Friends of the Poudre Winter/Spring 2001 Newsletter
Stream Restoration Workshop: In July we hosted a one-day workshop in Loveland with Big Thompson Watershed Forum. About 45 attendees heard experts address areas related to streambed restoration. For $15 participants received a workbook, CD, snacks, lunch and a bus tour. The assemblage included water lawyers, engineers, teachers and staff members from several water related agencies.
Controlled Burn: This summer Friends cooperated with Fort Collins, Greeley, North Front Range Water Quality Planning Association and the USFS in a controlled burn. The burn was held in Dad's Gulch and covered a little less than 500 acres. The purpose of the burn was to assess the effects of fire on water quality. Bob Lange, a CSU graduate student, conducted the research.
Pipeline Comments: In January we commented on the Environmental Assessment for the Pleasant Valley Pipeline that is being built, by several entities, just west of Fort Collins. Our review of the assessment raised several questions about the effects of the pipeline's operation on the river downstream of the diversion point. The pipeline does not directly affect the streams flows, but shifts in ownership and use of water surrounding the project raise questions about effects on downstream flows. Our questions about the adequacy of the EA were sent to the Bureau of Reclamation.