Sunday, March 23, 2008

Hellchild's Excellent Adventure Hellchild's Excellent Mexican Adventure is over. She crossed the border at El Paso Texas today. She and her new traveling companion are planning to head west through New Mexico into Arizona to Tuscon (They've never been there). Then it's on to California, with a layover in San Francisco. We're hoping they turn east after visiting relatives in Eugene, Oregon. They have friends in Portland however and that's where they'll catch a train east so they may layover there awhile also. We haven't seen her for nearly a year now. She usually makes us take her camping in the mountains when she rolls into town. Hellchild and her traveling companion rode the railroad through Copper Canyon to Chihuahua. Since they ride free on freight trains instead of passenger trains the journey was mostly at night. The train crew insisted that they ride in the "unit" for safety reasons. They crew maintains that some of the people riding the freight train can be unsavory. Before they left Mexico City they climbed a volcano to 15,000 feet. We're thinking it was probably Popocatepetl ("the smoking mountain") but we're not sure. We'll find out and report back. 8:27:43 PM

Beaver learns to play the blues Beaver left voicemail on Friday. "I'm standing on the banks of the Mississippi River in New Orleans," he said. In a phone conversation with Mrs. Gulch this morning he commented on the heat and humidity and said he was heading east to Alabama before he melts. 8:18:35 PM

World Water Day 2008 Misu Blog is running several video clips of Stephen Colbert discussing(?) World Water Day. "2008 pres" 9:50:31 AM

? for President? The Moderate Voice: "Senator Barack Obama's campaign has gotten some good news -- one of several bits of good news in recent days: a new Gallup tracking poll shows him on the rebound after the firestorm over his pastor's comments and Obama's heavily covered speech on race: 'Barack Obama has quickly made up the deficit he faced with Hillary Clinton earlier this week, with the latest Gallup Poll Daily tracking update on Democratic presidential nomination preferences showing 48% of Democratic voters favoring Obama and 45% Clinton.'" "2008 pres" 9:44:22 AM

Governor Kathleen Sebelius: Of all the duties and responsibilities entrusted to me as governor, none is greater than my obligation to protect the health and well-being of the people of Kansas From The Environment News Service: "Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius today vetoed legislation that would have overturned a decision of her administration to deny an permit application to build two new coal-fired power plants because of the greenhouse gases they would have produced. The measure passed without a veto-proof majority of state legislators. Last October Secretary of Kansas Department of Health and Environment Rob Bremby denied a permit to regional wholesale power supplier Sunflower Electric Power Corporation to build two new power plants at its Holcomb Station in western Kansas. The bill Sebelius vetoed today would have permitted the power plants and stripped the state agency of the power to deny such permits in the future if they held utilities to standards stricter than those in the federal Clean Air Act. "We know that greenhouse gases contribute to climate change," Sebelius said. 'As an agricultural state, Kansas is particularly vulnerable. Therefore, reducing pollutants benefits our state not only in the short term - but also for generations of Kansans to come...Of all the duties and responsibilities entrusted to me as governor, none is greater than my obligation to protect the health and well-being of the people of Kansas,' Sebelius said. "And that is why I supported the decision of the Secretary of Kansas Department of Health and Environment regarding Kansas' energy future. For that reason, I must veto House Substitute for SB 327.'" "cc" 9:21:12 AM

Runoff From email from Reclamation (Kara Lamb): "It's that time of year again. In anticipation of the coming run off, we're moving some water out of Green Mountain Reservoir so we can fill it up when the snow melts. Over the last few days, we've been increasing releases from Green Mountain Dam to the Lower Blue. By afternoon today, Friday March 21, we should have a release of about 490 cfs in the Lower Blue. It's possible there could be another 30 cfs increase over the weekend, so keep an eye on the gage if you plan to head up there." From The Summit Daily News "reg": "Based on snowpack thus far this winter, paddlers and rafters may be able to anticipate a good rafting season, Denver Water engineer Bob Steger said, looking ahead at planned reservoir operations for the next few months. It's still too early to say exactly how and when Denver Water will release stored water from Dillon Reservoir, but Steger said the utility is already running computer models to determine likely scenarios. Those models are based on the current snowpack, plus an estimate of how much more snow may fall based on past weather patterns from March 18 onward. 'We get a bunch of plausible inflow scenarios from the U.S. Geological Survey,' Steger said. That data is combined with weather forecasts for the next several weeks. In a wet spring scenario, Denver Water might have to make larger and earlier releases from the reservoir to make room for snowmelt." "colorado water" 8:52:10 AM

