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Written by Rebecca LaPole
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Thursday, 01 March 2007 |
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When the spring runoff comes pouring down from the high country, there’s no better place to be in northern Colorado than the Poudre Canyon.
Kayakers and rafters can rage through Class III and IV rapids on a river that is mostly sedate the rest of the year. Hikers have their pick of many trails and picnickers can stop at a number of riverside parks.
But what if the canyon and the river that is its lifeblood are indelibly changed by man’s interference? What would we do?
That’s the question, which has grown into an argument, that surrounds the Northern Integrated Supply Project, a water project that would expand reservoir storage in northern Colorado.
Opponents of the project are concerned the Poudre will be unnecessarily harmed. But supporters say more water storage is necessary to preserve farmland and to supply a growing population in northeast Colorado.
The project’s opponents have started a campaign called “Save the Poudre River,” and they’ll have a benefit concert Friday March 2 at Hodi’s Half Note in Fort Collins.
For $5, you can listen to three bands and watch documentaries by two local filmmakers.
Todd Simmons, local publisher and manager of the Matter Bookstore, helped coordinate this line-up for the Save the Poudre Benefit Concert: The Tanukis, Pee Pee, Harvey Knuckles, and short films by Adrian Matthew and Bryan Simpson.
“We’re trying to figure out the best way to raise awareness about the reservoirs and mount a campaign to actively promote conservation and restoration of the river,” Simmons said.
“All these projects are funded by the citizens. The organization that is promoting this project, the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District, is a publicly funded agency that has a $25 million budget, and they’re not looking at a sustainable future, or repairing ecosystems or promoting conservation, even though they have conservation in their title.”
You can read arguments for the project at the water district’s Web site, ncwcd.org, where the district says much of the river is protected from development and that proposed reservoir storage won’t negatively affect the river’s flow.
Filmmakers Simpson and Matthew, whose work will be shown at the benefit, are also passionate about the Poudre River’s future.
Simpon’s documentary film “Drop by Drop” takes a look at water issues facing farmers, developers and end users in several communities along Colorado’s Front Range. “We just started telling the story of how public works projects get off the ground and began documenting all the different opinions and views of people involved,” he said. “I’ve talked to environmentalists and developers for this project to really get all sides of the story.”
“Light in Liquid” is a kayak film starring and directed by Matthew, shot mostly in Colorado.
Simmons said, “It asks the deep, philosophical questions about kayakers’ connection to the water and the importance of water in our lives.”
Matthew echoed that sentiment: “It’s a spiritual experience being on the river.”
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TO GO TO THE SHOW
Save the Poudre benefit
8 p.m.
Friday, March 2
Hodi’s Half Note
$5
The Tanukis, Pee Pee and Harvey Knuckles, as well as short films by Adrian Matthew and Bryan Simpson.
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FOR MORE INFO
Yay on the NISP: ncwcd.org
Nay on the NISP: savethepoudre.org
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ART SHOW
“Inspirations of the Poudre River”
5:30-7 p.m.
Friday, March 2
Centennial Park Branch Library, Greeley, Free. | Only registered users can write comments.
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