Coyote Gulch

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Democratic debate tonight
Political Wire: "Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama will meet in Austin, TX for a debate tonight. It will be broadcast on CNN at 8 pm ET. 'Given the recent unpleasantness between the two, and Mrs. Clinton's 10-state losing streak, it seems a safe bet that when they meet Thursday night...the tone just might not be so jolly,' the New York Times reports. The Houston Chronicle says Clinton campaign officials 'are counting on landing a memorable zinger or forcing an Obama gaffe that could change the dynamic of the presidential race.'"
"2008 pres"
7:02:34 AM

HB 08-1141: Require Sufficient Water Supply
Here's an article about HB 08-1141 from The Durango Herald. They write:

Developers would have to take extra steps to prove they have a good water supply before they get building permits under a bill approved by a House panel Tuesday. Homebuilders opposed House Bill 1141 by Rep. Kathleen Curry, D-Gunnison. But Curry said the bill is necessary to make sure cities and counties have enough information about water supplies before they approve a development. "We do need to be talking about this to help our state situate itself better for the future, because we do live in an arid environment. It's a fact of life," Curry said. The bill passed 7-3 in the House Local Government Committee.

Curry had to cancel a vote two weeks ago when it looked like the bill was destined to lose. Since then, she has given the bill a top-to-bottom rewrite with the help of a number of water experts, local government leaders and developers. Rep. Bob Gardner, R-Colorado Springs, questioned why the bill was needed, when cities and counties already demand water-supply information from developers. However, the state's largest water utility, Denver Water, supports the concept, said lobbyist Sara Duncan. "Denver Water is asked all the time to pick up the pieces from developments that don't have adequate water," Duncan said. Duncan used to be a La Plata County commissioner, and she said commissioners didn't always have the best information on new developments. "We did the best we could with the information we had available," Duncan said...

Curry, though, said she didn't want to focus just on Denver, because the water supply is a statewide problem. About 3 million people are expected to move to Colorado in the next 30 years, adding to the 4.8 million who already live here. HB 1141 defines what is needed for an adequate water supply and leaves the authority to approve developments with local governments. It requires the state water engineer to certify that water will be available. And it protects local governments and the state engineer from lawsuits if a development's water supply fails. The bill carries a $316,000 price tag to fund four more employees in the state engineer's office. The bill's next stop is the House Appropriations Committee, where it is likely to wait several weeks, Curry said. Legislators typically save expensive bills until later in the spring when they pass their budget.

More Coyote Gulch coverage here.
"colorado water"
6:47:51 AM

Crooked Ditch repairs

From The Cañon City Daily Record, "High-tech solutions to a century-old pipe are bringing Lincoln Park Crooked Ditch Company, Inc., into the 21st century. Work began in late January to insert a 'cured in place' product into about 7,500 linear feet of Crooked Ditch pipeline. The 'Inliner' technology positions a series of polyester felt tubes, impregnated with resin, into the pipes. Hot water is pumped into the tube and recirculated and reheated until it reaches 180 degrees, causing a chemical reaction that hardens the material in a matter of hours. The result is the tight fit of a PVC-type impermeable material that seals and strengthens the pipes. Bubbles are formed at lateral openings, which later are cut to conform to those openings."

More from the article:

"Some of the old pipe is more than 100 years old," ditch superintendent Bob Hudson said Tuesday afternoon as he inspected the ongoing work. "They concreted the seams, and the concrete is giving way and leaking everywhere." A walk along Colorado Avenue, where work continued Tuesday on a 550-foot section of liner, shows visible cracks in the pipes as they run parallel to the street. "The farmers constructed two-foot-long halves of pipe," said Sandy Erman, secretary-treasurer of the ditch company. "Then, they cemented them together." The liner technology actually forms a mechanical lock with the pipe and provides a uniform thickness. The project will increase the volume of water running in the ditch, which is used by shareholders for irrigation. "Previously, water flow was hindered because of the many leaks due to deterioration of the old concrete pipe," Erman said...

