Will the North Fork be Dammed?

The Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District (NCWCD) has unvailed a proposal to build a dam at the mouth of the North Fork of the Cache la Poudre River a mear 1/10th of a mile from the new Gateway Park. The new resevoir would submerge existing Seaman Resevoir and would include a massive pumping operation to move water from the Poudre River.

If built to the proposed maximum storage capacity of more than 225,000 acre feet of water and an elevation level of 5740 feet, the resevoir would out scale Horsetooth. The dam would rise some 350 feet from its base and stretch out close to a half mile, making it the largest manmade structure in Larimer County, and the resevoir would back north almost 10 miles to beyond the Red Feather Lakes Road. The valley floor west of Bonner Peak would be completely submurged by a massive rolled-concrete dam.

There were several reasons given by the NCWCD for the proposal. First, the NCWCD has water rights to the Poudre River that it is not currently excercising. Recent Colorado Water Court proceedings have given the NCWCD concern that they may loose these rights to other interested parties, namely municipalities surrounding Denver. If left untapped, the NCWCD argues, the courts could grant rights to others, and the possibility of a main stem dam along the Poudre could resurface.

Second, the City of Greeley, like other Front Range communities, has experienced considerable growth in the past decade, and anticipates a need outpacing their supply within 10-15 years. Greeley has to date implemented full water metering and a considerable effort to educate the public about water conservation. The time they have gained from these programs is now only a few grains of sand in the hourglass.

Third, Weld county is ranked as one of the top agriculturally productive area in the country. The need for productive farm land based on irrigation will continue, if not expand, and the unclaimed water rights of NCWCD would secure the area's agricultural future.

The NCWCD presented their proposal at the regular monthly meeting of the Friends of the Poudre held in April, which was attended by approximately 15 members of the Friends of the Poudre, 4 officials representing the NCWCD, and 1 from the City of Greeley. After their initial presentation, the NCWCD fielded questions. Most questions and comments were aimed at understanding the proposal. The meeting was cordial, but left many attending wondering what was next, both with details regarding the proposal and how the Friends of the Poudre will react. There have been no statements or press releases from the Friends of the Poudre to date.

Friends of the Poudre will begin an in-depth investigation to the proposal beginning with the next regularly scheduled meeting in August. We will provide updates, so stay tuned to the Web Site as we learn more about the proposal and relay what we know to you.

Last updated July 6, 1999