HomeMy WebLinkAbout20202451.tiff RESOLUTION
RE: APPROVE CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR NORTHERN INTEGRATED SUPPLY
PROJECT (NISP)
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, Colorado, pursuant to
Colorado statute and the Weld County Home Rule Charter, is vested with the authority of
administering the affairs of Weld County, Colorado, and
WHEREAS, on April 11, 2007, and on May 28, 2008, the Board approved resolutions
expressing its support for the Northern Integrated Supply Project (NISP), and
WHEREAS, NISP is a water storage project being developed by the Northern Integrated
Supply Project Water Activity Enterprise on behalf of 15 municipalities and water districts, and
WHEREAS, NISP is a regional project with benefits to all of Northern Colorado, including,
but not limited to, economic benefits, recreation amenities, wildlife habitat, open space, and
preservation of agriculture, and
WHEREAS, the Northern Integrated Supply Project consists of two (2) reservoirs, Glade
Reservoir in Larimer County and Galeton Reservoir in Weld County, as well as associated pump
plants and pipelines, and
WHEREAS, water produced by NISP would help to meet a portion of the future needs for
the participants in the project, including the Weld County communities of the Towns of Severance,
Eaton, Evans, Frederick, Firestone, Dacono, Fort Lupton, and the Central Weld Water District, and
the Town of Windsor in both Weld and Larimer Counties, and
WHEREAS, each of the participating communities has created and is implementing
successful conservation measures designed to increase the efficiency of water use by their
customers, and
WHEREAS, irrigated agriculture has played a central role in the development of Weld and
Larimer Counties, and will be integral to the future of its diversified economy, and
WHEREAS, a key component of NISP is the South Platte Water Conservation Project,
which introduces a new source of water via Galeton Reservoir to allow for substitution and
exchange to NISP, and promotes additional water availability to irrigation companies that participate
voluntarily, and
WHEREAS, an additional feature of NISP is WaterSecure, in which farmers and irrigators
may participate voluntarily by agreeing not to sell their shares in companies that are participating in
the substitution and exchange, to allow these operations to continue without the specter of"buy and
dry" schemes by other water providers not part of NISP, and
WHEREAS, Glade Reservoir would provide high quality recreational opportunities to
residents of both Weld and Larimer Counties, and
cc:Pi-CTP),HL c/Li.),cp(&a) 2020-2451
O'/27/2O BC0053
APPROVE CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR NORTHERN INTEGRATED SUPPLY PROJECT(NISP)
PAGE 2
WHEREAS, the State of Colorado has issued it as a 401 Water Quality Certification to the
project in January 2020, concluding that no significant water quality degradation is expected
because of NISP and stating "the commitments for mitigation and water quality improvement
measures are sufficient to result in positive net effects," and
WHEREAS, NISP is recognized in the Colorado Water Plan as a critical element to meet the
State's water demands by the year 2050, and
WHEREAS, the U.S.Army Corps of Engineers has been evaluating NISP for 16 years and
is likely to issue a Record of Decision by the end of 2020, and
WHEREAS, the Larimer County Planning Commission and Larimer County staff have
recommended approval of a 1041 Land Use Permit by the Larimer County Board of County
Commissioners.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of Weld
County that it continues to support the Northern Integrated Supply Project(NISP) and its mission to
provide high quality drinking water throughout Northern Colorado while also protecting the region's
irrigated agriculture economic sector, as well as the environment that supports the ecologic values
that make Weld County and Northern Colorado such a great place in which to live.
The above and foregoing Resolution was, on motion duly made and seconded, adopted by
the following vote on the 10th day of August, A.D., 2020.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
C WELD COUNTY, COLORADO
ATTEST: datAws) v• .aC,LLD%4, C" ""''tom
Mike Freeman, Chair
Weld County Clerk to the Board
BY- &v:4,-4A) /
Steve oreno, Pro-Tem
eputy Clerk to the Board
Sct . James
A O ED/-. OR
rbar- meyer
County Attorney
•1 , .\ / Kevin D. Ross
Date of signature: og'/t3/2O ,,u1
2020-2451
BC0053
Hello