Energy policy: Nuclear From The Boulder Daily Camera: "Coloradoans Against Resource Destruction, will meet at 7 p.m. at the Front Range Meeting Room at the Radisson Hotel and Conference Center, 1900 Ken Pratt Blvd. The discussion will include the potential hazards of in-situ leach uranium mining, a form of mining that involved pumping solutions into the ground to dissolve and extract metals." More Coyote Gulch coverage here and here. "2008 pres" 8:48:55 AM

Southern Delivery System Here's Part I of The Pueblo Chieftain's series on Colorado Springs' proposed Southern Delivery System. Read the whole thing, there is a lot of detail in there. Here are a few excerpts: A proposed project called Southern Delivery System has been the center of attention in the Arkansas River valley for the past five years. It has led to court cases, intergovernmental agreements and a level of controversy, and scrutiny, unprecedented in past Arkansas Valley water deals. The main proponent of SDS, Colorado Springs, is asking the Bureau of Reclamation for federal permits to store, convey and exchange water through a 66-inch pipeline which would run 43 miles north from Pueblo Dam, pumping up to 78 million gallons of water per day. The pipeline would not operate at full capacity all of the time, but would, by 2046, reroute about 48,000 acre-feet of water - or 42.8 million gallons per day - through Colorado Springs. In the process, some of the needs of Fountain and Security would be met, and Pueblo West would be able to boost its capacity with a tap that could move up to 18 million gallons per day. Their combined yield from the project is expected to be about 5,100 acre-feet per year. Colorado Springs also would build a 30,000 acre-foot reservoir on Jimmy Camp Creek to store water and a 28,000 acre-foot reservoir on Williams Creek to regulate exchanged flows on Fountain Creek. Because Colorado Springs is asking to use federal facilities in the project, it requires an environmental impact statement under the National Environmental Protection Act. On Feb. 29, Reclamation issued the draft EIS, which tentatively chose the route of the pipeline preferred by the project's participants. The federal agency determined all seven alternatives it identified in the project are "reasonable," even though "all alternatives would have adverse environmental impacts." Reclamation could pick another alternative, or combination of alternatives, if new information is discovered during the public comment period which ends April 29. That has been questioned by some, like Ross Vincent, senior consultant for the Sierra Club, who said a pipeline route downstream of the Fountain Creek confluence could yield more water for less money per acre-foot in terms of firm yield. "I have a question about to what extent the cost to the proposer is a legitimate issue in an EIS," Vincent said. Colorado Springs, however, argues that the downstream alternative would cost $700 million more and does not fit the needs of the project... The cost of the project was an issue in narrowing the list of components for the project. Reclamation used a threshold of $25,000 per acre-foot of firm yield, the top cost ratepayers seemed willing to pay for water development in 2005, to screen out other options, including building a pipeline from the east, where Colorado Springs owns water in Crowley County, and to reuse its return flows, rather than exchange them, for drinking water. If alternatives passed that threshold, they were included in the draft EIS, with the exception of the options that diverted water downstream of the Fountain Creek confluence and a route up Highway 115 in Fremont County, which were called too expensive, but included because of public interest. In the draft EIS, the preferred alternative from the dam actually costs a little more than $25,000 per acre-foot to build, while the downstream option costs $18,600 per acre-foot; Highway 115 costs nearly $32,000 per acre-foot. Six alternatives for reuse were considered in December, but rejected because they cost twice as much as other alternatives. Despite applying that criteria, Reclamation looked beyond it in analyzing the seven alternatives. "Once the alternatives screened in, they were fully analyzed under the 10 scoping issues and more," said Kara Lamb, Reclamation spokeswoman. "So, to narrow the focus just to 'firm yield' or 'total cost' skews the analysis and only gives a partial picture."[...] It does not add new water rights for any of the participants, but will allow them to use water they do not now use. Most of that is the return flows from transmountain water or fully consumable native water. The effects of that vary. Flows on Fountain Creek would certainly increase, while flows on various reaches of the Arkansas River could be greater or less at different times of year. One problem with the EIS, noted by Drew Peternell, director of Trout Unlimited's Colorado Water Project, is that it measures all of the alternatives against a no-action alternative, which Colorado Springs revised in 2007. The term no-action means no contracts with Reclamation, but does contain an action. Colorado Springs would build a pipeline from Fremont County, instead of from Pueblo Dam. Peternell, at a meeting in Pueblo earlier this month, said the impacts of any of the alternatives should measure how they would change current river conditions... The draft EIS also mentions Colorado Springs' participation in the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project, which built Pueblo Dam, and said the city and other participants have paid about 73 percent of the project tax revenues. SDS would not be a part of the Fry-Ark Project, and storage of its water would be subject to spill if project water filled Lake Pueblo. The 73 percent figure, often cited by Colorado Springs officials in presentations on SDS, is the percent of ad valorem taxes used to repay the federal debt from building the Fry-Ark Project. While the project cost $585 million to build, the repayment by the Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District is $134 million, or 23 percent of the total project costs. Using those figures, Colorado Springs and its partners have paid about 17 percent of the total project costs. The Chieftain is also running descriptions of each alternative along with graphics showing the routes and facilities. Hopefully they'll keep this link alive. More Coyote Gulch coverage here. "colorado water" 8:40:47 AM

