Colorado Reservoir Project Clears Final Permit Hurdle

“The fourth and final major permit needed for a massive Northern Colorado water project was issued Friday, clearing a significant hurdle 18 years after the process began and setting up a court battle with local opposition who vow to fight on,” reports Seth Klamann in the Denver Post.

The Northern Integrated Supply Project will divert water from two rivers into two new reservoirs to shore up water supplies for the region, whose population is expected to double by 2050. “Once completed, the project is projected to supply its 15 participating entities with 13 billion gallons of water each year, according to the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District, which it says is enough to support roughly 80,000 families.”

Opponents of the project say it will harm the rivers and their ability to recover from extreme weather events, and will continue fighting the project through legal challenges. “Asked about the potential litigation, Northern Water spokesman Stahla said the district’s successful effort to obtain a permit ‘shows that sound science went into all the decision points along the way.’”