May 1, 2008--Review of reservoir along Poudre backs need for more water (Denver Post)
The Army Corps of Engineers on Wednesday agreed with backers of a massive reservoir project in northern Colorado that population growth calls for new water supplies and that if the plan is rejected, cities will dry up huge tracts of farmland. But the corps also said the proposed diversion of Cache la Poudre River water from downtown Fort Collins and Greeley would be much larger than previously thought, and the reservoir would flood 50 acres of habitat for the endangered Preble's meadow jumping mouse. With the release Wednesday of the 702-page draft environmental impact statement, critics and supporters of the $426 million Northern Integrated Supply Project can weigh in with comments for at least 90 days. The corps eventually will decide whether to issue a permit for the project, and if so, what environmental mitigation to require. Key to the plan is moving 7 miles of U.S. 287 to make way for a 170,000-acre-foot Glade Reservoir northwest of Fort Collins.
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