Coyote Gulch

Sunday, June 4, 2006

Canada foils terrorist plot
Captain's Quarters: "Canadian authorities rounded up seventeen suspected terrorists in a series of raids overnight, and have unraveled a plot to attack multiple targets in the Toronto area: Media reports Saturday alleged that the suspects engaged in terror training camps north of Toronto. It was further alleged that a group were plotting to attack targets in Toronto including the headquarters of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service."

Captain's Quarters: "The Canadian intelligence service monitored Internet communications to identify and track the homegrown jihadists rounded up in last night's raids, according to the Toronto Star. The investigation began two years ago when agents cracked passwords and gathered communications from the group."

9:02:10 AM

Gay marriage ban?
Here's an opinion piece from today's Denver Post proposing a theological analysis of the gay marriage issue. From the article, "Fundamentalists argue from a few biblical texts, cited as ultimate proof that their views are the only possible Christian answers. Those of us who are not fundamentalists have a hard time with that. We know that even the most committed biblical literalists don't swallow everything the Bible has to say - such as that various categories of people should be stoned to death for offenses that are not even crimes in contemporary society. But does the theological debate stop there? Once we have decided against fundamentalism, are there no more theological points to be made? Can there be such a thing as a Christian conception of marriage? And if so, what might it have to say about homosexual marriage?[...]

"So what does the state have to do with this theologically based conception of marriage? More than you might think. The state has a distinct interest in the preservation of the family as the most basic unit of society and of marriage as the commitment upon which the family is founded. I don't believe the state should outlaw promiscuity, but society has a real stake in the deeper monogamous commitments. The great irony in the debate is that the opponents of gay or lesbian marriage would just as soon have all homosexuals be promiscuous. To them, there is little or no moral difference between monogamous homosexual unions and homosexual promiscuity. I think that attitude is outrageous. The ultimate issue, thus, is whether society is prepared to acknowledge the moral dignity of committed gay and lesbian unions. I am not sure it matters much whether this is defined as 'marriage,' except for this point: The word 'marriage' itself conveys a degree of moral respect for such unions. Large numbers of gay and lesbian couples want and deserve that respect."
"denver 2006"
8:54:38 AM

Denver Water still pushing conservation (and regulation)

Denver Water is pushing a new conservation plan along with regulations and home inspections, according to the Denver Post. From the article, "Denver Water has drafted a $400 million conservation plan that aims to cut annual water use 22 percent - or 16.7 billion gallons - during the next 10 years. The plan relies on ramping up existing programs - such as homeowner rebates on low-flow toilets and efficient clothes washers - and launching some new initiatives.

"Among the new measures being proposed are: Establishing a water-efficiency rating system for new construction. If builders don't meet certain standards, the utility might refuse to hook up a new home to the water system. Initiating water audits of existing homes before they are sold and requiring the replacement of leaky faucets, shower heads and toilets. The utility also might require home owners to replace inefficient fixtures. Requiring the installation of low-flow urinals in new commercial buildings. The three initiatives make up about a third of the reduction target. Other measures - such as adding irrigation water meters and removing park lawns - are aimed at Denver Water's municipal and commercial customers...

"The plan - which may need Denver-area municipalities to pass ordinances - will be unveiled to the public this summer and then presented to the utility's board in August. Real estate agents and homebuilders say they need more information before they can judge the plan, which is still under development...

"Denver Water may need legal backing from the municipalities it serves to require home sellers to replace inefficient fixtures, board members say. The utility may ask metro- area governments to consider adopting ordinances tailored to the conservation plan, Gardener said. The utility is arranging to make a formal presentation to Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper and the City Council, according to Andrew Wallach, an assistant to the mayor. While Hickenlooper has said publicly that he supports increasing the city's water conservation, local leaders need to understand the plan's details before taking action, Wallach said."
"colorado water"
8:34:53 AM

Holtzman for governor?
Here's some background on Marc Holtzman from the Denver Post. From the article, "Holtzman's is an extraordinary drive that has propelled him from positions as the self- described mascot of the Reagan revolution to big-dollar D.C. lobbyist to Eastern European investment banker to Colorado's technology czar and then to the first-ever presidency of the University of Denver. Now, at age 46, the self-styled insider is running as a Republican outsider, a conservative underdog who has never served in elected office and whose Rolodex ultimately may matter far less than his record. A review of Holtzman's career shows occasions of over- reaching and, many say, under- delivering that have estranged him from not only Owens but also others who could have eased his way into office. Many colleagues were irked by his failure to meet promises at the statehouse. And at DU, one trustee rated him '5 out of 10 as an executive.'"

