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.
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
Please help us in our work
We need your support now, more than ever. OUR NEW GOAL IS $45,000.
We know many of you have generously supported No Pipe Dream and, in doing so, have played a vital role in making so many of our voices heard. We cannot thank you enough.
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.