Northern Colorado Conservancy District — NISP
Permitting Communications / Stakeholder Outreach
Northern Water and partners are working to create an $800 million project that will provide 15 Northern Front Range water providers with 40,000 acre-feet of new, reliable water supplies annually. Northern Water is pursuing permitting, design and construction of the project on behalf of the participants, who will be providing water to nearly half a million residents by 2050.
Sigler was retained to support strategic planning, issues management and permitting communications for NISP. Sigler strategically approached and gathered endorsements from a diverse group of stakeholders — including local, state and federal elected officials, local city leaders, news media, business organizations, chambers of commerce and trade associations — to highlight the project's widespread support. Rallies featuring Senator Cory Gardner and elected officials from Larimer and Weld Counties were staged at local farms to serve as a background for media events.
In Q4 of 2022, The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued a federal Clean Water Act Section 404 Record of Decision for the Northern Integrated Supply Project. Sigler also recently completed a comprehensive strategic communications plan for the construction of Chimney Hollow Reservoir.
Flagship Permitting and Coalition-Building Project
The project at a glance
Project investment
$800 million
Annual supply
40,000 acre-feet
Participating providers
15 Northern Front Range water providers
Federal milestone
Clean Water Act Section 404 Record of Decision · Q4 2022
Project Arc
A federal permitting decision built over years
Northern Water pursued permitting, design, and construction on behalf of participating providers. In the fourth quarter of 2022, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued a federal Clean Water Act Section 404 Record of Decision for the Northern Integrated Supply Project.
Stakeholder Map
Who had to understand the work — and how
Elected and city leaders
Gathered support from local, state, and federal officials and city leaders to demonstrate the project’s regional need.
Business and trade organizations
Built endorsements through business organizations, chambers of commerce, and trade associations.
News media and local audiences
Staged farm rallies with Senator Cory Gardner and Larimer and Weld County officials as media-event settings for visible local support.
Communications Artifacts
What the project team put into the field
- Strategic communications plan
- Issues-management support
- Permitting communications
- Stakeholder endorsement program
- Media-event planning and support
- Construction communications plan for Chimney Hollow Reservoir
What the Work Demonstrates
For a contested water-supply project, a permitting record and a communications record reinforce one another. The documented work focused on demonstrating broad, diverse support — not merely generating isolated endorsements.
Project Questions
What prospective clients often want to know
What is NISP?
The Northern Integrated Supply Project is an $800 million water-supply program intended to provide 15 Northern Front Range providers with 40,000 acre-feet of reliable annual supply.
What federal milestone did the project receive?
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued a Clean Water Act Section 404 Record of Decision in Q4 2022.
How did Sigler support NISP?
Sigler supported strategic planning, issues management, permitting communications, endorsement gathering, and public-facing media work.
Related Proof
Explore the practice behind the project
Project Details
Sector
Water
Service Type
Permitting Communications / Stakeholder Outreach
Location
Berthoud, CO
Project Phase
Permitting