Mission
"Friends of the Poudre is a non-profit organization dedicated
to protecting the Cache La Poudre River from the threats of water diversion,
mega-reservoirs, ecologically unsound usages, and insensitive development.
Through our membership, we intend to monitor instream flows and water quality
levels to ensure quality of life. We aim to protect the remaining free-flow,
while enhancing the river's riparian habitat and recreational amenities.
Through vital philanthropic activities, Friends of the Poudre will aim to
remind the users of its historical past, while raising support and funding to
protect the river into the future."
Current Activities
Friends of the Poudre is interested in many facets of the river.
We are actively involved in the protection of its water quality and
are active in Clean Water Act reviews that set the standards for
water quality on the river.
We organize the annual RiverFest to celebrate the river and raise awareness
of its threats each summer (JULY).
We work to assure that the river will not suffer from unneccessary dams
and obstructions that would destroy its character, and are currently performing
outreach on the NISP proposals for Glade Reservoir by the Northern
Colorado Water Conservancy District, and the Seamans Reservoir expansion proposal
on the North Fork of the Poudre. We tend to encourage responsible high mountain
storage such as the Halligan Reservoir Expansion proposed by the City of Fort Collins.
As part of SWIG, or the Sustainable Water Interest Group, we have joined with other
stakeholders in the Poudre River basin to have a stronger across-the-board position
in all river flow effecting decisions.
Friends is also actively involved in telling the story of water development
in the basin through its involvement in the Poudre Corridor National
Heritage Area.
We have been the lead proponent for keeping open Lower Picnic Rock, a vital boater
access point, and maintaining the "Information Station" site in partnership with
the City of Fort Collins and the US Forest Service.
We are the organizing entity with the City of Fort Collins in the Downtown River
Enhancement Project, an effort to improve a 200' stretch of river with in-channel
recreational enhancements for paddlers and fisherman.
A breakdown of our duties includes...
Fundraising Activities and Membership Events
Creating a "Chest" of Funds through Riverfest, Avo's Annual Membership Meeting, Rio Day,
and Ongoing Outreach Activities
Beautification and Enhancement
Picnic Rock and Information Station Upkeep Partnerships
River Bank and Highway Cleanups
Outreach and Education
River Water Forums
Historical Interpretation
Outreach To Media and Stakeholders on River Issues
Coordination and Partnership with other Environmental and Recreational Groups
Monitoring
Water Quality Testing Facilitation
Mega-Water Storage Decisional Involvement and Influence
Involvement in River Initiatives
Fort Collins Downtown River Corridor Project including recreational river enhancements
Partnerships
The City of Fort Collins
The U.S. Forest Service
Big Thompson Watershed Forum
Poudre Heritage Alliance
Old Town Marathon
Colorado Environmental Coalition
The Sustainable Water Interest Group (SWIG)
Accomplishments
Over the past 18 years, Friends has been involved in many different
projects. Friends played a lead role in acquiring the $3.4 million dollar
GOCO Legacy Grant for environmental projects on the Poudre and Big Thompson
Rivers. We were instrumental in creating Gateway Park.
Friends initiated a process to create a basin wide stakeholder group.
We are working with the governments, water districts, and other utilities
in the basin to improve water quality basin wide.
We have hosted a series of public forums about river issues, provided
educational programs to school children about river ecology, and have
supported congressional approval of the Cache La Poudre National Heritage
Area.
Tax Deductible Contributions
Contributions for membership go toward furthering our mission
of protecting and enhancing our vital resource, the Cache La Poudre River.
We are a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization. All contributions are tax
deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Board of Directors
For years, many individuals have donated their time and energy "to the river" through
service in Friends of the Poudre. Our "founding fathers" of special mention include Bill Sears
and Gary Kimsey, as well as other past presidents the late David Lauer and Chuck Wanner.
We dedicate the coming years to working in memory of our great friend David Lauer in memory
of his life following his abrupt passing while enjoying the solitude of Colorado's High Country.
2006-2007 Friends of the Poudre Board Members
Kristen Coley--President
Bill Sears--Vice President
Gary Kimsey--Secretery/Publishing
Matt Evans
Bill Bertschy
David Swartz
Rob Osborne
Other Organizations Our Board Members Have Served:
Larimer County Environmental Advisory Board
Legacy Land Trust Board
Fort Collins Water Board
Poudre Heritage Alliance
Big Thompson Watershed Forum
Larimer/Weld Water Issues Group
Fort Collins City Council
Lower Poudre Canyon Association
Poudre Canyon Fire Board
Larimer County Rural Land Use Advisory Board
River Corridor Property Owners
North Park-Cache La Poudre Byway Council
Poudre Paddlers Conservation Committee
|
