Plans for two new reservoirs in northern Colorado are facing more delays as a key federal review is not expected until next spring.
The delay is the most recent turn in a long battle over expanding Colorado water resources.
The release of a long-awaited environmental study that could pave the way for construction of the two new reservoirs could be postponed until next spring, according to advocates and opponents.
The plan by the Northern Colorado Conservancy District to build Glade and Galeton reservoirs in northern Colorado was supposed to take a step forward this winter with the release of a second environmental impact statement.
The statement has been postponed twice.
The reservoirs are part of North Colorado Water’s Northern Integrated Supply Project to create 40,000 acre-feet of new supplies.
The Army Corps of Engineers has been studying the environmental impacts of the NISP for more than a decade.
In addition to the two reservoirs, the project calls for two pump plants, pipelines and improvements to an existing canal, according to a Northern Water summary.
Northern Water distributes water to portions of eight counties in northern Colorado and a population of 860,000 people.
In 2008, the corps began the second study into the project after public outcry demanded it.
The supplemental study has now taken more time to complete than the first draft, released in 2008.
The Corps of Engineers said it is reviewing the schedule for the new report, but no official date has been set.
The study will not end the process, but instead is just another step in the approvals, studies and potential court challenges.
