Thursday, May 11, 2006

Colorado a bellwether? DemNotes: "The Los Angeles Times has a great article on how the West is shaping up to significantly change the national picture for 2008. Much of the focus of the article is on Colorado." 2008 Presidential Election 7:04:03 PM

McCain for President? Political Wire: "According to the latest National Journal Political Insiders Poll, Republicans think Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) has the best chance to win their party's 2008 presidential nomination. 'A whopping 61% of insiders surveyed ranked McCain number one. He roared past last year's winner, Sen. George Allen (R-VA), who was the top choice of 19% of the insiders.' Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R) was third with 10%. 'Results from the Dem survey were largely unchanged; Sen. Hillary Clinton took 72 percent of first place votes, followed by ex-VA Gov. Mark Warner, followed by ex-Sen. John Edwards. Al Gore's support edged up slightly, despite protests he's not running.'" Category: 2008 Presidential Election 6:45:08 PM

Qwest gets one right TalkLeft: "USA Today reports that the National Security Agency has been collecting billions of domestic home, business and cell phone records on tens of millions of Americans, obtaining the records from phone companies...Who was in charge when the program was implemented? Gen. Michael Hayden... "The three major phone companies, AT&T, Verizon and Bell South have contracted with the Government to provide the information. Another company, Qwest, balked at the legality of it and refused to participate." "'Qwest's refusal to participate has left the NSA with a hole in its database. Based in Denver, Qwest provides local phone service to 14 million customers in 14 states in the West and Northwest. But AT&T and Verizon also provide some services -- primarily long-distance and wireless -- to people who live in Qwest's region. Therefore, they can provide the NSA with at least some access in that area.' Three cheers for Denver-based Qwest." TalkLeft is on a roll today. They write, "The ACLU's lawsuit against Bush's NSA warrantless surveillance program is set for hearing in federal court in Michigan on June 12. Today, the organization announced that 72 members of Congress, led by Rep. John Conyers, have filed a friend of court brief." Oliver Willis has a link to the YouTube video of Senator Leahy blasting his fellow congressmen and the Republican controlled U. S. Congress. Money line from the Senator, "Shame on us." Andrew Sullivan: "Who needs the law when you're the King? Some of us have long been worried by the Bush administration's contempt for the rule of law in its legitimate efforts to protect Americans from terrorism. And we've been dismissed and criticized for it. But the more you know, the more troubling it gets. In all this, trust in the president's word is important. That's gone. For good reason. You don't abandon limited government, enable torture, declare the executive above the law, pile up countless signing statements to undermine the Congress ... and then take pains to protect Americans' privacy. This monarch, already eager to perpetuate a dynasty, needs more scrutiny. It may require voting Democrat this fall to give it to him." Category: 2008 Presidential Election 6:06:29 PM

Tamarisk Officials and organizations from southeastern Colorado met recently in Lamar to talk about ridding the Arkansas River Valley of Tamarisk, according to the Lamar Daily News. From the article, "Members of the farming community, local government officials and state officials met recently at the Lamar Community College to address issues related to the threat of foreign vegetation to the local water resources. Southeast Colorado natives Danny Tinnes and Dale Mauch joined Mike Carrigan of the BASF Chemical Corporation to address the Salt Cedar or Tamarisk invasion near the lakes, streams and rivers of Colorado... "According to the University of Arizona Office of Arid Land, there are many factors that aid in promoting the infestation of tamarisk, which may include the clearing or plowing of land infested with the species and overgrazing by animals in the region. Often the disruptions of natural water flows create conditions unsuitable for the colonization and regeneration of native riparian species, such as willows and cottonwoods. Tamarisk can thrive under unusually low water and high salinity levels. The 'Salt Cedar' species is in the Tamaricaceae family, which includes 90 species. Research has determined that only eight species of the tamarisk plant have been introduced into the United States and furthermore, two of the eight species have been found to pose a significant threat to the natural ecosystems of Southwestern states. The two species, Tamarix parviflora and Tamarix ramosissma, can be found primarily in seven western states including Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Kansas, Texas, Wyoming, and Arizona." Category: Colorado Water 7:02:13 AM

