Environmental group, water district settle lawsuit over $2B reservoir project

Save the Poudre and the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District (Northern Water) have reached a $100 million settlement to end a lawsuit challenging federal approvals for the Northern Integrated Supply Project (NISP). The settlement allows construction to proceed on the $2 billion project, which includes two reservoirs and a pipeline to supply 40,000 acre-feet of water to Northern Colorado communities. The settlement also funds the creation of a recreational river trail along the Cache la Poudre River. The environmental group had previously filed suit, arguing that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers failed to consider less damaging alternatives to the project.