Keep the Poudre River Flowing
STOP NORTHERN WATER'S DAM AND PIPELINE PROJECT
STOP THORNTON'S PIPE DREAM
STOP NORTHERN WATER'S DAM AND PIPELINE PROJECT
STOP THORNTON'S PIPE DREAM
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.
The Colorado Court of Appeals has denied Thornton’s request to have the Larimer County’s 1041 ruling over turned. Thus the commissioner’s decision to deny Thornton’s proposed pipeline stands.
Thornton can appeal to the State Supreme Court, apply for a new 1041 permit, or run the water down the Poudre River.
No Pipe Dream is celebrating the Court of Appeals decision today. Starting in 2017, we organized, devoured the county land use code and were persistent in our opposition to the first phase of the Thornton Water Project. Along with Save the Poudre, we take a lot of credit for influencing the Board of Commissioners’ denial of Thornton’s 1041 application.
It was not an easy fight. Two members of our board passed away fighting Thornton’s project. But, when Thornton returns - and they will - No Pipe Dream will be there to stop the draining of the Poudre River, through pipelines dividing our neighborhoods and our properties.
See the article about the Court's decision in the Denver Post here.
The latest newsletter from NoPipeDream presents the new Water Plan proposed by the Colorado Water Conservation Board.
Please take a look at this plan and send any comments you may have to the survey link provided in the newsletter.
The Board will receive comments for 90 days. The plan was released on June 30, so comments can be received until September 28.
Click here to read the NoPipeDream newsletter. Click here to go to the Water Conservation Board website and read the updated Water Plan.
This newsletter from NPD will remind you of the battle we're in with Northern Integrated Supply Project.
Click here for a reminder of the NISP project and resistance activities.
Look at NPD's information newsletter to see what Thornton is suggesting to Larimer County's proposed 1041 regulations.
There is another Commissioner meeting on January 24, 6:30 pm. Participate either in person, by Zoom, or by submitting comments. Participation information and links are in the newsletter.
Please think of contributing to No Pipe Dream so we can continue working for you.
Council is reviewing new 1041 regulations that would protect the City, the Poudre River, and City Natural Areas from huge destructive development projects like the Northern Integrated Supply Project ("NISP").
The hearing is at the County Building, 200 W Oak Street, Monday, November 15 at 6:30pm.
Public may attend, written comments may be submitted and the hearing can be viewed in a Webinar. Registration for the Webinar is here .
Go here for PDFs of the original and marked up copies of the regulations.
Send emails to County Commissioners and City Council members at any time:
bocc@larimer.org
READ THE NPD REVIEW AND ASSESSMENT OF THE PROPOSED CHANGES HERE.
Following the Weld County Board of Commissioner decision to deny the City of Thornton's application to build a water pipeline through the County, Thornton intends to use a state statute to overrule the commissioner's decision.
Read the article in the Northglen Thornton Sentinel.
Please look at the article that immediately follows these notifications.
Gary Wockner of Save the Poude has proposed a method that, if chosen, would maintain flows in the Poudre River and negate the need for expensive and destructive pipelines.
Larimer County is revamping their 1041 process and criteria, and the City of Fort Collins is starting to examine the possibility of adopting the 1041 process. If Fort Collins adopts 1041 powers we will need to develop processes and procedures.
The public can observe the process and give input through a series of meetings. See the schedule HERE.
Thornton Water Project encounters another large hurdle.
Read the article in the Brighton Standard Blade newspaper.
(See Coloradoan article referred to on 30-day moratorium in previous notice -- "Larimer County Puts Temporary Halt on Oil and Gas, Land Use Applications")
All three commissioners voted to extend the oil and gas permit moratoriums to September 15 and also extend the 1041 permit application moratorium to December 15.
This vote was held after a public meeting on the issue on April 14.
To see the Coloradoan article go here.
To see the Loveland Reporter-Herald article go here.
No Pipe Dream thanks everyone for their help. Please continue helping by contributing to our GoFundMe.
Judge Stephen Jouard of the Eighth District Court of Colorado ruled against Thornton's lawsuit challenging rejection of their 1041 application.
See full description of this action on the Thornton section of this website.
No Pipe Dream joined Save the Poudre and Save Rural NoCo in serving Larimer County with a lawsuit on January 12, 2021, alleging that former Commissioners Donnelly and Johnson had publicly advocated for Northern Integrated Supply Project (NISP) for a decade, demonstrating bias.
See more details in the full press release and the Coloradoan article (1/20/21) on the NISP page.
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 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.
Any river is really the summation of the whole valley. To think of it as nothing but water is to ignore the greater part.
(Hal Borland, This Hill, This Valley)
Address: P.O. Box 2465, Fort Collins, CO 80522 Copyright © 2020 Stop Thornton's Pipe Dream - All Rights Reserved
Photo on Home page courtesy of Save the Poudre
Make checks out to No Pipe Dream Corporation
This site is provided “as is” without any representations or warranties, express or implied. Before relying on material on this site users should independently verify the accuracy, completeness and relevance for their purposes and obtain any appropriate professional advice.
Site material may include opinions, recommendations or other content from third parties that do not necessarily reflect our views. Links to other Web sites are included for the user’s convenience and do not constitute an endorsement of the material on those sites, or any associated product or service.