For Immediate Release Contact: Gary Wockner, Save The Poudre, 970-218-8310 Fort Collins Refuses To Implement Water Conservation Measures To Save Ratepayers' Money Legal Battle Over Massive Halligan Dam Looms Fort Collins, CO: Today, Save The Poudre sent its comments on the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the proposed massive new Halligan Dam on the North Fork of the Poudre River to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The massive new dam is proposed to be built by the City of Fort Collins Water Utility to meet so-called "drought protection". Save The Poudre's comments are posted here. Specifically, Save The Poudre points out in its comments: The City and the Army Corps completely fail to provide a cost comparison of the alternatives which makes the FEIS meaningless. The City Water Utility completely fails to discuss water conservation measures that would replace the need for the over $300 million new dam. The City Water Utility's water use has been going down, not up, for the last 20 years, but the FEIS relies on water-use data that is now 10 years old while predicting that the higher 10-year old water use will persist for the next 25 years. The City Water Utility claims it needs more water to also lease water to farmers in northern Larimer County, but completely ignores the fact that the Utility' charter is legally disallowed from raising rates on ratepayers to serve water to farmers outside the Utility boundary. "Nearly 20 years ago when this big dumb dam project was supposed to only cost $35 million, I stood in front of the City Council and told them that water conservation was faster, easier, cheaper, and more environmentally sustainable than a massive new dam," said Gary Wockner of Save The Poudre. "Now here we are two decades later when the cost of the dam is 10 times higher and the City still refuses to implement aggressive water conservation." "This project is an extreme waste of ratepayers' money, and the Environmental Impact Statement appears to violate the National Environmental Policy Act and the Clean Water Act," said Wockner. "We urge the Corps to deny the permit and force the City to implement aggressive water conservation." ***end***
Poudre River Update: It’s 2022 and the Fight to Save The Poudre Ramps Up!
Hi Amazing Poudre River Lovers!
This is the 19th year — NINETEEN! — of our fight to save the Poudre River, to keep its healthy water flowing through Fort Collins, to keep the beautiful riparian corridor alive and green, and to support the amazing recreational and holistic lifestyle the Poudre River brings to our community. Here’s a summary update of where it all stands:
First, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has responded to our requests and has set up a meeting next week where we can air our grievances against their idea of loaning a half-billion dollars to help build NISP. In that meeting we will find out about how all of you can also reach out to the EPA — so stay tuned on that. We have found out that NISP falsified information in the application to the EPA which may be grounds for a lawsuit — so stay tuned on that!
Second, our lawsuit against the former Larimer County Commissioners continues to move forward. We are optimistic that the state district court will rule in our favor and overturn the permit the Commissioners gave to NISP.
Third, our lawsuit against NISP for claiming they had “vested property rights” on City of Fort Collins Natural Areas prevailed — we won! NISP has now agreed with the City that NISP DOES NOT own City Natural Areas and can’t automatically build NISP pipelines without approval from the Fort Collins City Council.
Fourth, our legal intervention against the Thornton Pipeline continues to successfully move forward and we are optimistic we will prevail against Thornton.
Fifth, we’ve put extensive comments into Larimer County’s proposed revision of its 1041 regulations. The County will be finalizing those regs at the end of January.
Sixth, we’ve been invited to help the City of Fort Collins create its new 1041 regulations over the next few months. We’re excited to help the City create strong regs that protect the Poudre River and the amazing beautiful Natural Areas throughout Fort Collins.
Finally, our attorneys are actively developing our legal fight against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to be ready if/when the Corps grants a permit to NISP, which could happen any day.
As we race into this 19th year of saving the Poudre, we are doing EVERYTHING that realistically can be done to Stop NISP, Stop the Thornton Pipeline, and Save The Poudre.
We GREATLY appreciate your support which keeps our nose to the grindstone working hard!
You can donate online by clicking here.
Stay tuned for all the action!!
Gary Wockner
Director, Save The Poudre