Alamosa: System cleaning to start on Tuesday Alamosa will start cleaning their water system on Tuesday, according to The Pueblo Chieftain. From the article: The flush intended to clear the city's coliform-tainted water system will begin at 9 a.m. Tuesday and continue for a minimum of two weeks, officials announced late Friday. Once the flush starts, city officials urge residents, businesses and health-care providers not to drink or wash dishes with water from the tap, regardless of whether it has been boiled. Nor should the tap water be used for food preparation. During the flush the city warns that young children could experience skin, eye or other irritation from the chlorine. Parents are urged to limit their children's exposure to the city water during this period. Health officials say residents will be able to bathe and shower, although they warn not to ingest the water while doing so. County Public Information Officer Connie Ricci said children still could bathe during the flush, although parents should limit the length of bathing. Hand-washing also is allowed with tap water during the flush as long as its accompanied by the use of soap or a sanitizer. Officials say the guidelines above also should be followed for pets. City Public Works Manager Don Koskelin said Friday the city would inject 25 milligrams per liter of chlorine into the system during the flush. The normal level of chlorine used to treat drinking water is between 0.7 milligrams per liter and 1 milligram per liter...Residents with questions about the flush are urged to call Alamosa County at 719-589-6639 or the state health department at 1-877-462-2911. Here's the latest from SLV Dweller. More Coyote Gulch coverage here. "colorado water" 8:30:07 AM

Colorado Springs plans to spend $65 million on infrastructure Colorado Springs is looking to find $65 million for rehabilitation of their supply infrastructure from the mountains, according to The Colorado Springs Gazette. From the article: Colorado Springs' raw water system - the reservoirs, pipes and pumps that deliver water from the mountains - needs $65 million in upgrades in the next decade. That was one finding in the first comprehensive assessment of cityowned Colorado Springs Utilities' water system. Fixing some of the 50 intakes, 27 reservoirs, 200 miles of tunnels and pipes, 200 vaults and valves and four major pump stations is necessary because of age, water operations manager Scott Campbell told the Utilities Board last week. He said half the intakes are up to 50 years old and nearly 40 percent of the reservoirs are 100 years old. Roughly 60 percent of pipes date to the Eisenhower era, as does 45 percent of other structures. Minor maintenance is needed on 60 percent to 70 percent of the system, while up to 38 percent needs significant maintenance. Projects range from local systems, such as the Northfield and North Slope watersheds where reservoirs need repair, to the Blue River watershed, where dams need to be fixed. He said taking components out of service for repairs while supplying water is tricky. "We're looking forward to when Southern Delivery is in service so we have redundancy on line," Campbell said... Campbell said repairs, some scheduled for this year, also will be a challenge as Utilities manages a heavy snowmelt stemming from large snowfall in the mountains. "How do we manage all the water that's coming at us and still manage the work?" he said. The comprehensive assessment also looked at other areas: water treatment plants and distribution storage tanks and the water distribution system. Reports on those aspects will be presented in April and May, respectively. "colorado water" 8:22:26 AM

