Hi Friends of the Poudre River! What an adventure this has been! To keep the most amazing river in Colorado alive, beautiful, and flowing through Fort Collins, we started Save The Poudre in 2004. Next year, 2024, will be our 20th year. Throughout that time, we've gotten quite an education in water, politics, money, and power in the state of Colorado. We started Save The Poudre in 2004 to fight the massive proposed dam, the "Northern Integrated Supply Project" (NISP). As the director of Save The Poudre, I've had some crazy experiences fighting this massive dam project. I've been called into the offices of U.S. Senators, Governors, Members of Congress, State Senators and State Representatives, County Commissioners, and City Councilmembers, all of whom has asked me to "compromise" and let NISP be built. I've had rich and powerful people ask me to compromise. In public meetings, in the newspaper, and in person, I've been called just about every name in the book, from "radical" to "eco-terrorist." My response has always been the same -- the Poudre River is already severely compromised and NISP would make it worse by damming and draining the river, turning it into a muddy stinking ditch through Fort Collins. There's nothing "radical" about trying to keep a river alive. In fact, saving a river is a sane, reasonable, sustainable response to the chaos in the world around us. For 20 years, we have not blinked. For 20 years, not one ounce of river-destruction concrete has been poured into the Poudre River. For 20 years, NISP has not been built. TWENTY YEARS! In 2004 when we started fighting NISP, the project was estimated to cost $146.9 million; now it's estimated to cost $2.25 BILLION. We are fighting the POWER and MONEY and THE POLITICAL MACHINE in northern Colorado and all the craziness that goes along with it. And it is solely your support that keeps our organization alive and moving forward. It is solely your support that keeps us focusing on the health of the Poudre River. It is solely your support that keeps us not blinking. We are simply trying to keep this amazing river alive -- for you, for future generations of people, and for all of the non-human critters that depend on the Poudre River for survival. In early 2024, we will have a BIG ANNOUNCEMENT. Rest assured, it is SOLELY YOUR SUPPORT that will make this announcement possible. Please help us Save The Poudre and race into our 20th year by making a generous, tax-deductible, year-end donation today. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT! You can donate online by clicking here. -- Gary Wockner
TAKE ACTION: Ask Larimer County Commissioners To Suspend NISP Permitting During Coronavirus Pandemic Emergency
Hi Amazing Poudre River Lovers!
We understand and appreciate that this is a difficult time for all of you. First and foremost, do everything you can to stay healthy and take care of yourself and your loved ones. Second — we are working hard and need your assistance.
During this emergency pandemic that has paralyzed the government and economy, Larimer County actually triggered the permitting process for the Northern Integrated Supply Project (NISP) and we need you to send an email to the Larimer County Commissioners.
You can send them an email by clicking here.
The State of Colorado has declared a “State of Emergency” due to the coronavirus pandemic, and we believe it gives the Larimer County Commissioners broad discretion to suspend the permitting process for NISP until a normal, public process can take place. Right now, the County has unleashed 911 pages of highly technical documents that the public — and Save The Poudre — needs to digest, only given us 42 days to analyze these documents, and set a public hearing date of May 6th. All of this at the exact time when people are supposed to “social distance” and limit public gatherings.
NISP has been in federal permitting processes for SEVENTEEN YEARS. Thousands of comments have been generated, and tens-of-thousands of documents are in the public record responding to NISP. It’s simply ridiculous to rush through this Larimer County permit process when the public is completely engaged in other matters protecting their health and families, and worrying for their financial future.
We have a team of scientists working hard to make sure the Poudre River keeps flowing while almost everything else has been shut off by this pandemic. It is your past support that keeps us working hard.
Thank you, and stay healthy,
Gary Wockner
Director, Save The Poudre