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PRESS RELEASE: Save The Poudre Tries To Defend Larimer County Against the City of Thornton

For Immediate Release
June 20, 2019
Contact: Gary Wockner, Save The Poudre, 970-218-8310

SAVE THE POUDRE TRIES TO DEFEND LARIMER COUNTY AGAINST THE CITY OF THORNTON LAWSUIT

Poudre River: This week, Save The Poudre filed a “motion to intervene” (posted here) to defend Larimer County against the lawsuit filed by the City of Thornton. The lawsuit tries to overturn a unanimous decision by the Larimer County Commissioners to “deny” the Thornton Pipeline from diverting Poudre River water upstream of Fort Collins and piping it across the county and down to Thornton.

Save The Poudre believes the organization has a strong right to intervene and is optimistic the court will allow intervention:

  • Save The Poudre literally started this issue 10 years ago by reaching out to Thornton.
  • Save The Poudre kept in touch with Thornton over the years.
  • Save The Poudre originally brought the “Poudre River Option” to the attention of the Douglas Road neighbors (a coalition now called “No Pipedream”).
  • Save The Poudre participated in all of the Larimer County hearings and Working Group processes, arguing for the Poudre River Option.
  • Thornton discussed the Poudre River Option at length during the County hearings, and also offered the County to put a small part of its water rights back in the Poudre.
  • The issue is solely about Poudre River water and whether to run some or all of the Thornton water rights down the Poudre.

“Our organization and our members have a right to be in this case because this case directly impacts our mission to ‘protect and restore the Cache la Poudre River of northern Colorado,’ said Gary Wockner, Director of Save The Poudre.

The City of Thornton has initially “opposed” Save The Poudre’s intervention, but the judge has now given Thornton 30 days to formally respond to Save The Poudre’s full motion.

“It’s completely ridiculous that Thornton opposes our intervention,” said Wockner. “We have every right to defend Larimer County, represent the Poudre River, and represent our members in this lawsuit.”

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Take Action: Say “NO” to the Thornton Pipeline, and “YES” to the Poudre River!

Hi Amazing Poudre River Lovers! We have a once-in-100 years opportunity to help restore the Poudre River, and your voice can help do that -- don't miss out!! On January 28th, the Larimer County Commissioners will be making a decision on the Thornton Pipeline. Save The Poudre and many homeowners north of Fort Collins have been working with Larimer County for over a year to support the County Commissioners in saying "NO" to the Thornton Pipeline and "YES" to the Poudre River. Thornton can send their water down the Poudre River and remove that water from the river near Windsor, instead of putting the water in a massively damaging pipeline across northern Larimer County. This is a "win-win" for Thornton, Larimer County, and the Poudre River. We need you to click through here to send an email to the Larimer County Commissioners. Please click through today! Please check out our new video about the Thornton Pipeline here! Thank you for Taking Action to Restore the Poudre River!

Save The Poudre: Patagonia Matching Grant, $10,000!

Hi Poudre River Lovers! We have good news. Our wonderful partners at Patagonia, the outdoor gear/apparel company, will match your donation to Save The Poudre, up to $10,000, starting today through the end of 2019. The donation link is here:  https://www.patagonia.com/actionworks/grantees/save-the-poudre-poudre-waterkeeper/donate/ Patagonia will securely process your donation and then transfer the money to Save The Poudre. We are especially excited to partner with Patagonia in this matching grant campaign because they are one of the leading voices on the planet for fighting dams and protecting rivers. Patagonia is also one of our leading funders! What did Save The Poudre accomplish in 2019? Helped stop the Thornton Pipeline dead in its tracks! Intervened in state district court against the City of Thornton to defend the Larimer County Commissioners against Thornton's lawsuit. Saw through the construction of the amazing Poudre River Whitewater Park, a project that we initiated back in 2010! Filed a lawsuit in federal district court in Colorado to stop the proposed Windy Gap Water Project in Colorado. Intervened with the Larimer County permitting process against the Northern Integrated Supply Project ("NISP"), the massive proposed dam project we've been fighting for 17 years. Intervened with the State of Colorado permitting project against NISP. Filed more comments with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers against NISP. Kept the Poudre River's voice alive to the public, in the media, and throughout the northern Colorado region. And more! When you donate to Save The Poudre, we get right to work! Patagonia Action Works is a wonderful partner putting your money into action. Please donate here through Patagonia Action Works and help us protect this amazing river! The donation link is here:  https://www.patagonia.com/actionworks/grantees/save-the-poudre-poudre-waterkeeper/donate/ Thank you for your support! Gary Wockner, Director, Save The Poudre. 

PARTY TIME: Join Us At Save The Poudre’s End-Of-Year Party, Dec. 4th

Hi Poudre River Lovers! Please join us on Dec. 4th for our year-end party! We will update you on all of our work, tell you what happened this year, and what's going to happen next year with our almost-15 year fight against the Northern Integrated Supply Project. In addition, our guest speaker will be former Fort Collins City Councilmember and Sierra Club Raconteur Alan Apt who has a new book out. Published by the Colorado Mountain Club and titled, Ski and Snowshoe Routes on Colorado's Front Range, the book describes and maps the best routes all along the Front Range mountains all within easy driving distance of Larimer County. Alan will also generously donate a portion of book sales to Save The Poudre at the event! Alan has a great slideshow, and his book might make a perfect holiday gift for a snow-loving friend or family member. WHAT: SAVE THE POUDRE YEAR-END PARTY WHERE: AVOGADRO'S NUMBER, 605 S. Mason Street, Fort Collins WHEN: MONDAY, DEC. 4th, 5:30pm - 7:30pm Please click thru to the Facebook event to let us know you're coming here: https://www.facebook.com/events/306486349867915/ SEE YOU THERE! THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT!

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