FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 25, 2011
Contact: Gary Wockner, Save the Poudre: Poudre Waterkeeper, 970-218-8310
http://SaveThePoudre.org
FARMERS SPLIT ON NISP
Fort Collins, CO -- Today the Larimer County Agriculture Advisory Board issued a split opinion on "The Farm Facts About NISP" with some farmers agreeing with Save the Poudre's analysis that the Northern Integrated Supply Project and its Glade Reservoir (NISP) could dry up farms, lead to less crop productivity, force bigger public debt and faster farm subdivision, use West Slope Colorado River water, and impact farmers' water rights. In a letter to the Larimer County Commissioners -- that included a "minority opinion" that supported much of Save the Poudre's analysis -- farmers continued to elevate the extreme controversy around NISP. The report was created after Save the Poudre gave a presentation to the Board about "The Farm Facts About NISP."
"NISP is extremely controversial and has divided the agricultural community -- some farmers believe that NISP could dry up farms, lead to less crop productivity, force bigger public debt and faster farm subdivision, use West Slope Colorado River water, and impact farmers' water rights," said Gary Wockner of Save the Poudre.
The Farm Facts About NISP is here: http://savethepoudre.org/docs/farm-facts-april2011.pdf
The letter from the Larimer County Ag Advisory Board is here: http://www.larimer.org/bcc/111025/FactsAboutFarmingResponse.pdf
NISP is now at least 6 years late and at least $150 million over budget. In early 2011, the Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS) was delayed for the third time with the Army Corps of Engineers saying the SDEIS will be released sometime in 2012.
Save the Poudre has created a "Healthy Rivers Alternative" (HRA) to NISP that would protect the Poudre River and better protect farms. The HRA is here: http://poudreriver.home.comcast.net/%7Epoudreriver/Healthy_Rivers_Alternative.pdf