Sunday, December 16, 2007

Iraq Captain's Quarters: "The British completed their handoff of security responsibility in Basra to the central Iraqi government today, the last of four provinces under their control. The UK will leave 5,000 troops at their base near the Basra airport, but will only deploy on request from Baghdad. Otherwise, they will consider themselves "guests" and assist with training for Iraqi security forces." Juan Cole: "In the far north of Iraq, Turkish warplanes bombed villages that its security specialists say were harboring terrorists of the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK). The bombing campaign is the latest in a series of actions that have brought tensions to a boil in the Kurdish-dominated north." "2008 pres" 4:46:26 PM

Economic policy Talking Points Memo: "Quick quiz: what's going to cost the U.S. more over the next decade: the exploding costs of entitlements like Social Security and Medicare or Bush's tax cuts? Despite all the talk we hear about the prior, it's not even close -- the tax cuts are poised to cost the treasury far, far, more. And yet, every Republican presidential candidate in the field, to a man, vows to make each of Bush's cut permanent, beyond their scheduled expiration in 2010. As the NYT's Tom Redburn notes today, over the next 10 years, it will cost 'roughly $2.5 trillion in revenues now expected under current law. And that's just the beginning.'" "2008 pres" 4:44:46 PM

Healthcare Unbossed: "We all know that millions are not covered, those that potentially are don't have full coverage, some that are can't afford their share of employment-based coverage and therefore forego it. In the post-Sicko world in which we live, the common wisdom seems to be that we are at the point where universal health care is inevitable. Is that the case, though? A new report by EBRI explores whether employment-based health benefits vanishing. The first part of the report reviews recent survey data that shows a situation of greater stability in coverage than we have come to believe. There is stability in the percentages covered and in many other measures." "2008 pres" 4:32:43 PM

? for President? Political Wire: "The Des Moines Register's editorial board has endorsed Sen. John McCain and Sen. Hillary Clinton for the 2008 Iowa caucuses saying they are 'the candidates it believes are most competent and ready to lead.'" Captain's Quarters:, "The Des Moines Register gave its endorsements in the primary races. For the Democrats, the Register unsurprisingly went with the Establishment candidate, Hillary Clinton. For the Republicans, they gave a big surprise to John McCain, a man who ignored Iowa in 2000 and has gained almost no traction in 2008. Why McCain?" Political Wire: "A new Datamar survey in Florida finds Mike Huckabee now leading the Republican presidential race with 25%, followed by Rudy Giuliani at 21%, Mitt Romney at 19%, Sen. John McCain at 10% and Fred Thompson at 9%...On the Democratic side, Sen. Hillary Clinton is way ahead with 44%, followed by Sen. Barack Obama at 20% and John Edwards at 14%." Four years ago this week on Coyote Gulch, [Mike Littwin via The Rocky Mountain News:] "Sure, this was great news for George W. Bush's re-election hopes. Or at least that's the early take. No one knows what will happen next in Iraq. Saddam was barely showered and shaved before the suicide car bombers were back at their deadly work. And, of course, it's one thing to capture Saddam and yet another to explain just where his weapons of mass destruction have gone. But here's how the thinking goes if you're a Democrat running for president: If the news was great for Bush, it couldn't be so great for Dean, the anti-Iraqi-war candidate who has positioned himself so successfully as the anti-Bush." "2008 pres" 4:31:25 PM

