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For Immediate Release
Save The Poudre Coalition: Poudre Waterkeeper
February 18, 2010
Contacts: Gary Wockner, Save The Poudre, 970-218-8310

SAVE THE POUDRE SUPPORTS COLLABORATIVE
"SHARED VISION PLANNING",
ASKS CORPS TO RESTART HALLIGAN-SEAMAN EIS

Fort Collins, CO -- The effort to move forward with the proposed new huge Halligan and Seaman dams and reservoirs is at a pivot point in the permitting process, and Save The Poudre: Poudre Waterkeeper (STP) has sent letters to the Army Corps and the cities of Fort Collins and Greeley with two requests:

1. The Corps and the cities should use "Shared Vision Planning" in the permitting process so that these two cities' future water needs can be addressed in a collaborative process that protects and restores the Cache la Poudre River.

2. The Corps should "re-scope" (restart) the Halligan-Seaman EIS process. The old EIS process is no longer valid due to the dramatic decrease in partners and the quantity of water that is proposed to be removed from the river and stored in Halligan.

The letters are posted here: SVP letter: http://poudreriver.home.comcast.net/~poudreriver/Save_The_Poudre_Input_on_SVP_Process.pdf

Re-scope letter: http://poudreriver.home.comcast.net/~poudreriver/Save_The_Poudre_Letter_To_Corps_HS_Rescope_2-18-2010.pdf

"We support collaboration," said Gary Wockner of Save The Poudre. "The City of Fort Collins and the Army Corps of Engineers have a great opportunity to move forward collaboratively so that future water supplies can be met and the Poudre River can be protected and restored."

The "Shared Vision Planning" process is funded by the Army Corps of Engineers and involves over 30 stakeholders -- one of which is Save The Poudre -- who could potentially reach a compromise to achieve Fort Collins' water supply needs that doesn't require environmentally destructive new dams and reservoirs. STP has offered thirteen alternatives that could be combined to create a sustainable option to meet water supply needs and protect and restore the Poudre River.

Save The Poudre also has requested that the Army Corps and the cities stop the current EIS process and "re-scope" it. Due to the dramatic and consequential shift in participants, the old EIS process is no longer valid. Of the five original participants, three quit along with 50 percent of the water originally proposed for the project.

"Starting over is the right thing to do for Fort Collins," said Wockner. "With only two participants who need half as much water, the number of alternatives that should be considered increases dramatically."

The City of Fort Collins has been one of the more progressive environmental leaders in the state of Colorado concerning environmental and water supply issues.

"This is another huge opportunity for the City of Fort Collins to lead with collaboration and environmental protection," said Wockner.

About Save The Poudre: Poudre Waterkeeper
Save The Poudre is made up of 17 national, state, and regional groups including: National Wildlife Federation, Waterkeeper Alliance, Clean Water Action, Defenders of Wildlife, American Rivers, American Association, Western Resource Advocates, Colorado Environmental Coalition, Lighthawk, Environment Colorado, Sierra Club – Rocky Mountain Chapter, Fort Collins Audubon Society, Citizen Planners, Wolverine Farm Publishing, Poudre Paddlers, Friends of the Poudre, and the Cache la Poudre River Foundation. Membership in these groups totals over 3 million American citizens.

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