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“Save the Poudre” responds to Club 20 support


[1]

This morning NCWCD sent out a press release saying that Club 20 had taken a position in support of NISP. I just got off the phone with Mr. Reeves Brown, directior of Club 20 [2]. Two things:

1. I asked Mr. Brown why his organization took a position without talking to us. He said he was not aware that we existed — “never heard of you,” he said. He was not aware there was opposition to the project.

2. I asked Mr. Brown if he knew that the Draft Environmental Impact Statement clearly states that 100,000 acre feet of water can come from the Colorado River for the “Initial Fill” of Glade Reservoir. He was not aware of that — NCWCD did not tell Club 20 about this use of Colorado River water for NISP. (this issue is summarized in the press release  we issued in September of 2009). Mr. Brown was also not aware that Glade Reservoir could be filled with water from the Windy Gap Firming Project, a proposed new diversion from the Colorado River. Mr. Brown said that Club 20’s support letter was completely predicated on NCWCD telling Club 20 that NISP would have absolutely no impact on West Slope water.

Club 20 support ltr [3]

My comments: – “NCWCD has once again provided false information to elected officials, citizens, and organizations. NCWCD’s credibility continues to erode and the NISP ship continues to sink.” – “NISP and Glade Reservoir could further drain the Colorado River, will dry up farms on the eastern plains, and will further destroy the Cache la Poudre River.” – And as I stated in the press release below last September: “We strongly encourage farmers and elected officials to read the fine print of the NISP/Glade scheme. It’s buyer beware.”

Thank you,

Gary  Wockner

Editors Note: Mr. Brown said that the above comments are basically correct. He wanted to make clear that NCWCD did not say that there was no opposition though he does not recall any mention that there was opposition. Mr Brown has told the Recorder that he is planning on meeting with NCWCD next week to discuss the issue. He said that Club 20 needs to have confidence that the Western Slope is not adversely affected by NISP. If there is any doubt, the subject will become a matter of discussion for the board.


Excerpt from the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for NISP/Glade

[The full DEIS is here: https://www.nwo.usace.army.mil/html/od-tl/eis/nisp.deis.apr08.pdf] [4]

2.4.1.3 Sources of Water for Initial Fill of Glade Reservoir The EIS evaluations of Glade Reservoir are based on a planned initial fill volume of approximately 100,000 AF at the time of project start-up. However, the anticipated sequence of NISP construction is to build the Glade Reservoir complex followed by the SPWCP. Until the SPWCP is online, Glade Reservoir will be wholly dependent on the Grey Mountain water right. This water right has the capability of yielding water in about 4 out of 10 years. Modeling indicates that there can be several years in a row of divertible flow followed by as many as 8 years with no flow available. Therefore, it is possible that divertible flows from the Poudre River may not be available under the Grey Mountain water right to fill Glade Reservoir at the start of NISP. The Participants could choose to wait to fill Glade Reservoir until divertible flows became available under the Grey Mountain water right or find other interim sources of water to fill Glade Reservoir. At the time of project start-up, NISP Participants will need approximately 10,000 to 15,000 AF of yield. If water is not available from the Grey Mountain water right, then other water sources could be considered by NISP Participants as interim supplies. It is assumed that these sources would already be decreed for municipal use or have an approved substitute water supply plan, thereby eliminating the temporary transfer of native agricultural water rights. The following sources would likely serve as an alternate source of supply if water was not available from the Grey Mountain water right at project start-up (NCWCD 2007) :

• C-BT units—C-BT units could be rented by NISP Participants. There is presently a very active rental market of C-BT water, generally from municipal to agricultural use. NISP Participants could either collectively or separately rent C-BT water. If the rented C-BT water is greater than the Participant’s need in that year, the water could be delivered into Glade Reservoir. The water would be delivered to the Project from Horsetooth Reservoir through the Windsor Extension into the Poudre Valley Canal.

• Windy Gap—Windy Gap water could be rented by NISP Participants. NISP Participants can either collectively or separately rent Windy Gap water from Windy Gap Participants. If the rented Windy Gap water is greater than the Participant’s need in that year, the water could be delivered into Glade Reservoir. The water would be delivered to the Project from Horsetooth Reservoir through the Windsor Extension into the Poudre Valley Canal.

• Grand River Ditch—The Grand River Ditch diverts water from the Colorado River drainage for the use by Water Supply and Storage Company (WSSC). These diversions average approximately 18,000 AF per year. WSSC serves an area roughly parallel to State Highway 14 from northeast of Fort Collins to several miles past the Town of Ault via the Larimer County Ditch. Because the water is transmountain, no return flow obligations are necessary and the water can be rented directly from WSSC shareholders. The water is presently diverted at the Larimer County Canal headgate above LaPorte, and would be diverted for the Project at the Poudre Valley Canal.