Coyote Gulch

Monday, April 5, 2004

Colorado Water
Water budgets and other conservation methods are the subject of this article from the Denver Post [April 5, 2004, "Area cities' water rules greeted with skepticism"]. From the article, "Aurora and Highlands Ranch officials hope household "water budgets" - cheaper allotments based on past use - will prompt customers to use less, or pay more, during the thirsty summer ahead. But skepticism surrounds these customized conservation efforts. Generally, water allotments, benchmarked to prior consumption, go easier on people who have big, lush lawns and wasteful ways. Conversely, those who were thrifty have less cushion before surcharges kick in, experts said. Starting May 1, Aurora will put each of its 109,000 households on a water budget. Customers will face stiff charges if they go above 70 percent of water usage in 2001 - the year before the ongoing drought heightened concern. Last year, Highlands Ranch adopted year-round water budgets, a move that has already produced a 20 percent savings, officials said. This year's outdoor water budgets take effect April 25."
Lake Powell has been used by Colorado to satisfy the water needs of states downstream from Colorado for years. The reservoir is more than half-empty right now, according to the Denver Post [April 4, 2004, "Water ebbs, worry flows"]. From the article, "Colorado River Compact of 1922, the states of Colorado, Wyoming and Utah are required to allow an average of 7.5 million acre-feet per year to flow past a river gauge below Lake Powell for use by California, Arizona and Nevada. The four upper-basin states have met their compact obligations during the five-year drought by releasing water from Lake Powell. But if Powell dries up - and hydrologists caution that is still a big if - the state could eventually be required to turn off the massive transmountain tunnels that have supplied Colorado River water to Front Range residents and Eastern Plains farmers for more than 50 years. Federal and state officials have not thought through how they would react to the nightmare scenario of a severe extended drought. But Lake Powell's steadily declining levels have convinced many that the time to evaluate the vulnerability of the West is now...Several water experts point out that the lakes are functioning exactly as intended, and that the seven states that depend on the river still have time to prepare for a worst-case scenario - and settle contentious and unresolved issues outside of the courtroom."
6:33:03 AM

Denver November 2004 Election
Getting young people to the polls is the subject of this article from the Rocky Mountain News [April 5, 2004, "Dems, GOP not hip enough, study says"]. From the article, "Voting rates have dropped significantly among young people since 18-year-olds earned the national right to vote in 1971. The following year, more than 50 percent of 18- to 24-year-olds voted in the presidential election. The number dropped below 40 percent in 2000."
Update: From e-mail from the Rocky Mountain News, "Real estate magnate Dave Liniger said today he will not run for the U.S. Senate, leaving former Rep. Bob Schaffer the Republican front-runner for the seat."
6:25:48 AM

2004 Presidential Election
Can John Kerry win Colorado in November? Some experts, when asked by the Rocky Mountain News, think so [April 5, 2004, "A chance for Kerry?"]. From the article, "The News/ News 4 poll shows Kerry with a good shot at independents but almost none with Republicans. Among GOP voters, 88 percent said they'd back Bush, compared with 80 percent of Democrats for Kerry. Among independents, who outnumber Democrats, Kerry leads Bush by 11 points. Independents also form the biggest support block for Nader, at 9 percent." Here's another short article about the poll [April 5, 2004, "Poll: Bush leading on most issues"].
Taegan Goddard: "New battleground polls."
Update: John Kerry leads George Bush 51 to 41 in Michigan.
Update: "The latest Pew Research Center national survey of 790 adults, conducted April 1-4, finds just 39% approve of Bush's handling of the economy, in spite of a government report released April 2 showing a sharp increase in job growth."
6:22:25 AM

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