Ag water, cities and the business of farming The final engineering report for the proposed Super Ditch in the lower Arkansas River Valley has been released, according to The Pueblo Chieftain. From the article: A final engineering report and economic analysis of a proposed Super Ditch that would allow farmers to control water leases has been released. The Lower Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy District, which has spent more than $600,000 on the studies, provided the report at its monthly meeting Wednesday... Under the concept, shareholders on the Bessemer, Catlin, Fort Lyon, High Line, Holbrook, Otero and Oxford ditches could voluntarily contribute as much as 25 percent of their shares to the leasing program. The use of water shares in the program would require land that would have been irrigated to be fallowed during the program. Even in a dry year, with 65 percent of farmers participating, at least 14,000 acre-feet of water would be available to lease. In a wet year, the amount could be as much as 45,000 acre-fee, according to the reports by HDR Engineering of Denver and economist George Oamek. The program would be optimized with about 25,000 acre-feet of storage to equalize flows from wet and dry years. Water is projected to lease for between $150-$700 per acre-foot depending on contracts and weather conditions, which could mean potential annual revenues of $15 million a year for farmers... Only the High Line and Fort Lyon bylaws allow transfer of water outside the ditch, subject to protection of shareholders who do not sell. Other ditch companies would have to change bylaws. The Bessemer Ditch board has gone on record as not wanting to participate in the Super Ditch program. More Coyote Gulch coverage here. "colorado water" 9:30:54 AM

Learning From Others: Acequias in Colorado DARCA: "...is pleased to announce that its Sixth Annual Convention will be held February 21-22, 2008 in San Luis, Colorado. The oldest town in Colorado, San Luís, is the "Home of the San Luís People's Ditch," the state's first adjudicated water right. "The conference, Learning From Others: Acequias in Colorado, will cover a variety of topics including Rio Grande River basin water and land issues, acequias in Colorado and New Mexico, the Super Ditch in the Arkansas Valley, and much more. "DARCA will present Flow Measurement for Ditch Companies, the pre-convention workshop on February 20 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Fort Garland Museum in Fort Garland, CO. The workshop is essential for ditch company personnel interested in learning about the latest technologies of measuring, recording, and reporting water flows in canals and for on-farm delivery applications. "Our convention facilities this year allow us to again invite exhibitors and provide plenty of display space. In addition to exhibitors, we also encourage sponsorship of our event and we have several sponsorship options for your consideration. DARCA depends on its sponsors not only for financing the convention Itself but also for operating expenses throughout the year. We really have appreciated the continuing support of our organization by our DARCA friends. "Please contact our convention coordinator, Max McKenzie, at (303) 875-2809 or at max.mckenzie@darca.org for more information or register online today!" "colorado water" 9:24:29 AM

Energy policy: Oil and gas This should be fun to watch. The Colorado Wildlife Commission and the newly revamped Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. From the article: Thursday's meeting of the Colorado Wildlife Commission and the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission was the first tentative step in what's going to be a taxing journey on a short road. The two commissions, along with the Colorado Department of Environment and Public Health, are the main players in meeting the demands of House Bill 1298, which directs the COGCC to develop regulations for energy development that protect wildlife and environmental resources. The six-month process (HB 1298 set a July 1, 2008 deadline) is going to be important because until the current Washington administration changes, development in western Colorado isn't going to slow down. And although the wildlife commission already has an energy policy in place, it lacks the power of enforcement. HB 1298 can supply that, plus give wildlife and environmental interests now sitting on the COGCC, which until 1298 passed was dominated by the energy industry, a major role in parenting the wildlife and environment friendly regulations. "2008 pres" 9:10:36 AM

