Statement from the Community Foundation of the San Luis Valley

THE Community Foundation of the San Luis Valley (CFSLV) was recently approached by Douglas County and Renewable Water Resources (RWR) asking us to support their effort to take water from the San Luis Valley and redirect it to the Front Range of Colorado. They suggested that as part of their effort, they would donate money to the Community Foundation and other nonprofits in the Valley to show what good corporate citizens they will be in exchange for our water.

 We suspect that other nonprofit organizations have or will be approached and will be asked to support the attempt to take water from the Valley with the understanding that they would also receive donations. This is a contemptuous effort by Douglas County and RWR to prey upon struggling nonprofits by dangling the possibility of financial rewards in exchange for their support.

 Let me be clear. Neither the water, land, nor the people of the San Luis Valley are for sale.  Nonprofit organizations, which offer critical services to the residents of the Valley, will not be bought by dangling financial donations in front of them in an effort to steal the water of the San Luis Valley.

 The Board of Directors of the Community Foundation of the San Luis Valley unanimously agreed to not support the attempt to take water from the Valley. In addition, the Board is considering funding efforts to defeat the attempts of Douglas County and Renewable Water Resources through a request for proposals from nonprofit organizations in the Valley. In other words, we will financially support those who will work to defeat this shameful water grab.

 Sincerely,

 Mike Roque, Executive Director                                                                                  Community Foundation of the San Luis Valley