Coyote Gulch

Wednesday, January 11, 2006

Gunnison Basin

Here's an article about attitudes towards development of water from the Gunnison Basin from the Pueblo Chieftain. They write, "Colorado's roundtables may increase an understanding of water issues in the state, but they won't change many minds in the Gunnison River Basin.

"Nearly 100 years ago, one of the oldest Bureau of Reclamation water projects in the West was completed: the Gunnison Tunnel that brought water from the upper part of the river to the farming area on the Uncompahgre River near Montrose. Taylor Lake later became part of that project.

"In the 1950s, a series of reservoirs was completed to make use of the 'Aspinall Pool' to help fulfill Upper Basin states' obligation under the 1922 Colorado River Compact.

"Now, the valley's emphasis is on protecting its water for its own uses. After a recreational in-channel diversion plan in Gunnison was rejected by the Colorado Supreme Court, proponents reached settlement with the Colorado Water Conservation Board last month, clearing a path for implementation. The RICD would tie up large amounts of flows on the Upper Gunnison and protect them from future transfers.

"The prevailing attitude along the river is 'not one drop' to the Front Range."

Cateogory: Colorado Water

6:27:44 AM

Holtzman for Governor?
Marc Holtzman has been pretty quiet of late but that's about to change, according to the Denver Post [January 11, 2006, "Holtzman vows no-holds-barred approach in GOP governor race"]. From the article, "His game plan includes two strategies: Riddle his opponent, U.S. Rep. Bob Beauprez, with political fire from now until the August primary; and characterize the state GOP as out of touch...He's talking to voters about a number of issues he thinks are important, such as illegal-immigration reform and his opposition to the U.S. Supreme Court's eminent-domain decision that allows local governments to condemn land and transfer it to private developers if it's for the public benefit...Sandwiched between his confident tone and policy ideas, Holtzman repeatedly refers to Beauprez's perceived shortcomings: no economic experience, an inability to commit 100 percent to a cause, overly influenced by Washington, D.C., politicos and, most importantly, his failure to take a strong, public stand against Referendum C and D."

Voters may get a chance to vote on an initiative that would reserve some surface rights for homeowners effected by oil and gas drilling, according to the Glenwood Springs Post Independent. From the article, "Whatever the outcome of legislative efforts on surface use legislation this spring, the matter could go before Colorado voters in the fall. A Garfield County group is continuing to organize in hopes of putting an initiative on the ballot. In addition, a state lawmaker said he stands ready to ask the legislature to put the issue before voters if surface use legislation fails. State Rep. Kathleen Curry, D-Gunnison, plans to introduce a modified surface use bill this year, following the defeat of her bill in a House committee last year. The oil and gas industry and several agricultural groups also are holding talks in hopes of coming up with their own bill. Ken Wonstolen, of the Colorado Oil & Gas Association, said he would prefer that the matter be dealt with legislatively than via the ballot box. John Gorman, a Glenwood Springs real estate agent who sits on the Initiative for Surface Owners' Rights committee, said state lawmakers aren't likely to be able to solve the problem themselves."

Category: Denver November 2006 Election

6:02:24 AM

Runoff from oil and gas drilling

The Rocky Mountain News is reporting that the State Water Quality Control Commission voted to keep oversight of runoff from oil and gas wells [January 11, 2006, "Environmental board keeps oil-gas oversight"]. From the article, "Commissioners heard from a parade of water districts, cities and green groups that emphasized the need to protect aquatic life and drinking water from sediments that come off thousands of drilling pads and access roads during heavy rainfall...

"With the ruling, inspectors at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment will scrutinize the industry's efforts to control storm-water runoff during construction at all sites covering more than one acre."

Here's the coverage from the Denver Post [January 11, 2006, "Panel keeps runoff rules"]. They write, "While the move was cheered by Western Slope water users, it was a rebuff to the oil and gas industry. The industry association had urged the commission to transfer stormwater runoff regulation to the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. Several water-quality commissioners said that although they were impressed that the oil and gas commission had recently adopted stringent stormwater rules, they were convinced that the state Department of Public Health and Environment was best qualified to enforce provisions of the Clean Water Act."

Category: Colorado Water

5:48:27 AM

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