Design work to begin on LaPorte section of pipeline

By Cherry Sokoloski
North Forty News

Greeley officials will begin the design phase of a water pipeline through LaPorte early this year, according to project manager Dan Moore.

The 60-inch pipeline, which will deliver water from the city's Bellvue treatment plant to Greeley, is being built in sections. The LaPorte section is next to last on the schedule.

Plans for the LaPorte segment have drawn strong criticism from local landowners, who have concerns about impacts on the Cache la Poudre River and historic resources.

Some property owners are hoping to derail the project - or at least put it on a different track - with the help of a historic railroad line that follows the Cache la Poudre River in LaPorte. Historic preservationist Mary Humstone has nominated the railroad line, which coincides exactly with the preferred pipeline route, as one of Colorado's most endangered historic places. It has already been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Greeley has "totally ignored the existence of this historic resource," Humstone said. A decision will be announced in February about whether the railroad line has been chosen by Colorado Preservation Inc. for the "most endangered" list.

Greeley recently finished work on a Best Management Practices manual for the LaPorte section of the pipeline. The city offered to prepare such a manual as a condition of approval by the Larimer County Planning Commission in October 2007.

The manual deals mostly with recommended construction and post-construction practices, but it also has a section about contact with affected property owners. "Communication with all involved parties will begin as early in the planning process as feasible," the manual states. "Timely and effective communication with landowners is often essential to avoid conflicts and protracted land acquisition negotiations."

According to Humstone, "There hasn't been any communication" with property owners. "I think it's outrageous that we are landowners on their chosen route and they have yet to inform us of their intentions," she stated. "All we know is what we've read in the paper. I think that's the wrong way to do business."

Moore said his office will begin contacting property owners early this spring during the design phase to discuss their issues. He said the preferred route is more of a corridor at present than an exact route, and some flexibility is possible in terms of meeting landowners' concerns. "We can work with certain variances," he said, "but it all has to work together like one big puzzle."

Greeley hopes to begin construction on the LaPorte section of pipe in 2010 or 2011.