Colorado Environmental Group Challenges Army Corps of Engineers Over $2B River Diversion Plan

A Colorado environmental group has taken legal action against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, seeking to overturn a $2 billion project that aims to redirect river water to the state's expanding northern communities.

Save the Poudre, a nonprofit organization, filed a lawsuit in a federal district court in Denver, arguing that the permit issued by the Army Corps for the Northern Integrated Supply Project (NISP) should be invalidated.

The NISP, spearheaded by Northern Water, involves the construction of two new reservoirs and the piping of an additional 40,000 acre-feet of water to 15 providers in Northern Colorado. With the region's population expected to double by 2050, Northern Water emphasizes the need to enhance the water supply to maintain a high standard of living for future residents.

The Glade Reservoir, the first of the two planned reservoirs, would store water diverted from the Cache la Poudre River, which is at the center of Save the Poudre's legal challenge. The Galeton Reservoir, on the other hand, would store water rerouted from the South Platte River and would be situated near Greeley.

Save the Poudre's lawsuit contends that the Army Corps of Engineers violated the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Clean Water Act when granting the permit. The plaintiffs claim that the Army Corps failed to conduct a sufficient environmental impact statement (EIS) and disregarded a compromise solution proposed by the environmental group, which suggested sending all the water downstream in the Poudre River instead of diverting it via pipelines.

The lawsuit points to potential degradation of the Cache la Poudre River, the threat to wetlands, and the adverse impact on recreational activities and water quality. It estimates that the project could divert approximately 35 percent of the river's water each year as it passes through Fort Collins, with the figure potentially reaching as high as 65 percent during certain months.

READ MORE:

• COLORADO'S WATER CONSERVATION PROGRAM PROVEN TO BE INEFFECTIVE, YET PLANS TO EXPAND IN 2024

• NEW DOUGLAS COUNTY WATER COMMISSION INCLUDES FORMER STATE OFFICIAL, REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER

• BIDEN SETTLES WITH COLORADO'S UTE TRIBES FOR HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS

• COLORADO'S PROPOSED "WATERS OF THE STATE" LAW RAISES CONCERNS OF OVERREGULATION

Gary Wockner, director of Save the Poudre, expressed the organization's decision to resort to legal action after two decades of permitting delays and lack of compromise. He acknowledged that the legal process could take several more years to reach a resolution.

In response to the lawsuit, Jeff Stahla, a spokesperson for Northern Water, stated that the organization had not yet had the opportunity to fully address the issues raised by the legal action.

However, he expressed confidence in the comprehensive work conducted by the Army Corps and believed that the issued permit would ultimately be affirmed based on the thorough research and extensive mitigation measures undertaken throughout the project's development.