2007 Farm Bill Here's the lowdown on the 2007 Farm Bill from The Pueblo Chieftain. From the article: Sometimes big things come in small packages and that is the case with the 2007 Farm Bill that the Senate approved Friday afternoon - despite a warning from President Bush that unless sharper cuts are made in subsidy payments made to wealthy farmers, he will veto the final bill. The Farm Bill is a simple name for far-reaching legislation that spells out federal farm and ranch programs until 2012, from crop subsidy payments to federal grants for building biofuel refineries. In Colorado alone, Department of Agriculture payments totaled $357 million in 2005. Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colo., has staked a lot on the new farm bill, bringing the Senate Agriculture Committee to Colorado early last year for a field hearing and shepherding sections of the legislation through Senate debate last week. Perhaps the biggest change that Salazar has pushed for is the creation of a new $5 billion disaster emergency fund to help farmers and ranchers when they are battered by blizzards and other natural disasters - like the storms that buried the Eastern Plains last Christmas and New Year's. "This is a good bill and it creates major opportunities for rural communities in Colorado," Salazar said Friday in a telephone press conference, emphasizing the legislation provides incentives for renewable energy. "I hope the president will accept this bill." The bill was approved Friday on a vote of 79-14, but not until Salazar and the Democratic leadership fought off 14 amendments to the legislation, some calling for major cuts in subsidy payments, offering to replace them with bigger federal crop insurance guarantees... [The bill] would provide approximately $40 million for Colorado ranchers and farmers for water and soil conservation projects [and] would keep open a list of Farm Service Bureau offices in Colorado for at least another year. Agriculture Department officials have been seeking to close the offices in Bent, Conejos, Rio Grande and El Paso counties. "2008 pres" 8:56:28 AM

Jay Winner: The benefit to the community is that you will have farms in the community forever Here's a look at conservation easement reform proposed by the Colorado legislature in the wake of the IRS and state investications into abuse. From the article: A state task force trying to preserve conservation easements as a way to protect land in Colorado is looking at legislation next year to correct areas that have been misused in the state. Changes in the system will strengthen a program that has already protected more than 1.2 million acres of open space statewide, said Jay Winner, general manager of the Lower Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy District and a member of the task force... Under Colorado law, tax credits of up to $375,000 can be claimed for up to $750,000 in conservation easements. Those tax credits can be sold, usually at a discounted rate and a commission to brokers. The tax credit sales were initiated primarily as a way to encourage farmers or ranchers, who have relatively small income and thus little need for the tax break, to protect land. Appraisals look at the potential development value of a property that would be forfeited under a conservation easement... The task force, formed by House Majority Leader Alice Madden, D-Boulder, and Sen. Jim Isgar, D-Hesperus, is trying to find ways to weed out fraudulent appraisals so that legitimate appraisals can move forward. Land trusts, state officials and several other lawmakers are on the task force. "There are a few bad apples manipulating the good intentions of our laws and harming Colorado landowners and taxpayers," Madden said. "These costly abuses will not stand. We are working to fix the problem while preserving the intent of the program." The task force has looked at five issues in the last few weeks and subcommittees made recommendations for stronger laws in each area: Increased oversight and enforcement. - Certification of appraisers needs to be standardized and strengthened. - Certification of government agencies, land trusts and nonprofit organizations that hold the conservation easements. - Consumer protection needs to be expanded for landowners. - Pre-approval screening of transactions would remove uncertainties about the appraisals. Madden and others are expected to introduce legislation based on the recommendations. Because the Lower Ark district's purpose is to preserve water in the valley, Winner looks at conservation easements as a way to provide the most "bang for the buck." While the district has purchased water rights and even farms, conservation easements are far more effective. The district has accepted easements outside its boundaries in an effort to preserve farmland and open space in the entire Arkansas River basin. "From the district's standpoint, we can tie up a $300,000 property for a $10,000 easement," Winner said. But there are more far-ranging benefits to the larger community, not just the landowner or an agency with a specific purpose for acquiring easements, Winner said. "The benefit to the community is that you will have farms in the community forever," Winner said.The Lower Ark district has accepted 25 conservation easements totaling more than 6,500 acres to date and is working to close another 18. More Coyote Gulch coverage here. "colorado water" 8:45:47 AM

