Plans for big reservoirs draw coalition of critics

By Cherry Sokoloski
North Forty News

An alliance of environmental groups is raising concerns about the proposed Halligan-Seaman reservoir expansions, as well as other large reservoir projects on the drawing board.

The coalition, called the Sustainable Water Interest Group or SWIG, claims that efficiency and conservation measures could provide enough drought protection for northern Colorado, without the large expense of new dams and reservoirs.

SWIG has concerns about environmental impacts, fiscal responsibility and threats to the recreation industry from Halligan-Seaman and other projects, including the proposed Glade Reservoir north of LaPorte.

"These projects will have long-lasting impacts on the Poudre watershed," said Mark Easter, spokesperson for the Sierra Club Poudre Canyon Group. Other organizations in the coalition include Friends of the Poudre, Fort Collins Audubon Society, Rocky Mountain Flycasters/Trout Unlimited, Colorado Environmental Coalition, Citizen Planners and Poudre Paddlers.

Partners in the Halligan-Seaman project want to enlarge Halligan from 6,400 to 40,000 acre-feet and Seaman from 5,000 to 60,000 acre-feet. Both reservoirs sit on the North Fork of the Cache la Poudre River. Glade Reservoir, as envisioned, would have a capacity of about 177,000 acre-feet.

Before it can be built, the Halligan-Seaman project must receive a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. This process, now under way, involves preparation of an environmental impact statement that will evaluate all possible alternatives--including the "no action" option of not enlarging the reservoirs. The EIS will also address concerns about the project's effects on river health, wildlife, recreation and agriculture.

The Army Corps has hired a lead consultant, WEST, Inc. of Cheyenne, Wyo., to help prepare the EIS. Several other consultants will study specific types of impacts from the project.

The Army Corps hosted two scoping sessions in late February to gather comments from local citizens on the Halligan-Seaman project. When a draft EIS is complete, probably late in 2007, there will be more opportunities for public comment.

Poudre River issues

Easter said one of the coalition's primary concerns is the health of the Poudre River. Both Halligan-Seaman and Glade would skim some of the peak off the spring runoff to fill the reservoirs. In fact, Easter thinks that the river would probably never flood again below the mouth of the Poudre canyon if both projects are built.

Peak flows, Easter explained, are "key for maintaining the health of the river ecosystem" because they flush out silt, recharge groundwater, maintain wetlands and create spawning habitat for fish.

They are also important for water quality. "Water quality will get much worse without these peaking flows," Easter said, noting that water quality in the lower stretches of the Poudre is already bad.

Easter said the coalition is also concerned about the fiscal impacts of building large reservoirs. "We're convinced we could meet the needs for drought protection and growth by tuning the system we have now to peak efficiency," he said.

The current water delivery system could be made more efficient, Easter said, by lining irrigation ditches, using pipelines where possible and repairing leaks. These measures would ensure that most of the water from the river reaches its intended destination.

The coalition is also pushing for comprehensive conservation measures. "We can do that without affecting our quality of life," Easter said, adding that this approach would save money for water users and would make additional storage unnecessary. One example would be having cities pay to replace old toilets with new, low-flush or dual-flush toilets.

"We're seeking a cooperative solution" to water needs in the area, Easter said, whereby everyone can save money and use water resources as efficiently as possible. "It takes money to save money," he pointed out, but the coalition believes citizens will get a better yield on the dollar by investing in efficiency and conservation rather than new dams.

SWIG also questions whether taking more water out of the river will have adverse effects on recreation and hence the local economy. The group notes that tens of thousands of people annually, including whitewater enthusiasts, fishermen and bicyclists, use the river for recreation.

Winter flows could rise

Both Fort Collins and Greeley, principal partners in the Halligan-Seaman project, are looking at streamflow issues, and officials hope that the project could actually improve wintertime flows on the North Fork of the Poudre.

Donnie Dustin, a water resources engineer with Fort Collins Utilities, said the bulk of the water that Fort Collins would use to fill Halligan comes from agricultural rights, already purchased by the city and converted to municipal use. Most of this water would be taken from the river during the peak runoff in the spring. However, he said, the project could result in greater streamflow on the North Fork during the winter months.

"Hopefully we can operate so that we can enhance the flows," said Paul Weiss, operations manager for Greeley's water department. "Having two buckets gives us a lot of flexibility."

The Nature Conservancy, while also concerned about conservation and efficiency, is focusing on maximizing benefits to the North Fork ecosystem should the reservoirs be expanded. Spokesperson Heather Knight said TNC is working with Fort Collins and Greeley to find creative ways to increase winter flows in the North Fork, thereby improving habitat for fish and other aquatic life. Having the two reservoirs is critical to this goal, she said, since water can be released at nontraditional times from Halligan and recaptured in Seaman, providing more flow between the two reservoirs.

Partners in the Halligan-Seaman project include Fort Collins, Greeley, Evans, North Poudre Irrigation Co., North Weld County Water District, Fort Collins-Loveland Water District and East Larimer County Water District. They hope to have a permit from the Army Corps in hand by the fall of 2008.

If the Halligan-Seaman project is approved, the Halligan portion could be completed by 2010. Greeley would likely wait another five to 10 years to enlarge Seaman.

Next month, the Fossil Creek Current and the North Forty News will take a look at other issues raised by the Halligan-Seaman project.