NISP is the most effective and environmentally sound solution to meet Northern Colorado’s future water needs.

Following a multi-decade study under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released its Final Environmental Impact Statement in 2018, followed by a Record of Decision in 2022—confirming NISP as the most sustainable path forward.

NISP’s Fish and Wildlife Mitigation and Enhancement Plan was approved by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the Colorado Water Conservation Board, and the Governor of Colorado. This plan represents the official state position on required mitigation and commits Northern Water to more than $60 million in measures that will enhance stream flows, protect wildlife and preserve the natural environment.

After extensive water quality modeling and analysis, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s Water Quality Control Division issued a Section 401 Water Quality Certification, concluding that NISP’s mitigation and water quality commitments will result in positive net effects and that “significant degradation will not occur.”

NISP stands as a model for how thoughtful planning and collaboration can deliver essential infrastructure while protecting Colorado’s natural resources.

Aerial image of water in a river with tall evergreen trees on the banks.

Protecting Streams, Wildlife and the Environment

The NISP Fish and Wildlife Mitigation and Enhancement Plan, approved in 2017 by the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission, Colorado Water Conservation Board and Governor John Hickenlooper, outlines Northern Water’s commitment to protecting and enhancing the natural environment. This plan includes a wide range of measures designed to benefit stream flows, wildlife habitats and the ecosystems we all enjoy.

Water in a river rolling over rocks. Trees around the banks.

Environmental Commitments

  1. Stream Channel Improvements

    • Fish passage structures: Four bypass structures will be built downstream of the canyon, plus one at the Poudre Valley Canal diversion—making trout migration easier.
    • Over 2.4 miles of stream channel improvements to enhance habitat and flow.
    • Nearly $15 million invested in channel restoration and riparian vegetation improvements.

  2. Stream Flow Enhancements

    • Year-round water releases from Glade Reservoir will improve flows in the Poudre River and eliminate existing dry-up points through downtown Fort Collins.
    • Additional flows during low-flow periods: More water will be released when river flows drop below 50 cfs in summer and 25 cfs in winter.
    • Preserving peak flows: Operations will be adjusted to allow peak flows to remain in the river in two-thirds of years, with up to 2 billion gallons preserved in some years.
    • Minimal diversions during peak flow: In 90 percent of years, little to no water will be diverted during peak flow conditions.

  3. Additional Commitments

    • Tailored water quality releases from Glade Reservoir using selective withdrawal from cooler, oxygen-rich layers—beneficial for river health.
    • A Poudre River Adaptive Management Program focused on long-term ecological health, including water temperature, fish and wildlife resources, and habitat enhancement.
    • Wildlife habitat conservation across approximately 1,400 acres surrounding Glade Reservoir.
    • Wetlands and endangered species mitigation to protect sensitive ecosystems.
    • Recreational and fishery benefits at Glade Reservoir, supporting both environmental and community well-being.
 

Poudre River Enhancement Fund

Northern Water and the environmental nonprofit Save the Poudre reached a historic settlement allowing NISP to move forward after years of legal opposition.  

A cornerstone of the settlement is the creation of a $100 million Poudre River Improvement Fund, a long-term investment dedicated to restoring and protecting approximately 55 miles of the Cache la Poudre River, from the Munroe Canal Diversion just upstream of Gateway Natural Area near the mouth of the canyon to its confluence with the South Platte River east of Greeley. The fund will support a broad range of ecological and community-driven improvements. These could include river channel restoration, diversion structure retrofits to support fish passage and recreation, stormwater treatment to improve water quality, and the installation of trees and trails to enhance habitat, public access and river corridor resilience. 

Initial funding of $5 million is available immediately, with future contributions scheduled around key project milestones: $5 million at the start of Glade Reservoir construction in 2026, $7.5 million at completion in 2030, and $7.5 million annually until the $100 million contribution is met. The fund will be managed by the NoCo Foundation, with oversight shared equally between representatives from Northern Water and the environmental community. This collaborative structure ensures that both water providers and conservation advocates guide the funding available to beneficial projects.  

This agreement is in addition to NISP’s other commitments for environmental mitigation and enhancement, including those under NISP’s federal Clean Water Act 404 permit, Fish and Wildlife Mitigation and Enhancement Plan, state 401 Water Quality Certification and local 1041 permit. The agreement reflects a shared commitment to protecting the ecological future of the Poudre River. It offers a generational opportunity to invest in the health of the river and the communities that depend on it—now and for decades to come.