Keep the Poudre River Flowing
STOP NORTHERN WATER'S DAM AND PIPELINE PROJECT
STOP THORNTON'S PIPE DREAM
Our mission
Our mission is to avoid pipelines through northern Fort Collins' neighborhoods.
We want to be a strong voice to influence BOTH the City of Thornton and the Northern Integrated Storage Project to do the right thing by all Fort Collins residents: LEAVE THEIR WATER IN THE POUDRE RIVER.
Help us defeat Thornton again
Let your voice be heard at the Planning Commission Hearings
In 2018 hundreds of Larimer County residents turned out to defeat the Thornton Water Project. Thornton is back with a similar 1041 application and - with your help -
we will defeat them AGAIN!
Hear Ye, Hear Ye!
Hearing dates with the Planning Commission and County Commissioners:
Planning Commission:
Wednesday April 10
(If additional dates are needed they are: April 11 and April 17)
Board of County Commissioners - Monday April 22.
Additional dates: May 6, May 8, May 20
All meetings will start at 6 p.m. and will have a hybrid format.
In person: 200 W. Oak St. and via Zoom (link to be provided)
In addition to showing up for the Hearings, writing letters to the Planning Commission and the Board of County Commissioners before the 2 sets of hearings are essential!
Emails can be sent to pcboard@larimer.org and bocc@larimer.org
The Board of County Commissioners denied Thornton’s 1041 application because all the criteria were not met. You can read the revised 1041 regulations here .
No Pipe Dream invites you to use this information as speaking and writing points at the upcoming Board of Commissioners meetings.
Same stuff - farther north
One reason Thornton was denied their previous application was adverse effects on the environment in Larimer County. Thornton has dried up hundreds of farms in both Larimer and Weld counties, and now wants to run a pipeline through land that is zoned for farming. Thornton also failed to provide any alternatives in design or siting in the new plan. They are again only presenting a pipeline design, that was simply moved farther north.
And here's the kicker...
Thornton has permission from the state water board to build 3 pipelines. 2 for moving the water out of Larimer County, and 1 to return their used water. The Land Use Code requires that the ENTIRE project be submitted, not one pipeline at a time. Currently Thornton says they may not need more pipelines, but that is simply speculation.
Thornton sued Larimer County in both District Court and the state Court of Appeals and lost both times.
How much easier it would be for Thornton to run their water down the Poudre River and take it at the point where the proposed pipeline route already crosses the Poudre! Water suppliers in the Denver area are planning to pump water from the South Platte and treat it for consumer use before it reaches Nebraska. Thornton can do the same by building a treatment plant in Windsor.
Thornton could be a model city by helping restore the struggling Poudre River, as they secure water taps for metro growth.
Now is the time to be involved!
Show up to the hearings and speak out! The Commissioners respect and listen to Larimer County citizens as they have supported us in our strong desire to have NO pipelines running through our land. We believe that by stopping this continued pipeline approach by Thornton, they will choose the best, most productive and citizen approved plan for getting their water - -the Poudre River.
Contrary to what you may read in the news, a decision on the Thornton Northern Project's first of 3 massive pipelines will not be made until public comment is taken at the Planning Commission and Board of Commissioners hearings in April and May!
Remember to donate to No Pipe Dream Corporation.
We need you and your continued support.
Support NPD now more than ever!
Please make out your checks to:
No Pipe Dream Corporation
PO Box 2465 Fort Collins, CO 80522,
or use the link below.
Continued support makes this possible!
Visit GoFundMe and DONATE!
To all of our contributors and supporters -
THANK YOU! We couldn't do this without you!
###PLEASE READ THE LETTER FROM SAVE THE POUDRE BELOW###
from Save the Poudre: A better alternative
Reminders of reasons for preserving water flow in the Poudre
NOTE FROM NO PIPE DREAM: The following letter from Gary Wockner of Save the Poudre is a response to Thornton's new 1041 application.
In this very thorough letter, he recounts the arguments for saving the Poudre. You will find some very fine speaking/writing points on why the Larimer County Commissioners should deny Thornton's pipeline and instead use the Poudre River as their method of conveyance.
Reading Gary's well-reasoned arguments could help you write your own letter to the Planning Department and to prepare you to prepare for the Commisioner's hearings on April 10 and beyond. (See schedule of hearings in article above.)
Please write your letters to John Barnet in the Planning Department. barnettjl@co.larimer.co.us so our opposition to Thornton's pipeline and support of the Poudre River Option is heard loud and clear!
