Moffat Firming Comment Page

Speak Out for the Fraser River - Submit Your Comments to the Army Corps of Engineers!

CLICK HERE TO VISIT TU'S ONLINE ACTION CENTER AND SEND AN ELECTRONIC COMMENT TODAY!!!!

The public comment period for the Moffat Firming Project draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) has now been extended and ends on March 17, 2010. The public can comment in writing to the US Army Corps of Engineers – the agency with federal permitting authority for this project.

To send in written comment, send your letters to:

Email: Moffat.eis@usace.army.mil

U.S. Mail:

Scott Franklin, Moffat EIS Project Manager

Corps Denver Regulatory Office

9307 S. Wadsworth Blvd.

Littleton, Co. 80128

Fax: (303) 979-0602

Major points you can consider for your comments include:

Any permits approved for this project should require adequate flow protections for low flows but also periodic flushing flows, which are vital to maintaining healthy habitats.
The cities that now seek to take more water from the Fraser should adopt stronger water conservation measures – particularly for landscaping changes that can reduce outdoor water use, where there is much potential for greater water savings.
The US Army Corps of Engineers much ensure that effective mitigation is in place to protect the natural environment and the local communities who rely on the Fraser River.
The Moffat Firming project must be assessed – and mitigation required – with full recognition of the cumulative impacts of the Moffat system’s existing and proposed diversions as well as other existing projects and the proposed Windy Gap Firming Project.
Protections designed to address these effects must be included as mitigation requirements – not as unenforceable “enhancement” agreements as is currently contemplated by Denver Water.
Permit requirements must include adequate protections for water quality, which suffers as a result of low flows and high temperatures. The Fraser already faces elevated water temperatures seasonally, and new diversions should be limited to prevent further degradation. Similarly, the diversions may exacerbate nutrient problems for Grand Lake.
Mitigation measures for the project should integrate and implement the Grand County Stream Management Plan - a science based, cooperative effort to identify and protect flows needed to maintain viable river environments in the Colorado headwaters.
The permit should put measures in place for “adaptive management” – so that, if mitigation efforts are failing to adequately protect the Fraser’s water quality and aquatic life, additional steps will be taken.