Planning commission backs Johnstown’s 30‑inch raw‑water pipeline through Larimer County

The Larimer County Planning Commission on Feb. 12 unanimously recommended that the Board of County Commissioners approve the Town of Johnstown’s Article 10.41 permit for a 30‑inch buried raw‑water pipeline and pump station to deliver water from Lone Tree Reservoir to Johnstown’s treatment plant.

What was proposed and why Johnstown proposed a 30‑inch pressurized raw‑water pipeline totaling roughly 10 miles from Lone Tree Reservoir to the town’s water treatment plant; about 3.4 miles of that alignment cross unincorporated Larimer County. The project includes a pump station at the reservoir (four submersible pumps and a small building), buried pipeline, and temporary construction easements; the applicant estimates roughly 24.5 acres of disturbance for the whole project in the county portion.

Town staff and consultants told the commission the pipeline is sized to support Johnstown’s planned water‑treatment plant expansion (from 6 million gallons per day toward 12 million and an ultimate design capacity…