Politics · Water storageFort Collins reservoir reversal: City pursues NISP after 20 years of oppositionAired October 24, 2026 at 3:17 PM UTCWritten October 24, 2026 at 3:23 PM UTCRead the write-upThis storyTranscript · LOADING0:07Fort Collins is backing a reservoir project it fought for more than 20 years.0:11The city expects to invest about $300 million over 40 years to store water it0:15already owns.0:16The unresolved bargain is how much dependable storage and river protection its water0:20customers would get for that money.0:22Glade Reservoir would hold water northwest of Fort Collins.0:25The city wants to use part of that proposed reservoir instead of enlarging Halligan,0:30about 25 miles northwest of town on the north fork of the Cache-La Poudre River.0:34Council gave its initial approval on October 20th, 2026.0:38It backed pursuing the Northern Integrated Supply Project, known as NISP, through a0:42one-year interim agreement.0:44That puts the city on a path toward changing its storage plans.0:47Northern Water leads the regional projects permitting, design, and construction for0:51its participants.0:52Fort Collins wants space for senior water rights it already holds.0:56Those rights have earlier priority dates, an important advantage when competing1:00users draw from limited supplies.1:02The city's expected investment is about $300 million over 40 years.1:07Its intended share is about 6% of GLADE.1:10Those are planning expectations, and the binding financial and storage terms still1:13depend on the agreement.1:14Glade's planned capacity is 170,000 acre-feet.1:186% works out to roughly 10,200 acre-feet, subject to the eventual allocation.1:24Halligan's enlargement would add about 8,200 acre-feet to the existing reservoir.1:28An acre-foot is enough water to cover an acre one foot deep.1:32Storage measures how much a reservoir can hold.1:34Dependable annual supply also depends on available water rights, refill1:38opportunities, and operating rules.1:40Halligan's planning case called for about 7,900 acre-feet of dependable additional1:45water each year by 2065.1:47That was the projected municipal and industrial need.1:50The added reservoir space was one part of meeting it.1:53The city wanted that expansion to serve current and future customers and improve1:57reliability during prolonged drought.1:59A July 2024 presentation also stressed resilience to climate uncertainty.2:04By June 3, 2026, the city was publicly exploring NISP as an alternative.2:09Nicole Ponslett Johnson, the city's One Water Executive Director, says permitting2:13drove the switch.2:15She said Halligan Reservoir was not going to get permitted and the U.S.2:18Army Corps of Engineers was making that very clear to us.2:22The Corps published Halligan's final environmental impact statement in October 2023.2:26The city later concluded approval was unlikely.2:29A resolution authorizing withdrawal of its permit application went on the October2:3320th Council agenda.2:34Halligan's earlier 2026 through 2030 construction window belonged to that previous2:39plan.2:39Halligan's reported expansion estimate is about $500 million, but the city's project2:44listing gives $308 million.2:47Nobody has explained the difference between those figures.2:49So the city's affordability claim needs a consistent financial comparison.2:53Ponslett-Johnson calls NISP the more affordable project.2:57To judge that claim, customers need costs measured on the same basis.3:01That means matching price years, financing interest, and the expenses of operating,3:05maintaining, and delivering the water.3:0740 years of expected investment can't settle that comparison by itself.3:10The wider NISP project carried a reported $2.7 billion estimate in August 2025.3:16Contract bids had been halted while designs were being scaled back.3:19That dated regional figure covers multiple facilities and doesn't set Fort Collins'3:23eventual obligation.3:25Procurement continued into 2026, including a solicitation for Glade's main3:29embankment.3:30Northern Water is assembling a system that includes reservoirs, a forbay where water3:35collects before pumping and tunnel and canal connections.3:38Glade would capture Poudre river water primarily during high-flow spring runoff.3:43Water would travel about two miles from near the canyon mouth through an inlet canal3:47and forbay, then pumping infrastructure to reach the off-channel reservoir.3:51NISP also includes Galeton Reservoir northeast of Greeley, planned to hold 45,6003:57acre-feet.3:58The whole system is intended to deliver up to 40,000 acre-feet of new water annually4:03to Northern Front Range providers.4:04Fort Collins' proposal centers on storing its existing rights.4:08The city's senior rights are on the east side of the Continental Divide.4:11Ponslett Johnson says storing them would help Fort Collins prepare for climate4:15change and uncertainty over Colorado river water.4:18The benefit would depend on reservoir operations and delivery arrangements.4:21Ponslet Johnson also says project changes added protections for the Poudre River's4:26viability and helped change the city's position.4:29Those commitments will help determine the value of participation alongside the4:32storage space and price.4:33Northern Water and Save the Poudre reached a settlement over the federal NISP4:37permit, announced in February 2025.4:40Save the Poudre also referred to that settlement this October.4:44The permit dispute had already moved beyond its original challenge.4:47Northern Water describes more than 20 years of environmental review and permitting,4:51covering 16 project concepts and 215 configurations.4:55It says Glade's location was chosen from more than 200 potential sites.4:59River conditions after diversions begin will test the protections in practice.5:03About seven miles of U.5:04S.5:04Highway 287 would move east to make room for Glade.5:08The replacement would be a two-lane arterial, completed before the existing highway5:12closes, preserving the connection between Fort Collins and Laramie, Wyoming.5:16Part of the current route could eventually sit beneath reservoir water.5:20A traffic switch date hasn't been announced.5:22Fort Collins has chosen a direction for banking its existing water.5:26The city says another council consideration and vote are required.5:29The final storage entitlement, enforceable river protections, and financing terms5:33still need to become a binding bargain.5:36Water customers don't yet have a project-specific household bill estimate.Explore with HeyDexFollow via RSSThe shortThe short ↗