Hi Friends of the Poudre, First, I want to give you an update on what's going on with the Northern Integrated Supply Project (NISP) and the $100 million river conservation Settlement Agreement we reached with NISP last year. You've no doubt read a number of news stories that have called into question whether NISP is actually going to get built or not. Importantly, we don't have any great insight about the answer, but we note that Northern Water, and its General Manager, Brad Wind, are openly talking about the struggle that NISP is facing because of the project's dramatically increased costs. Recent stories have appeared in the Greeley Tribune and Colorado Sun. A few weeks ago, I was at the Poudre River Forum in Greeley speaking on stage alongside Brad. When asked directly whether NISP was going to get built, he said that the project was struggling and he'd know more in a few months. Brad also noted that NISP might have to be downsized because participants are dropping out, but again, there's not a firm answer to the question right now. At the Forum, I was also asked if Save The Poudre supports NISP getting built. The answer I gave is that we don't have a position on whether or not NISP should get built, but if NISP does get built we are 100% in support of the $100 million Settlement Agreement. In fact, the Agreement is a contract between Save The Poudre and NISP, and we absolutely will honor our side of the contract by working with NISP to invest the $100 million in conservation projects to achieve the best outcome for the River as possible. To that end, the Poudre River Improvement Fund Committee has been meeting regularly for the last 9 months. So far, NISP has contributed $5 million to the Fund, but the future contributions won't occur unless NISP moves forward. The Committee is deliberating about how it will move forward, as well, given the uncertainty around NISP, and given that many problems and projects on the River will need further study before they can receive settlement funds. We will keep you in the loop if and when we know more! Second, we've been having conversations with the City of Fort Collins about their proposal to build a large new dam on the North Fork of the Poudre at the Halligan site. We've been very open and public about our stance on Halligan, and how our stance is tied to NISP. In a nutshell, if NISP moves forward, we believe that Fort Collins should join NISP rather than build a new on-channel dam completely across the river at the Halligan site. In fact, with participants dropping out of NISP, there appears to be space in Glade Reservoir for Fort Collins to participate in NISP. Further, we strongly believe it makes more sense to build just one new water storage project in the Poudre watershed, not two, and Glade Reservoir is an off-channel storage project rather…
PRESS RELEASE: Save The Poudre secures $100 million for “Poudre River Improvement Fund” to end NISP opposition and lawsuit
February 28, 2025
Press Release
Contact: Gary Wockner, Save The Poudre, gary.wockner@savethepoudre.org
Save The Poudre secures $100 million for “Poudre River Improvement Fund” to end NISP opposition and lawsuit
The conservation settlement is likely one of the largest in U.S. history for a river its size and envisions a “Poudre River Water Trail” to transform the lower river into a recreational amenity
Fort Collins, CO: Today, Save The Poudre announces that it has entered into an Agreement (posted here) with the Northern Integrated Supply Project Water Activity Enterprise [NISP Enterprise] that will secure $100 million, paid by the NISP Enterprise, for a “Poudre River Improvement Fund” (Fund). In return, Save The Poudre will end its 20-year opposition to NISP 
and withdraw its lawsuit against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for giving a permit to NISP.
The Agreement ends the two-decade long battle over NISP which is a proposed $2.25 billion off-channel reservoir project northwest of Fort Collins that would drain more water out of the Cache la Poudre River to slake the thirst of growing towns in Weld, Larimer, and Boulder counties.
The $100 million Fund is likely one of the largest river conservation settlements in U.S. history for a river its size and can provide benefits to the Poudre River from Gateway Park in Poudre Canyon all the way to the confluence with the South Platte River east of Greeley about 50 river-miles downstream. The Agreement specifically supports the potential creation of a “Poudre River Water Trail” that could transform the river into a recreational amenity for tubing, fishing, and boating from Gateway Park downstream to Eastman Park in Windsor.
Exhibit A of the Agreement lists 10 types of projects that the Fund can be used for – such as ecological, habitat, and recreational improvements – in addition to describing how the Fund will be managed. Importantly, the $100 million is separate from, and in addition to, the money already committed by NISP in its “2017 Mitigation and Enhancement Plan.”
“For 20 years, we have brought attention to the plight of the Poudre River and the impacts on the river that would be caused by NISP,” said Gary Wockner, who has directed Save The Poudre for all of those 20 years. “We are pleased to have reached this Agreement and we look forward to putting the Improvement Fund to work for the health of the river and all of the people who love and enjoy the river in northern Colorado.”
Save The Poudre will appoint 3 people to the Fund Committee – which will oversee and direct all of the Fund’s expenditures on projects – and the NISP Enterprise will also appoint 3 people. The Fund will be held in trust at the Community Foundation of Northern Colorado. The NISP Enterprise will pay out a total of $100 million over a 15-year period, with the first payment of $5 million made next week.
Mark Easter, who has been the board chair of Save The Poudre since it was founded, will be one of the three people appointed by Save The Poudre (the other 2 have not been chosen yet). Gary Wockner will remain the director of Save The Poudre and continue directing the organization’s programs.
“I am looking forward to working with the Fund Committee to achieve the best outcomes for the health of the Poudre River and the communities that depend upon it,” said Easter, who is an ecologist recently retired from Colorado State University.
“Given the specifics of NISP and our federal court case against it, we strongly believe that this Agreement is the best outcome we could achieve on behalf of our members, the people of northern Colorado, and the Poudre River itself,” said Gary Wockner.
“The Poudre River is smack in the middle of one of the fastest growing areas of the U.S., and it will take hard work, creativity, and a lot of money to keep the Poudre alive,” said Wockner. “This $100 million is a strong step in the right direction, and we encourage other stakeholders and the philanthropic community to help us leverage this money for even bigger improvements to ensure that Fort Collins and northern Colorado will continue to have a river running through it.”
This press release is posted here on our website.
Save The Poudre is represented in this matter by Eubanks & Associates, PLLC: Law for the Public Interest.
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