Colorado’s River Rerouting Plan Sparks Environmental Lawsuit Against $2 Billion Project

In a bold move to protect Colorado’s natural resources, the environmental group Save the Poudre has filed a lawsuit against a massive $2 billion project aimed at redirecting river water to burgeoning northern communities. This legal action, lodged in a Denver federal court, challenges the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ decision to permit Northern Water’s ambitious Northern Integrated Supply Project.

Source: CBS Colorado/YouTube

The heart of the controversy lies in the project’s plan to construct two new reservoirs and redirect 40,000 acre-feet of water annually to 15 providers in Northern Colorado. To put this into perspective, an average U.S. household uses about 1 acre-foot of water per year. This project comes in response to forecasts predicting the region’s population could double by 2050, necessitating an increased water supply to sustain a high-quality lifestyle for future residents.

Central to the dispute is the Glade Reservoir near Fort Collins, intended to store water diverted from the Cache la Poudre River. The second, the Galeton Reservoir, near Greeley, will reroute water from the South Platte River. Save the Poudre’s lawsuit accuses the Army Corps of Engineers of flouting the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Clean Water Act, alleging insufficient environmental impact assessment and a disregard for a proposed alternative solution.

This alternative, presented by Save the Poudre in 2022, suggests sending all the water downstream in the Poudre River instead of diverting it through pipelines. The group fears that the current plan could significantly harm the Cache la Poudre River and its wetlands, affecting recreational activities and water quality. According to the lawsuit, the project could divert up to 35% of the river’s water annually, potentially reaching 65% in some months.

After a 20-year journey filled with environmental debates and infrastructural delays, the Army Corps of Engineers issued the project’s Section 404 permit in December 2022. Despite facing this legal challenge, Northern Water remains confident in the Corps’ comprehensive evaluation and the extensive mitigation included in the project.

This lawsuit highlights a critical environmental struggle, underscoring the need for sustainable development while preserving our precious natural resources. As this high-stakes legal battle unfolds, it raises a crucial question: can we balance the needs of a growing population with the imperative to protect our environment? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain – the outcome of this case will have far-reaching implications for environmental policy and sustainable development in the U.S.

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