The no-dig, trench-less liner was chosen by shareholders to fix the pipe instead of replace it for several reasons. The system minimizes disruption to the public by reducing noise, traffic disturbance and property damage, and the work can be done within a far shorter timeframe than traditional replacement. Hudson said the project should be completed by April 1. In addition, the Inliner technology is up to five times faster and 40 to 50 percent less costly than replacement. However, the main reason the ditch company chose this particular process was to be a good neighbor. Although Crooked Ditch has easements for every property it touches, the board was reluctant to tear up that property to replace the ditch -- particularly along the bluff south of the Arkansas River. That area has created a major concern for the ditch company the last few years. "We were so afraid," Hudson said. "The old 36-inch pipe up there runs full all summer long. We could really wash a lot of that bluff away" if the pipeline burst. Crooked Ditch Co. borrowed $730,000 to pay for the project from the Colorado Water Conservancy Board. Those funds will be paid back through a user-approved assessment. In the long run, annual maintenance and repair costs are expected to decrease significantly with the new project. The project includes the 36-inch pipe from the pump house near Pump Hill to the alley between Tyrolean Way and Ridgewood along the bluff, the 18-inch pipe from the alley to Pisgah along the bluff, and from McKinley School to just east of Linden Street...

The ditch originated in 1865 as the Prescott, Griffin and Catlin Irrigating Ditch Co. and changed its name to the South Cañon City in 1880. In 1891, it split into three different companies -- the Lincoln Park Crooked Ditch Co., South Cañon Ditch Co. and Lincoln Park Pump Ditch. Today, Crooked Ditch consists of about 15 miles of ditch.
"colorado water"
6:36:44 AM

Energy policy: Oil shale, oil and gas

Development of oil shale reserves along with oil and gas has a huge effect on local government services in Western Colorado. Some on the West Slope are looking at ways to get their hands on some of the dough in the Anvil Points Trust Fund, according to The Glenwood Springs Post Independent "reg". From the article:

Garfield County Commissioner John Martin will travel to Denver today to participate in a roundtable to try to develop a way to distribute millions of dollars from the Anvil Points oil shale trust fund back to Colorado. U.S. Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Colo., called for the meeting and invited county commissioners from Rio Blanco, Mesa, Routt and Moffat counties and representatives of the Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado (AGNC) and the Club 20 Western Slope advocacy group. U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colo., U.S. Rep. John Salazar, D-Manassa, and state representatives and senators have also been invited to the meeting. That fund is estimated to have about $86.5 million, with about $1.5 million in gas lease revenues flowing into the fund every month.

Allard is concerned that Congress could siphon off some of the revenues and spend the money outside Colorado. U.S. Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne has said the department is looking to take about $24 million out of the trust fund. At the county commissioners' meeting on Monday, Commissioner Larry McCown said it is the position of AGNC that money left over from the costs of the cleanup in the oil shale trust fund should come back to Colorado, and to Garfield and Rio Blanco counties. "That is what we are pushing for," Martin said. Steve Wymer, a spokesman for Allard, said the meeting is a "real opportunity to clear up any misunderstandings or misinformation about the solutions Allard has provided to the Anvil points oil shale trust fund account money." Wymer said the senator's main goal is to bring the money from the trust fund back to Colorado. The Salazars have submitted legislation that would immediately send money from the trust fund to Garfield and Rio Blanco counties. Under that legislation, each county could receive more than $15 million. The Salazars said their bill would direct Colorado's share of the fund toward land, water and wildlife protection, along with improvements for roads affected by oil and gas development.
"2008 pres"
6:27:33 AM

Snowpack news

Here's some snowpack news from The Rocky Mountain News. From the article:

Colorado is headed toward a banner water year, with mountain snowpacks on Wednesday registering 133 percent of average, the best performance statewide in a decade. The good news has water managers, accustomed to wringing their hands at this time of year, grinning ear to ear. Last year at this time, snowpacks registered 90 percent of average. "We can't say we're out of the drought yet," said Alfredo Rodriguez, a water resources engineer for the city of Aurora, "but we're excited."[...]

Mesa Verde National Park, outside Durango, is near historic highs for snowpack, officials said Wednesday at a meeting of the state's Water Availability Task Force. "The snow is getting so deep in some places that it's covering our (measuring) equipment," said Chris Pacheco, assistant snow supervisor for the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
"colorado water"
6:17:22 AM

John Singletary: How do we make good decisions without good information

Here's a recap of yesterday's meeting of the Lower Arkansas River Conservancy District Board and the continued haggling over new irrigation efficiency rules for the Arkansas Valley, from The Pueblo Chieftain. They write:

While farm improvements that save water could reduce return flows to the Arkansas River, more proof is needed that they are creating a widespread problem, Lower Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy District board members said Wednesday. During a sometimes tense exchange, Water Division 2 Engineer Steve Witte talked to the board about agricultural efficiency rules the state is proposing. Meetings have begun with farm groups, conservancy districts and water lawyers to seek rules palatable to all. The state also is planning more general public meetings.

