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Northern Water urges Larimer County to build a ‘firewall’ against out-of-basin water transfers
Summary
Northern Water representatives told the Larimer County Board of County Commissioners that market-driven purchases of irrigation water and municipal acquisitions threaten long‑standing local water supplies; they outlined an “all‑of‑the‑above” approach ranging from public awareness to intergovernmental agreements and legal tools.
Pat Wells, water strategy specialist with Northern Water, told the Larimer County Board of County Commissioners on March 17 that Northern Colorado faces growing pressure from out‑of‑basin acquisitions that could erode the region’s historic water rights and economic base.
“Water is a foundational building block of prosperous communities,” Wells said, arguing that when water leaves the region ‘‘our wealth, our regional water security, and our vitality leave the region.’’ Wells and Brad Wind, general manager of Northern Water, presented a range of responses — from stakeholder outreach to legal and policy tools — and said Larimer County could play a convening and supportive role.
Northern Water framed the issue as both historical and current. Presenters traced local supply development from early reservoir construction to major projects such as the Colorado–Big Thompson (CBT) project and the Windy Gap Project, and cited recent projects…
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