12/9/2022 For Immediate Release Contact: Gary Wockner, Save The Poudre, 970-218-8310 NISP Record of Decision Issued; Save The Poudre Says, "We'll See You In Court" Fort Collins, CO: Today, after nearly 20 years, the Army Corps of Engineers issued the 404 Permit and Record of Decision for the proposed $2 billion "Northern Integrated Supply Project" (NISP) near Fort Collins, CO. The permit is posted here: https://www.nwo.usace.army.mil/Media/News-Releases/Article/3241655/us-army-corps-of-engineers-issues-section-404-permit-authorizing-fill-discharge/ Save The Poudre response: "We've fought this river-destroying project for nearly 20 years, girding for this final battle. Our attorneys' pens are sharpened and we will sue to stop this project and protect the Poudre River as soon as possible. We've given the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District ("Northern") every chance to find a compromise solution, but instead they've chosen to compromise the Cache la Poudre River. Northern proposes to spend $2 billion on a project that has one massive environmental impact in Larimer County -- further draining and destroying the Cache la Poudre River through Fort Collins. We are happy to keep a dialogue open with Northern Water as the lawsuit plays out, but for now it's a court battle they want, and it's a court battle we will give them." Save The Poudre is also in state court against NISP, suing the former Larimer County Commissioners who gave a 1041 permit to NISP. That lawsuit is just beginning its briefing schedule after the beginning of 2023 and will play out in 2023. Federal court battles generally last 2 - 3 years for the first round in federal district court. --end--
Colorado Rivers Press Release: Thornton Water Pipeline DENIED by Colorado State Court of Appeals
9/1/2022
For Immediate Release
Contact: Gary Wockner of Save The Poudre and Save The Colorado, 970-218-8310
Colorado Rivers Press Release: Thornton Water Pipeline DENIED by Colorado State Court of Appeals
Fort Collins: Today, the Colorado State Court of Appeals in Denver upheld a lower court’s ruling that denied the City of Thornton the right to build a water pipeline across northern Larimer County north of Fort Collins.
For several years, Thornton has tried to build a water pipeline across northern Larimer County to transfer water from over 20,000 acres of farms down to the City of Thornton. In 2018, the Larimer County Commissioners denied a permit for the pipeline, and Thornton sued the County. Save The Poudre, which has about 1,000 members in Larimer County, and another neighborhood group, No Pipe Dream, both intervened in the case to support Larimer County which was sued by Thornton. The pipeline proposes to transfer over 14,000 acre feet of water from farms down to Thornton.
Pipeline opponents, Save The Poudre and No Pipe Dream, argued that Thornton should run the water down the Cache la Poudre River through Fort Collins until it reached the Town of Windsor and then divert the water into a pipeline, thus restoring flows to a critically endangered 12-mile section the Poudre River.
“We’ve told Thornton for over 10 years that the water should flow down the Poudre River through Fort Collins,” said Gary Wockner of Save The Poudre. “This is potentially a win-win project, but Thornton refuses to use the River as a conveyance and continues to waste everyone’s time and money in court.”
Thornton must now decide if it will appeal the ruling to the Colorado Supreme Court, or propose a new pipeline route in Larimer County, or simply let the water flow down the Poudre River to Windsor which is an outcome that doesn’t even require any kind of permit in Larimer County.
“Once again, we offer to collaborate with Thornton rather than litigate,” said Wockner. “By working together, we can restore the Poudre River and Thornton can get the water.”
Save The Poudre’s mission is to protect and restore the Cache la Poudre River of northern Colorado.
This press release is posted here.
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