Take the time to read the whole article, in case Mr. Holtzman makes the primary ballot.
"denver 2006"
8:22:40 AM

Arkansas valley water exchanges

Here's an update on the Arkansas Valley Conduit from the Pueblo Chieftain. From the article, "Proposed exchanges that would aid a drinking water conduit for communities east of Pueblo are facing less opposition in water court than exchange filings by Colorado Springs and Aurora. Two exchange applications by the Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District would transfer up to 20,000 acre-feet annually into Lake Pueblo and 19,600 acre-feet into Turquoise and Twin Lakes to benefit the Arkansas Valley Conduit...

"Southeastern filed the applications in February and amended them in March after Colorado Springs and Aurora broke a 'gentleman's understanding' not to file for exchange rights in December, Steve Leonhardt, Southeastern's attorney, said when he announced the filing in January. While the Colorado Springs and Aurora exchanges each drew court filings from more than 30 parties, Southeastern's applications have only half as many objectors. Both cities and the district are objectors in each of the others's cases, a situation that could lead to an exchange 'ladder' similar to a landmark agreement in the 1980s...

"...the Southeastern exchanges are all in Fryingpan-Arkansas Project facilities, which are operated by the Bureau of Reclamation partly under guidelines developed by the Southeastern District. The water rights envisioned for exchange in the conduit are not yet owned by Southeastern, but could be those already owned by conduit participants. Nearly all of the objections are standard water court objections meant to assure other water users their rights are not injured, water quality is preserved and measurement of flows is accurate. However, some go beyond the standard. The most unusual request is by High Line Canal, which asks for online posting of exchange information by the Water Division 2 Engineer's office. The most common themes for objectors are that the requests are speculative or violate the Arkansas River Compact...

"Governmental entities are typically exempt from the state's anti-speculation doctrine, which the Southeastern District argued as grounds to throw out High Plains A&M's 2004 application to change the use of water rights it held on the Fort Lyon Canal. High Plains is selling those rights to Thornton water developers Pure Cycle Corp. Southeastern's application would not violate the compact, Leonhardt said."
"colorado water"
8:16:13 AM

Farm disaster on the South Platte

Here's an article about the farmers that are not being allowed to irrigate from wells in the South Platte river aquifer, from the Denver Post. They write, "The towns of Boulder, Highlands Ranch and Sterling said in a letter that the emergency plan offered no assurance the farmers whose wells pump water from an aquifer and draw down the South Platte River would replace enough of that water...

"The plan would have delivered about 10,000 acre-feet of water to replace water used by about 200 Eastern Plains farms in Adams, Morgan and Weld counties. The Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District had agreed to exchange water from Windy Gap Reservoir near Granby for an emergency supply of Big Thompson River water...

"...the family stands to lose much more because the water it had been relying on for decades may never be available again...

"Already, for-sale signs are up in abundance. But property that was worth $400,000 for 160 acres just three years ago won't sell for a fraction of that amount, [Glen Kobobel] said. Cattle rancher Gary Weibert said he will soon have to sell off cows because he won't be able to grow feed for the animals. He stands to lose hundreds of thousands of dollars. Many farmers are losing everything, he said...

"After the 2002 drought, river users successfully sued to stop the well owners. A 2003 state law required them to come up with a permanent plan by this year to replace the water they pumped. While the central district's temporary plan was rejected this year, the district will present its permanent plan in February, Hertzke said. The district's strategies include building new reservoirs and purchasing water rights from towns."
"colorado water"
8:06:21 AM

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