Efficiency measures for irrigators have advantages in saving labor, stopping the waste of water for non-beneficial uses and improving water quality, but Witte said the rules are necessary to prevent further legal action by Kansas against Colorado over the Arkansas River Compact. "We're limiting them only to those things covered under the compact," Witte said. "We've chosen to say that crop patterns are not 'works,' and we've limited the rules to structural improvements of irrigation systems." Under the proposed rules, only improvements such as sprinklers, drip systems, gated pipe and ditch lining would be regulated. Only surface works would be covered, since wells are subject to 1996 rules. The state believes it is justified in requiring those who made the improvements - ditch companies or individual farmers - to prove they have not reduced flows through increased consumptive use, Witte added.

Witte's stance did not sit well with the board. "I don't see how you can write the rules without the data," said Lynden Gill, Bent County director. "I have a fundamental problem with saying more efficient measures will mean more consumptive use," said Melissa Esquibel, Pueblo County director. "I can understand the logic, but you have nothing to support the argument." Esquibel also took issue with Witte's assertion that the state does not have the money to conduct a widespread study of how improvements are affecting flows in the river. "You are potentially imposing regulations that could sink an entire industry. I know that's not your intent," Esquibel said. Pete Moore, Crowley County director, said there probably is an impact from using more efficient irrigation systems, but they don't operate separately from non-structural improvements such as better crop genetics, irrigation scheduling or changing types of crops...

Board Chairman John Singletary said the state needs to back off and look at water use throughout the entire valley, rather than coming down on one group of irrigators. "We have to have the ability to use the water we have within the state of Colorado to the best of our ability," Singletary said. "How do we make good decisions without good information? I don't think you have that information yet."

More Coyote Gulch coverage here.

6:13:11 AM

HB 08-1161 and HB 08-1280

There was action to report on HB 08-1161 and HB 08-1280 yesterday according to The Denver Post. From the article:

A bill that would require uranium mining companies to show they can clean up groundwater damage from their operations had an unexpectedly easy time in committee Thursday after undergoing some big changes. House Bill 1161, sponsored by Reps. John Kefalas and Randy Fischer, both Fort Collins Democrats, passed on a bipartisan 11-2 vote. The bill comes in response to a proposal for a new uranium mine in Weld County and was amended to limit the requirements to uranium mining companies. It also was stripped of a rule forcing state officials to deny a proposed mine if the mining company can't meet the requirements.

A revision to Colorado water law that would allow rights- holders to leave water in the river without losing their rights passed its first hurdle Wednesday. By a vote of 10-2, the House natural resources committee approved House Bill 1280 by Rep. Randy Fischer, D-Fort Collins. Colorado water law is based on the idea that rights-holders use the water they're allotted or they lose their rights. Fischer's bill would allow rights-holders to lease or temporarily donate water rights to the Colorado Water Conservation Board without forfeiting them. Supporters, including numerous environmental groups, say fuller rivers boost ecosystem health and Colorado's tourism economy.

More coverage from The Fort Collins Coloradoan. They write:

House Bill 1280, sponsored by Fort Collins Democrat Rep. Randy Fischer, passed the House Agriculture, Livestock & Natural Resources committee Wednesday by a 10-2 vote. "No one wants our state's future to dry up today - and it doesn't have to," Fischer said. "Today's demands on our rivers will require new and flexible solutions. This measure energizes current state programs by creating new freedoms for water right holders to keep their local rivers and streams healthy." The state of Colorado passed laws in 1973 to ensure that state stewards of Colorado's water resources would work to preserve rivers and streams. With more population growth expected statewide in coming decades, water program managers and partners are promoting several improvements to the current law including HB 1280.

HB 08-1280 is part of the "Heathy Rivers" package. More Coyote Gulch coverage here, here and here.
"colorado water"
6:02:57 AM

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