Coyote Gulch

Thursday, July 6, 2006

Israel
Meryl Yourish: "As anyone with an IQ above room temperature can tell by a quick glance through the main page of this blog, I am a Zionist. And by 'Zionist' I do not mean the perversion of the definition that Israel-haters use. I mean that if I had been alive during Theodor Hertzl's time, I would have supported his idea for establishing a Jewish state in our ancient homeland of Israel, and would have worked to help him achieve that dream. Now, when I say I am a Zionist, I mean that I support the state of Israel and her continued existence as a free, sovereign, Jewish nation.

"If you want to rag on Israel, go somewhere else. If you want to sympathize with the poor, poor, pitiful pals, go somewhere else. If you want to bash the one nation in the Middle East where it is not illegal to be homosexual, where 'honor' killings are not winked at, where women can work, vote, and run for office, where you can worship as you please, and where the government changes regularly without a single shot being fired-GO. SOMEWHERE. ELSE."

Thanks to The Moderate Voice for the link.
"2008 pres"
7:59:03 PM

North Side Croquet Club: Game 12

This week's North Side Croquet Club game report is in verse, not as highbrow as Shelley, but a good effort nonetheless. Here's the RSS Feed for the weblog.

6:20:09 PM

Referendum F
Peter Blake's column from yesterday is about Referendum F on the fall ballot. From the article, "Referendum F is one of five proposals lawmakers have put on the Nov. 7 ballot. The title says it concerns 'elections to recall state elected officials.' It goes on to say that the deadlines regarding recall petitions and hearings would be removed from the constitution and be set in statute. But in fact passage of the referendum would have a much greater effect on local elected officials - who are not mentioned in the title. The fact is, no legislator or statewide official such as governor, attorney general, secretary of state or treasurer has ever been recalled in Colorado. That's largely because the signature requirements are so high. For state and county offices, the required number is 25 percent of the total votes cast for that office in the last election. What's more, the signatures must be collected within a short 60 days after the petition form has been approved."
"denver 2006"
6:17:29 AM

Monsoon moisture

Ranchers and farmers are smiling about the recent rainfall in some areas of the state, according to the Pueblo Chieftain. From the article, "The heavy rainfall overnight Tuesday and the rains Wednesday night may mark a turning of the tide for Southern Colorado's drought conditions, according to several officials. U.S. Forest Service officials said they plan to lift the existing fire ban Friday on the Pike and San Isabel national forests and the Comanche National Grasslands. Forest Service spokeswoman Barb Timock said the later part of June and early part of July were wet enough to convince federal land managers to lift the ban. All open fires had been banned on the federal lands since June 21. Timock said the humidity and forest moisture have risen in recent days, and the temperatures have dropped lower, especially at night, allowing the ban to be relaxed."
"colorado water"
5:52:13 AM

SB 37

Here's an opinion piece about SB37 - Concerning the Adjucation of Recreation In-Channel Diversions, written by state Representative Kathleen Curry in the Aspen Times. From the article, "From the beginning, water in Colorado has been used to irrigate crops, support mining operations and provide drinking water for domestic use. The oldest continuously used water right in Colorado is the 1852 People's Ditch of San Luis, which is used to irrigate crops in Costilla County. Approximately 85 percent of the water consumed in Colorado is used for agricultural purposes. According to the Colorado Department of Agriculture, the value of all agricultural products sold in 2002 equaled $4.5 billion and agribusiness employs more than 105,000 Coloradans. Agriculture remains an important part of the state's economy and cultural heritage. Water left in the stream for conservation and recreational purposes also has economic value and increases the quality of life for many of us. Fishing, whitewater recreation and tourism have proven more difficult to quantify compared to traditional uses, but the Colorado Division of Wildlife estimated that in 2002 about $500,000 in direct expenditures was made in the state just on fishing activities. The rafting industry has enjoyed an annual average growth of 12.5 percent since 1988. Statewide, commercial river rafting had an economic impact of $135 million in 2005, with more than half a million paying customers...

"A number of communities across the state have filed for RICDs. After a Gunnison case was appealed to the Colorado Supreme Court, it became clear that the Legislature needed to do some fine-tuning of the existing laws. The Supreme Court went so far as to specifically ask the Legislature for clarification on the issue, so work on SB-037 began. The real issue the General Assembly faced was how to define the amount of water needed for RICD water rights. After many months of work and discussion, the Legislature passed SB-037. The bill strikes a fair deal between the growing needs of recreational uses and the state's more traditional needs. The bill allows cities to ask for rights for no more than 50 percent of a river's average historic flow from April to Labor Day, unless cities can demonstrate the need for water during the offseason. The provision is intended to encourage applicants to ask for only what they need to accomplish their recreation goals. The bill also provides more clarity regarding the time period for RICD's, the purposes for which they can be used, and the process for approval by the state. I want to sincerely thank all of the parties that were involved with the drafting of this important legislation. Sen. Jim Isgar took a lead role, as well as the Colorado River Water Conservation District staff, the Northwest Council of Governments Water Quantity/Quality Committee staff, and several members of the recreational community. The combined efforts of these parties serve as an example of how very contentious issues can be addressed and resolved."

Here is additional Coyote Gulch coverage of the bill.
"colorado water"
5:43:48 AM

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