Suthers warns of coming water war KESQ NewsChannel 3: "Colorado's top lawyer warns the state should be ready in case other states sue for more water from the Colorado River, saying a loss could be devastating. Colorado and six other states share water from the river under the 1922 Colorado River Compact, but they are often at odds have been unable to agree on a plan to manage the river during droughts. Colorado Attorney General John Suthers persuaded the Legislature this year to allocate 759-thousand dollars to hire a lawyer to scan documents. Suthers told lawmakers, who ended their 2006 session Monday, that downstream states such as California and Arizona are expected to pour (m) millions of dollars into getting every drop of water from the compact." Category: Colorado Water 6:54:24 AM

Fort Lyons water to Lowry? Pueblo Chieftain: "A company that supplies water to homes in the Denver area plans to build a $400 million, 150-mile pipeline from the Arkansas Valley's largest canal to serve homes on the former Lowry Air Force Base in Denver. Pure Cycle Corp. of Thornton purchased more than 21,300 shares of the Fort Lyon Canal - about one-fourth of the system - from High Plains A&M for what eventually could be more than $100 million, Pure Cycle announced Wednesday. The company has no illusions about the difficulty of converting the shares from agricultural to municipal use, Pure Cycle President Mark Harding said in a conference call... "Last year, High Plains lost a Colorado Supreme Court appeal of Pueblo Chief District Judge Dennis Maes' 2004 dismissal of a change of use for its Fort Lyon's shares. Maes ruled High Plains did not have an end user for the water, as required by Colorado water law's anti-speculation doctrine... "Pure Cycle, which was formed in 1976 to market home water recycling systems, now provides both water and wastewater treatment to fewer than 10,000 customers in the Denver area. It has water resources, both wells and surface water, to serve 80,000 taps. The Fort Lyon shares would yield an anticipated 60,000 acre-feet, more than doubling Pure Cycle's capability to 180,000 taps, Harding said. Pure Cycle charges $16,840 for water taps and $4,883 for wastewater tap fees. It also collects monthly usage fees... "Pure Cycle has teamed with Newman Homes and Icon Development to provide water on two sections (640-acre tracts) on the former Lowry base, which is in east Denver, next to Aurora. The companies are making a bid with the State Land Board to develop four more sections, Harding said. Pure Cycle also is involved in the Sky Ranch development north of Lowry, along Interstate 70. An estimated 5,000 homes are anticipated in that development... "Pure Cycle paid High Plains 2.95 million shares of their own stock worth about $12 per share, or about $35.4 million at today's prices. It also agreed to pay 10 percent of gross proceeds from the sale of 40,000 water taps to High Plains investors - a sum of $67.36 million at today's prices. Harding said the company plans to work with the Fort Lyon Canal, both in making improvements to the canal and possibly leasing water in the future. He also wants to work with the state Interbasin Compact Committee to mitigate impacts from the project. Dale Mauch, president of the Fort Lyon Canal, said the board has not met with Pure Cycle to discuss the sale, but said canal shareholders would be interested in looking at future leases... "The Fort Lyon Canal diverts water from the Arkansas River North of La Junta. The Fort Lyon Canal has an 1884 water right, one of the largest senior water rights east of Pueblo. It also has 1887 and 1893 rights. In all, the rights total 933 cubic feet per second. The canal historically irrigated 93,000 acres along 113 miles in Otero, Bent and Prowers counties. The canal has reservoirs on Horse Creek and Adobe Creek with decreed storage rights of about 115,000 acre-feet." Here's the press release from Pure Cycle. Category: Colorado Water 6:37:39 AM

