Hi Friends of Freer-Flowing Rivers in Colorado and Beyond, The whole world seems to be talking about Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the trillions of dollars it is both demanding and creating. At the same, time, there is an explosion in the ways that AI is being used in the field of environmental conservation that we've been tracking closely to see if there's a role for us to use AI to make a difference protecting rivers. Before I get to that, I want to give you some updates on how Save The Poudre, Save The Colorado, and Save The World's Rivers are going to operate in 2026. After January 1st, both Save The Poudre and Save The Colorado are legally "merging" into Save The World's Rivers. We will consolidate our non-profit corporations to streamline expenditures and be more effective. If you're a member of Save The Poudre, you will no longer receive emails through "mailchimp," but rather through this email sender. Both Save The Colorado and Save The World's Rivers emails will remain and look the same. All three websites -- Save The Poudre, Save The Colorado, and Save The World's Rivers -- will still operate the same, as will all three donation pages. The only visible change will be that Save The Poudre and Save The Colorado will now be "programs" of Save The World's Rivers. You'll still see my face and name on everything as we paddle forward into 2026 working to protect rivers here in Colorado and Beyond. So, what are our plans for 2026? First, Save The Poudre will likely make a couple important and positive announcements in the coming months about how the $100 million "Poudre River Improvement Fund" (PRIF) will operate. In addition, we will be working hard to support our three great volunteer members of the PRIF, including our fearless leader and boardmenber, Mark Easter. We're optimistic that the future of the Poudre will be more ecologically healthy and include more recreational opportunities from Gateway Park in the Canyon all the way downstream to Eastman Park in Windsor. Your support has made all the difference in the past, and we will keep pressing forward to fulfill our mission, and your vision, in 2026. An important reminder that Save The Poudre does not receive any of the $100 million -- it will ALL be spent on the Poudre River itself. Second, Save The Colorado will continue its important work of addressing the threat of new dams and diversions across the Southwest U.S. As the Colorado River's health collapses and the state negotiators struggle to reach an agreement on how to manage the River, our work to address the threat of more dams and diversions is as important as ever. We will also continue pushing our "Rights of Nature for Rivers" program forward, as well as advocating for major structural changes (like decommissioning!) at Glen Canyon Dam. While Rights of Nature and changes to Glen Canyon Dam are longterm visionary efforts, it's just these types of…
Poudre River Update: NISP, Thornton Pipeline, and Halligan Project
Hi Friends of the Poudre,
We want to give you an update on all of our work, especially on projects you may be reading about in the newspaper. It’s been a long 20-year adventure for Save The Poudre, much of which is winding down, while new projects are winding up.
First, the Northern Integrated Supply Project (NISP). Recall that we reached a settlement agreement with NISP that dedicated $100 million to the Poudre River Improvement Fund (PRIF). The PRIF committee, of which we appoint 3 members, is now meeting on a monthly basis. They have begun to outline the 15-year work plan ahead of them, and will slowly start identifying projects to spend the money on. We are very pleased with how the process is proceeding, and we are optimistic that the money will be well spent. We will let you know when the first project is funded, which may be in 2026.
You likely also read that NISP is facing some uncertainty because the largest participant — the Fort Collins Loveland Water District — is threatening to drop out. We don’t have any additional information about this, but we are monitoring the situation closely. The PRIF is only funded if NISP moves forward, and the money alloted to PRIF depends on construction benchmarks including the construction of the Glade Reservoir dam. We’ll keep you posted as we learn more.
Second, the Thornton Pipeline. You may have read in the newspaper this week that we decided not to appeal the decision from the district court judge who approved the pipeline by ruling against our lawsuit. We made this decision because this judge’s ruling is now the third time that the courts have ruled that Thornton can’t be forced to send their water down the Poudre River rather than in a pipeline north of Fort Collins.
The first ruling was back in the year 2020, when a district court judge ruled that Thornton violated the County land use code and had to change the route of the pipeline, but couldn’t be forced to put the water in the river. The second time was when that same case came before the state court of appeals which upheld the district court judge’s ruling. And the third time was just last month on our new and most recent lawsuit where a different judge ruling against us and our effort to force Thornton to put the water in the River.
There are numerous legal details about why we thought the third time might be the charm, including that the County land use code had changed, and that the Thornton application was completely different. But, as they say, three strikes and you’re out — it makes no sense for us to appeal and waste our supporters’ donations when we have been repeatedly ruled against by different judges and different levels of courts. The Pipeline will get built.
Finally, Fort Collins’ “Halligan Project”. The City of Fort Collins is proposing to tear down Halligan down northwest of Fort Collins on the North Fork of the Poudre River, and replace it with a larger dam a hundred yards downstream. The new dam would also be on the channel of the river, even taller at around 100 feet, and is currently predicted to cost over $300 million of Fort Collins ratepayers’ money. We have been monitoring and commenting on this project for nearly 20 years.
We are currently having conversations with the City about “alternatives” that were identified in the Army Corps Environmental Impact Statement. One alternative is to store the City’s water in NISP’s Glade Reservoir, or even to be a participant in NISP, options that we are further investigating. Glade Reservoir is “off-channel” which is generally less environmentally damaging than a dam “on-channel,” but many details need to be understood and investigated before we take a formal stance.
Through all of this, we continue to keep our eyes and minds focused sharply on the ecological health of the river, the amount of water flowing in the river, and what’s best for the river.
Thanks for reading and all of your support! Feel free to reach out.
Gary Wockner, Director, Save The Poudre
