There are literally hundreds of reasons to oppose this destructive project. Many were described to some extent in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). Many more have been detailed by Save The Poudre and others that commented on the DEIS. Here, in our opinion, are the six biggest reasons to stop this proposed project:

1. Environmental

– NISP would sharply reduce peak flows in the river. Removing these peaks will 1) no longer clean the channel of algae; 2) negatively affect fish, including at least two state threatened species, and other aquatic habitat as well as the riparian and associated wetland communities , including several very rare plants, all along the plain’s portion of the Poudre; and 3) negatively affect water quality, especially water temperature and nutrients. Also see here.

– The Poudre River has been declared an Endangered River by American Rivers. Why in the world would we want to damage it further?

– NISP would impair the river’s ability to recover from disasters like the High Park Fire which smothered the river with ash and sediment that are very harmful to the aquatic community, especially the invertebrate food supply. Also see here.

– NISP would contribute greatly to greenhouse gas emissions because of all the high-energy pumping required to move water into the proposed Glade Reservoir.

– NISP is likely to further deplete flows critical to sustain downstream endangered species in Nebraska, and Glade Reservoir may negatively impact Colorado’s threatened Preble’s Meadow Jumping Mouse and threatened fish.

2. Economic

– NISP has been shown by Western Resource Advocates to be more expensive than other reasonable water supply alternatives. Also see here. The NISP proposal is not a smart, 21st Century solution to our state’s water problems.

– NISP would cost at least $500 million (not including financing costs), burdening participant community ratepayers and stimulating the need to grow more and grow faster to pay off utility debts.

3. Institutional

– NISP is opposed by City of Fort Collins and highly questioned by the City of Greeley for a whole variety of reasons, including water and wastewater treatment costs, water contamination issues, increased flooding risk, and many others mentioned above.

– NISP would interact with other ongoing and proposed water development efforts such that the cumulative impacts would be worse than any one project alone.

4. Recreation

– NISP would reduce the length of the recreational boating/floating season through Fort Collins and Windsor, as well as degrade water quality for body contact sports during that season. Also see here.

– NISP would, because of the biological reasons outlined above, severely reduce habitat for brown and rainbow trout below the project.

– Glade Reservoir would not provide decent recreational opportunities, such as fishing and boating. The reservoir level would go up and down like a yo-yo.

5. Social

– NISP would ultimately harm our region’s agricultural community through accelerated salinization, more rapid suburban development, and other impacts.

– Most of NISP’s water would benefit people outside the Poudre basin, while most of the impacts would be left for people inside the basin to deal with. This is a social justice issue.

6. Aesthetic

– NISP would flood a relatively pristine valley north west of Fort Collins and it would relocate US Highway 287 through prime farm land to the east, opening that land to small-lot development pressure.

– NISP would impair the river’s ability to recover from disasters like the High Park Fire which smothered the river with unsightly ash and black sediment. Also see here.