Fort Collins Loveland Water District

FCLWD has enough water for all existing customers in our service area and for the growth we are experiencing now, but we will need 8,000 acre-feet (firm yield) of water to meet the demand of our growing service area by 2032. An acre-foot is equal to 325,851 gallons of water. To close the anticipated gap, FCLWD is looking to other water source options, including the Northern Integrated Water Supply Project (NISP). NISP is a proposed water storage and distribution project that will supply 15 Northern Front Range water partners with 40,000 acre-feet (firm yield) of new, reliable water supplies. This project includes two reservoirs in Northern Colorado. Northern Water is pursuing permitting, design and construction of this estimated $746 million project (2017 dollars) on behalf of the 15 partner cities and water districts, that will be providing water to nearly half a million residents in the Northern Front Range by 2050. The project is in the permitting and design phase, and if a final federal permit is received in 2019 as anticipated, construction will be complete by 2025. FCLWD's portion of NISP is estimated at $59 million (2017 dollars), dedicating 3,000 acre-feet of water to the communities we serve. In addition, FCLWD, with other water providers, is planning for additional water treatment needs, which will include the construction of a regional water treatment plant. FCLWD's estimated cost for the treatment plant is $32 million (2017 dollars). Because most of this water source is intended to supply growth in the communities we serve, it will be paid primarily with tap fees that developers pay when they build new homes and commercial buildings in our communities-not by current customers of FCLWD. FCLWD became a partner in NISP in 2004 because the project makes both economic and environmental sense for the growing communities we serve. By being a part of this collaborative regional water supply project FCLWD is included in developing a long-range strategy that ensures we can secure our water future. FCLWD, like other NISP participants, is pursuing an all-of-the-above strategy to meet our future water needs. In addition to NISP, we encourage conservation efforts and alternative transfer methods with ag-water suppliers. Like other NISP participants, FCLWD has seen a significant reduction in water usage and has an approved conservation plan with the Colorado Water Conservation Board. NISP will store water currently leaving the state in years when we have an excess supply. Since 2009, more than 5.5 million acre-feet of water left the state downstream to Nebraska over and above legal requirements. Through an exchange with two local ditch companies, the project will provide some water in all years, but more when we have an abundant supply. NISP is particularly attractive to communities served by FCLWD because it helps protect our valuable farmlands. Pressure on irrigated agriculture is increasing on both water and land resources. Without NISP cities will accelerate their purchase of farmland to dry it out and transfer the water to cities. This project has been endorsed by every major agricultural organization in Colorado because they estimate the loss of an additional 60,000 acres of irrigated farmland without NISP. Northern Water maintains a comprehensive website on NISP. We encourage FCLWD customers to learn more about this regional water supply project that will help secure the water future of the communities we serve. 970-226-3104 Call us today