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Good Monday Morning Larimer County Planning Commission and Staff,
Thank you for your service to the community!
On behalf of Save The Poudre's ~1,000 members in Larimer County, attached and posted at the links below are Save The Poudre's comments on the 1041 application for the Thornton Pipeline Project to be considered at your April 10th meeting/hearing.
As discussed at length in our comments, this Thornton Water project is a huge opportunity to restore and heal the Poudre River by adopting the "Poudre River Option" for conveyance of water.
Save The Poudre's comment letter:
- Exhibit A: https://www.savethepoudre.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Exhibit-A-Thorton-Water-Project-1041-Permit-FR.pdf
- Exhibit B1: https://www.savethepoudre.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Exhibit-B1-Order-Regarding-Plaintiffs-Complaint-for-Judicial-Review-Under-C.R.C.P.pdf
- Exhibit B2: https://www.savethepoudre.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Exhibit-B2-Order-Denying-Plaintiffs-Motion-for-Declaratory-Relief.pdf
- Exhibit C: https://www.savethepoudre.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Exhibit-C-Opinion-ThorntonPipeline-9-1-2022.pdf
- Exhibit D: https://www.savethepoudre.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Exhibit-D-the-WSSC-System-Map.png
- Exhibit E: https://www.savethepoudre.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Exhibit-E-SaveThePoudre-CleanPoudre5-14-2021.pdf
- Exhibit F: https://www.savethepoudre.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Exhibit-F-PoudreRiverReportCard.pdf
Unfortunately I am out of town on April 10th, but will be testifying via zoom. One of STP's boardmembers or staff may also testify in person. I will be at the April 22nd BOCC hearing.
I am happy to answer any questions you might have.
Please confirm receipt of these comments and attachments.
All best,
Gary
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Cleaning Rather Than Pipelines?
Proposal to County, City, Stormwater Utility
The following is a letter from Gary Wocker PhD, Executive Director of Save the Poudre. In it, he proposes a "Working Group" to study the very real possibility that water runoff from Fort could be cleaned to a level that would satisfy both Thornton and NISP requirements. He uses the processes and results of the company AbTech Industries as an example to kick off the discussion.
By cleaning the runoff, he notes, the main flow of the Poudre could be maintained with all the benefits that brings. It would no longer be necessary to divert water north of Fort Collins using expensive and destructive pipelines.
Hi Larimer County Commissioners, Fort Collins City Council and Staff:
Today, Save The Poudre released a short report about "Cleaning the Poudre River so it can be used as a conveyance for water supply". The report is here:
http://www.savethepoudre.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/SaveThePoudre-CleanPoudre5-14-2021.pdf
Because many of you are new on the job (Welcome!), I'll provide a little background summary:
Both the Thornton Pipeline and NISP claim they can't run all of their water rights down the Poudre River through Fort Collins because the water quality in the river is too dirty due to the City's stormwater runoff. While that may, or may not, be true, there are engineering solutions that can "clean" stormwater before it runs into the Poudre. These solutions are cost-effective, environmentally sound, and proven in other municipalities around the U.S.
We consulted with AbTech Industries (https://www.abtechindustries.com/) to provide some estimations of technologies and costs for cleaning the City's stormwater before it runs into the Poudre. Our report, as well as AbTech's website, provide lots of examples and photographs for you to consider.
Long-story short: All water providers can use the Poudre River as a conveyance, which would provide the following benefits:
• Increase quality-of-life for City and County residents,
• Preservation of the environment and natural habitat along the Poudre River corridor,
• Maintaining or increasing flows for recreation including at the new downtown Fort Collins Whitewater Park,
• Increase water quality and cleanliness in the Poudre River.
AbTech's staff and CEO would be happy to come to Fort Collins and meet with any Larimer County or Fort Collins officials or staff. I would be happy to meet or discuss also.
Save The Poudre requests that the County and City convene a "Working Group" to examine cleaning the Poudre River so it can be used as a conveyance for water supply.
Thank you for considering our request.
Gary Wockner, PhD
Executive Director, Save the Poudre
We use your money wisely; won’t you consider giving to continue our efforts? Our lawyer will be involved in providing direction to working group members and writing legal positions as we go forward.
Where Your Dollars Go - 81% lawyer fees, 13% hired experts (hydrologists), 4% yard signs, 2% administration.