Saturday, February 11, 2006

Ground Water Appropriators of the South Platte Here's a report about the recent sale of water rights owned by Ground Water Appropriators of the South Platte, from the Fort Morgan Times. They write, "Sale of water rights owned by Ground Water Appropriators of the South Platte brought nearly $7 million Thursday. "About 300 people attended the sale at the event center at Island Grove Park in Greeley, GASP manager Jack Odor said... "The shares went for an average of about $42,000 each -- about 16 acre feet per share... "Colorado-Big Thompson water used to go for $700 per unit (an acre foot in a good year). It is now ranging from $10,500 to $11,000 and has been as high as $17,000, he said. "Area interests were able to buy much of the water, he [Phil Stadler] added: "I was pleased that a lot of the water was able to stay home." "Notable exceptions were the city of Parker buying all available Morgan-Prewitt water and Brighton all available Burlington-Wellington water. "GASP members voted in September to dissolve the organization, which has been providing augmentation plans in the South Platte basin since the 1970s. "A Colorado Supreme Court case and state legislation ruled that the state engineer had no authority to approve augmentation plans and that such plans had to go through water court; that led to some well shutdowns and GASP's demise." Category: Colorado Water 9:05:21 AM

Grand Mesa drilling On Friday, U.S. Representative John Salazar, asked the BLM to make sure that oil and gas development does not effect the watersheds for Grand Junction and Palisade, according to CBS4Denver.com. From the article, "Rep. John Salazar said a Bureau of Land Management official assured him Friday that no development will proceed on oil and gas leases auctioned off this week unless water resources are protected. "Grand Junction and Palisade are protesting leases sold Thursday on thousands of acres in their watersheds. Grand Junction was outbid in its failed attempt to buy the leases on three parcels deemed crucial to its watershed. "Salazar and his brother Sen. Ken Salazar, both Colorado Democrats, had asked the BLM to delay the sales over concerns of possible contamination. "Sally Wisely, state BLM director, met with John Salazar on Friday and said leases won't go forward if water resources are in danger, Salazar said." Category: Colorado Water 8:51:32 AM

Ritter for governor? Bill Ritter was hanging out in Aspen yesterday, according to the Aspen Daily News. From the article, "Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill Ritter took a grilling on his pro-life stance on Friday when he appeared in front of a crowd of Democrats in Aspen, as voters sought to balance his abortion stance against his other views, and weigh their concerns against his lead position in the polls. "Ritter arrived on a weeklong wave of momentum. On Monday, Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper announced he wouldn't seek the seat, taking away the threat of a popular challenger seen as more appealing to the party's liberal base. On Tuesday, Sen. Ken Salazar, a popular centrist, announced he was backing Ritter. And on Friday, the Denver Post released poll results that showed Ritter leading all challengers... "Before fielding questions from an audience of some 40 people at the Aspen Square Hotel, Ritter tackled the abortion question head on, acknowledging his pro-life views but telling skeptics that he didn't intend to reverse Colorado laws allowing abortion. "'It is not part of my agenda in any fashion to change the law in the state of Colorado,' he said. "Ritter, a Catholic, said he supported emergency contraception and said he would restore family planning funding for Planned Parenthood that Gov. Bill Owens removed. Ritter said he also supported expanding adoption options. "The answer didn't sit well with some, though, who pressed him for specifics. Ritter declined to answer questions about hypothetical legislation but said he couldn't promise to veto any legislation that might reverse abortion rights." Category: Denver November 2006 Election 8:26:21 AM

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