Cleanup of abandoned mines Denver Post: "The Bush administration Wednesday proposed new legislation to remove pollution liability for 'good Samaritans' willing to clean up the nation's half- million abandoned hard-rock mines. Sponsored by two Republican legislators - Rep. John Duncan of Tennessee and Sen. James Inhofe of Oklahoma - the Good Samaritan Clean Watershed Act is designed to clear the legal roadblocks for volunteers willing to restore watersheds tainted by acid mine drainage. There are an estimated 17,000 abandoned mines in Colorado, many of which have polluted nearby waterways... "Both the National Mining Association and Trout Unlimited released statements Wednesday congratulating the EPA for taking the lead on the new legislation. Some environmental groups, however, criticized the legislation for lacking a clearly defined funding source and guarantees about cleanup levels... "The legislation is similar to bills filed by Western lawmakers, including Sens. Ken Salazar and Wayne Allard and U.S. Rep. Mark Udall, all of Colorado. Under the new legislation, volunteer groups willing to tackle an abandoned mine must first apply for a permit through the EPA or a tribal nation." Category: Colorado Water 6:27:07 AM

Farm disaster on the South Platte Governor Owens is hoping to get some dough to the farmers along the South Platte river that have had their wells shut down, according to the Denver Post. From the article, "Gov. Bill Owens on Wednesday declared a state of emergency for Eastern Plains farmers who had their irrigation wells shut off as a result of a recent state engineer ruling. The declaration means that farmers who suffer an economic loss as a result of the lack of water will be eligible for federal aid. Owens spokesman Dan Hopkins said state dollars might also be funneled out of a $1 million agriculture emergency and drought fund... "For the past three years, the Central Colorado Water Conservancy District has been scrambling to find adequate water supplies to help farmers offset the amount used by the deep irrigation wells. Among the district's strategies are building new reservoirs and purchasing water rights from municipalities... "The Weld County commissioners also adopted a resolution Wednesday declaring a countywide emergency. The commissioners are also writing to municipalities along the South Platte River urging them to adopt watering restrictions to help drive water back into the South Platte River." Here's the coverage from the Rocky Mountain News. They write, "The crisis, felt most keenly by farmers between Brighton and Greeley, has deep roots extending as far back as the 1960s, when farmers with surface water rights on the South Platte River began complaining that well pumping in the region was depleting river flows. Fast-forward nearly 40 years, to a state law passed in 2003 to protect surface river flows from the siphoning effects of wells. Since then, farmers dependent on wells have been scrambling to find new sources of water and new irrigating techniques to cut their impact on South Platte flows. But about 200 farmers, including many who are part of the Central Colorado Water Conservancy District, haven't been able to comply with demands. That left State Engineer Hal Simpson with little choice but to shut down the wells in counties along the South Platte River, including Weld, Adams and Morgan, a decision state officials have described as 'agonizing.' Tom Cech, executive director of the Central Colorado Water Conservancy District, said the farmers affected so far by the shutdown appreciate the state's effort, but said they need water immediately... "[Don Ament, the state agriculture commissioner] said he and others will appeal to water providers throughout northeastern Colorado, including cities such as Longmont, Fort Collins and Aurora, as well as the largest provider in the region, the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District, to see if they can supply water-strapped farmers with any excess. But in interviews Wednesday, it wasn't clear that cities - worried themselves about weak moisture patterns in April that depleted snowpack and stream flows - were ready to open their spigots. 'Our supplies are in pretty good shape this year' said Dennis Bode, Fort Collins' water resources manager. But he cautioned that the city wasn't prepared to enter into any long-term agreement with the farmers. Under state law, the well users must show they can return sufficient supplies to the river during a three-year period. Fort Collins said it has opted to take a conservative stance against long-term leases because the drought may recur, leaving its citizens short of water. Nor does the city of Boulder, which has, at times, leased water to surface water users on the South Platte, plan on providing water in this case." Category: Colorado Water 6:19:19 AM

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