Concerns about fracking at Boyd Lake

[Dani Thornton-Floyd]

Dear commissioners,

I live in the High Plains Village subdivision in Loveland, just off of Boyd Lake Road. I saw a notice posted on Next Door last night that McWhinney is planning on building a large fracking pad near our neighborhood to frack under Boyd Lake. No one seems to know any details about where exactly this is going to be, just that it will directly effect my neighborhood and those surrounding us. I have so many issues I am not even sure where to start.

I looked at the Larimer County oil and gas regulations, and it doesn’t appear that they are supposed to develop within 2000 feet of housing, schools, senior living facilities, public trails and parks, or water supplies. It sounds like they would be in violation of all of these things if they plan on fracking under Boyd Lake. My daughter is a kindergartner at High Plains school. It’s a k-8, and it is located right on Boyd Lake Road, within a few hundred feet of the lake. They are currently building a brand new senior living facility just down the street.

As you know, fracking can cause earthquakes and sinkholes. Adding earthquake insurance to our house is an additional 5000 per year. And there is no insurance I can find that covers sinkholes. Houses here aren’t built to withstand the vibrations of fracking or the earthquakes they can cause. I doubt the school was built to withstand earthquakes either.

Fracking is also known to cause air pollution, noise pollution, and horrible smell. None of which I’m thrilled about. My daughter has asthma, and on bad air quality days she often has to use a nebulizer. I can’t imagine what our quality of life will be if every day is like that.

Also, Boyd Lake is a beautiful natural area. I’m certain it brings in a fair amount of recreation income in the summer. I doubt it would be so popular if there was fracking under it. Not only that, but what will the impact be on the wildlife? Our neighborhood and The Lakes at Centerra are home to an environmental center. We have kestrels, eagles, owls, and others that live in this area. Our neighborhoods are certified community wildlife habitats. The only such neighborhoods that I know of in northern Colorado.

I honestly am flabbergasted that this is even being considered. There will be additional traffic on roads that aren’t built to handle it (and we’re JUST rebuilt at a cost of $5 million). The water supply for Greeley runs through this area as well.

Can you give me any information on this? Where the fracking pads are proposed to go? How this possibly passes any of the county’s regulations? McWhinney is holding an “informational meeting” for residents of our neighborhood on the 18th. Conveniently scheduled for the exact same date and time as the Loveland city council meeting.

I will email the Loveland city council and Mayor Marsh as well. Any information you have on this would be much appreciated, because the details released so far are incredibly vague and concerning.

Thank you!
Danielle Thornton-Floyd
1978 Piney River Dr
Loveland 80538
(970) 217-5095


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