Fountain Creek management Here's an opinion piece from Pueblo County Commissioner Jeff Chostner, from The Pueblo Chieftain. He's hoping that Fountain Creek will be managed into a recreation mecca and resource, . From the column: Fountain Creek's potential is so great that different dreams for this tremendous amenity would be difficult to avoid. Other points of view are complimentary and mutually supporting. For instance, should Fountain Creek and its corridor primarily afford recreational and open space opportunities as a means to improve the quality of life for residents of Southern Colorado? Should it be a buffer to inhibit urban congestion between Pueblo and Colorado Springs? Should its primary purpose be to slow water flows, prevent flooding and enhance water quality? Should it provide wetlands and habitats for wildlife? Is it to essentially facilitate farming activities in the Arkansas Valley? U.S. Sen. Sen. Salazar has set forth his wishes for Fountain Creek in his "Crown Jewel" concept. These and other views represent a multitude of visions for what Fountain Creek can and should become... The Lower Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy District, in conjunction with Colorado Springs Utilities, has hired THK Consultant Group to recommend, among other things, an entity to supervise, monitor and regulate Fountain Creek. Similarly, last July the Fountain Creek Visioning Task Force was authorized by elected officials from Pueblo and El Paso counties, the cities of Colorado Springs and Pueblo and the Pueblo Board of Water Works to recommend a funding entity with essentially the same function as that being sought by the Lower Ark... From my perspective, and I believe that of the citizens of Southern Colorado, there are some essential characteristics that must be present in the entity that will ultimately govern Fountain Creek. First, the geography or boundaries of the entity must be sufficiently large so as to encompass contributing or tributary waters of Fountain Creek. If the entity has control only of Fountain Creek but not the waters that may be contributing to quantity and quality issues, then it will be unable to solve the issues currently plaguing Fountain Creek. Secondly, it must have a jurisdiction or a charter to address all essential issues. I would prefer that the entity have a greater area of responsibility than less. There are a variety of areas in which the entity could act. For instance, controlling water quantity and quality is related to wetlands that enhance Fountain Creek's appeal and viability of a recreational area. Thirdly, there must be a funding mechanism to bring the dreams to reality. Funding for the entity must be independent from the region's cities and counties. If funding is dependent upon the generosity of the cities and counties of the region, the entity will arrive stillborn. There are too many competing budgetary responsibilities of the cities and counties to adequately fund a Fountain Creek entity. Additionally, the separate and potentially conflicting vision that the cities and counties have would ultimately be fought on the fiscal battlefield. A self-funded, independent entity, whose constant mission is to provide for the best interests of Fountain Creek, will better serve the long-term vision and goals of Fountain Creek and by extension the citizens of the region. Fourthly, the entity must have enforcement capabilities to institute a vision. The entity must have the ability to enforce its regulations, rather than depend upon city or county authorities to do so. If a Fountain Creek entity must rely on cities or counties for enforcement, its ability to accomplish long-term goals may be compromise, and the vision consequently becomes fractured. Finally, entity governance must be fair, equitable and reflective of all the region's residents and interests. More Coyote Gulch coverage here. "colorado water" 8:33:41 AM

Climate change: The earth is a beautifully complex system Here's a long column from The Boulder Daily Camera expressing hope that public opinion will rally around lessening or eliminating human induced climate change. Read the whole thing. Here's an excerpt: The gulf between public and expert scientific understanding of climate change was evident at a recent symposium marking the 50th anniversary of the global carbon dioxide record. At the symposium, held near the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii (which has carefully tracked atmospheric CO2 for five decades), leaders in science, business and politics discussed a wide array of attainable strategies to cut greenhouse-gas emissions. But citizens (and their elected representatives) are unlikely to act quickly and decisively until most of them see climate change for what it is: dangerous and accelerating. In the United States, many simply do not grasp this. In a recent survey, 68 percent of Americans said they supported a strong, international treaty to replace the Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012. While that's encouraging, only about half of U.S. respondents said they were personally concerned about climate change. The survey, which was conducted by Yale University, Gallup and the ClearVision Institute, indicates growing concern about climate change. But it also reveals the depth of public confusion about the best, peer-reviewed climate research. Only 48 percent of Americans believe there is scientific consensus about the causes of climate change. Only 40 percent believe there is scientific consensus that warming is, in fact, occurring. "2008 pres" 8:17:57 AM

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