1. STP keeps the news alive. We regularly inform news media and influential decision makers regarding the (lack of) progress of the Northern Integrated Supply Project's (NISP) permit application with the Corps of Engineers. We stay abreast of the issues to counter misinformation spread by some NISP supporters, have given presentations to groups such as the State Legislature's Water Committee, and written many press releases and soapboxes.
2. STP has intervened along with many regional and state-wide environmental organizations to comment on other destructive water projects such as Windy Gap, the Million Pipeline, and the Moffat Water Diversion Project. We will not sacrifice other Colorado rivers to Save The Poudre!
3. STP organizes for the long run. STP has joined the Waterkeeper Alliance, allowing greater access to expertise and funding at the national level, and fostering better communication among like-minded organizations. Joining the Waterkeeper Alliance means we will be here for the long term, protecting the Poudre from a variety of threats and working to restore the river, not just fight the NISP project.
4. STP conducts research. Preferring data to dogma, we continue to expand scientific information about the Poudre River’s ecological and economic role in Northern Colorado. We are sponsoring scientific and socio-economic studies that will play a critical role in defining healthy rivers as the centerpiece of the regional economy and protect the Poudre River for future generations.
5. STP engages NISP subscribers. A top priority is communicating with the NISP subscriber communities. We have made presentations to them, written letters countering misinformation, and sent them our Healthy Rivers Alternative. This communication process has proven difficult, but there are positive signs and we will keep this up as long as it takes.
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6. STP promotes positive basin-wide water management. STP has endorsed a broader application of the Shared Vision Planning (SVP) effort being used for the proposed Halligan-Seaman project that has the potential to find win-win water development solutions that will benefit the Poudre River. Time will tell whether enough stakeholders will participate to make this a viable process.
7. STP promotes holistic river protection. Though our initial focus was on the destructive NISP project and the mainstem of the Poudre, it has become obvious that protecting the river's floodplains and tributaries are equally important for river protection and restoration in the long run. Thus, we have broadened our vigilance accordingly.
8. STP hosts river cleanup. STP joined several other local organizations to remove trash from the Poudre River through Fort Collins. Volunteers gathered substantial debris from the river and all along the banks.
9. STP promotes river flow restoration. We have been instrumental in generating considerable interest in restoring flows in the Poudre River through Fort Collins. A planning process just getting underway has a long way to go, but shows a lot of promise to add water when it is needed for ecological, water quality, commercial, recreational and aesthetic purposes.
10. Surprises lay ahead. There are a few items we have been working on that are not ready for daylight. Keep your eyes peeled for interesting developments. |
