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Northern Integrated
Supply Project
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NISP is an innovative water supply partnership that will provide the Central Weld County Water District (CWCWD) and 14 other water providers in Northern Colorado with the water we need to maintain a high-quality way of life and thriving community. CWCWD will receive 3,500 acre-feet of permitted annual yield. This is enough for approximately 7,000 families to bathe their kids, prepare healthy meals and provide sanitation necessary for everyday life. NISP water isn’t just for drinking, however.
With Northern Colorado’s population set to double by 2050, NISP will not only provide a secure water future, but it will enhance recreation, support environmental and wildlife stewardship, improve safety and reliability, and also reduce water waste. The creation of two new water storage reservoirs that will provide outdoor recreation opportunities that Northern Colorado needs. The project will also complete various ditch and canal improvements while building safe and resilient pipelines to deliver quality water to participants like CWCWD.
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Our community’s agricultural roots run deep, and NISP will provide needed water supply for agricultural production that drives a significant portion of our economy. It’s no wonder that ag organizations and Northern Colorado businesses have endorsed NISP – they know water supply and economic health are linked.
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Recent Milestones
Planning for NISP dates back to the 1980s, but recent milestones and accomplishments show the project continues making steady progress:​
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December 9, 2022: Today, the US Army Corps of Engineers signed a record of decision for the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District’s request to discharge fill material into 33.6 acres of waters of the United States. The fill discharge will facilitate construction activities associated with their Northern Integrated Supply Project (NISP).
WaterSecure Supports Our Way of Life:
A key element of NISP is the WaterSecure program, which provides an alternative to traditional “buy and dry” practices that caused productive fields and dairies to disappear in recent years. WaterSecure allows farmers to benefit financially from their valuable water rights while keeping water flowing to their fields.​
Visit the NISP website for additional information and resources.
Chimney Hollow
Project
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The Chimney Hollow Reservoir Project is a collaborative effort by 12 Northeastern Colorado water providers to improve the reliability of the Windy Gap Project. Chimney Hollow Reservoir will be located just west of Carter Lake in Larimer County. Its 90,000 acre-feet of dedicated storage capacity will supply a reliable 30,000 acre-feet of water each year for future generations. Construction began in August 2021.
This project will not take water away from irrigated agriculture or other users, but will utilize the water rights currently associated with the existing Windy Gap Project, which has been delivering water since 1985. Once built, Chimney Hollow Reservoir will provide the additional storage needed to improve the Windy Gap Project’s reliability for its participants and constituents.
The Windy Gap Firming Project (of which Chimney Hollow Reservoir is the major component), was reviewed and approved under the National Environmental Policy Act. NEPA, state and local approvals and requirements, plus substantial negotiations, will result in robust mitigation, enhancements and protection for fish, wildlife and the environment, to address the project's impacts.