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Contacts:
Mac Blewer
(307) 745-4848; (202) 725-6378 (cell);
Alison Holloran
(307) 745-4848); (307) 760-9105 (cell)

Citizens Urged to Attend Hearings Next Week in Green River and Laramie and Comment on Ill Proposed "Million" Water Development Project.
Proposal Could Potentially Impact Fisheries, Wildlife and Recreational Opportunities in Wyoming.

Laramie, WY- April 10, 2009 —The Army Corps of Engineers will be holding hearings next week in Wyoming and Colorado to get "scoping comments" from the public on a water development proposal (the "Million Pipeline Proposal") by Aaron Million, an entrepreneur from Colorado. The proposal, which would call for the development of a pipeline from southwest Wyoming to the Front Range of Colorado, would annually draw approximately 250,000 acre feet from the Green River, reducing water flows and potentially impacting fisheries, wildlife and recreational opportunities in Wyoming and Colorado.

"It will be important for the public to attend these hearings and raise concerns that, to date have not been adequately addressed by the Corps or the project proponent," says Mac Blewer, Audubon Wyoming's Grassroots Coordinator. "This proposal is so vague that it isn't clear just what is being proposed. Right now, we're being sold a false bill of goods in the Cowboy State."

At this point, the full impacts of the project are not known, but the volume of water diverted is substantial and likely to alter flows not just in the Green River, but also the Upper Colorado River. Concerns with the project include:

• The project may have direct impacts to the world class Brown Trout fisheries in Flaming Gorge and Seedskadee Wildlife Refuge, a crucial spawning site for this species.
• The project could potentially act as a conduit for exotic species such as the Quagga and Zebra Mussel if these species are introduced to southwestern Wyoming.
• The proposed pipeline corridor will cut through prime habitat for the Greater Sage-grouse, the Midget Faded Rattle-Snake and other sensitive species. (Please see attached fact sheet for more details.)

"This project has the potential to impact some of the crown jewels of our public lands system, including Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge, a high priority Important Bird Area for the Audubon Society," states Alison Holloran, Audubon Wyoming's Deputy Director. "If water regimes are changed in the Refuge how will they impact the regionally important Trumpeter Swan breeding population in Seedskadee? If there is decreased water availability in Seedskadee and elsewhere, how will that impact cottonwoods and willows and the big game that depend on them?" asks Holloran.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will be holding hearings next week in Wyoming and Colorado, including a hearing in Green River on April 14th at the Green River High School (6:30 PM to 9 PM) and in Laramie on April 16th at the Laramie High School. The public is urged to attend and voice concerns with the project. The Corps will be taking comments on this proposal until May 19th. A pdf of the scoping meeting notice is available at: www.nwo.usace.army.mil/html/od-rwy/pn/spn20Mar09.pdf

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Open spaces rich in birds and other wildlife, and citizens who value that richness.