The region's cities and towns are spending millions of tax dollars to help the federal government study how the Northern Integrated Supply Project might affect the Cache la Poudre River.

The 15 participants in the project, which includes communities and water districts, have paid nearly $10.4 million since 2004 for analysis of the project, according to records provided to the Business Report by the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District.

Their contribution is required by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as part of its study of the project, which is expected to supply participants with 40,000 acre feet of water annually if approved. An acre-foot is the amount of water required to fill an acre one foot deep and is enough to supply 2.5 households annually.

The project would include two new reservoirs: Glade Reservoir, at 170,000 acre feet north of Horsetooth Reservoir, and Galeton Reservoir, which would total 45,000 acre feet east of Ault. Two water pumping stations and pipelines also would be built.

The project would give towns like Erie a big boost to accommodate their growth. The town of nearly 20,000 has paid out $1.7 million so far, the most of any participant in the project.