? for U.S. Senate? Here's a background piece about Bob Schaeffer from The Denver Post. From the article: Bob Schaffer spent six years in Congress and says his top political accomplishment was leaving office. In addition to keeping a promise to voters that he'd serve only three U.S. House terms, the former congressman quickly added that he's also proud of his record on agriculture, education and the economy. "It's the whole package," Schaffer said. But Schaffer, 45, runs with a limited House record as he campaigns for the Senate against Democratic Rep. Mark Udall of Eldorado Springs in a race expected to be one of the country's most competitive. During the Fort Collins Republican's three terms, he focused on a few key interests, with education reform topping the list. He voted the Republican line in most cases and worked with then-House Speaker Newt Gingrich to push GOP unanimity. Democrats charge Schaffer was one of the House's most conservative members, taking extreme positions that put him in the minority of his own party. National Journal, in its listing for 1998, ranked him the 19th-most-conservative member in the House, and another ranking places him as the 14th-most-conservative member of Congress in the past 70 years. "Bob Schaffer spent six years in Congress getting nothing done for Colorado and doing everything that the oil and gas industry asked him," said Taylor West, spokeswoman for Udall's campaign. "Then he cashed in with a six-figure job in oil and gas."[...] Schaffer authored two major bills that became laws. One transferred ownership of water distribution facilities to a Colorado water district; the other directed a federal study on improved outdoor recreational access for people with disabilities. He worked with Sen. Jeff Bingaman, a New Mexico Democrat, on another bill that became law. It identified routes in Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado and New Mexico as a high-priority transportation corridor called Ports to Plains... Schaffer defended his record, saying that instead of authoring bills, he asked others to include Colorado-centric language in legislation. "I just wanted to put points on the board for the district," he said. "I had very little concern about who got the credit." Schaffer also said a term-limits pledge caps what a lawmaker can do because Congress rewards seniority. "You couldn't even think about being a subcommittee chair until you were into your fourth term," he said. "When you're a subcommittee chairman, the first thing you get to do is set the agenda. That's a huge advantage." He said he doesn't regret the pledge, "but I wouldn't do it again."[...] Schaffer's Colorado-centered work in the next six years included helping negotiate language that would smooth passage of legislation creating the Spanish Peaks Wilderness Area, said Sean Conway, chief of staff to Allard, who as a senator authored that bill. He helped pass a measure that paid farmers who left their land open instead of growing crops, and won money to expand Colorado National Guard bases and for construction of a new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention facility in Fort Collins. "He literally got the administration to pay up; he got a $100 million commitment to build a whole new building," Conway said... What Republican colleagues largely remember Schaffer for is his work on one issue. "Bob was very active in education,"said former Rep. Scott McInnis, who represented the 3rd Congressional District when Schaffer was in the House. "School-choice issues," said Rep. Tom Tancredo, a Littleton Republican. "The only thing that stands out in my mind particularly is his interest in education and the education committee," former Rep. Hefley said. Schaffer, who is currently vice chairman of the State Board of Education, had run for Congress on a pledge to eliminate the federal Department of Education, as well as the Commerce, Energy, and Housing and Urban Development departments. "Bob didn't see much room for the federal government to be involved in education," said former Rep. William Goodling, R-Pa., who chaired the House education committee during Schaffer's first two terms... With President Bush's election in 2000, Congress took up the No Child Left Behind education reform effort. Schaffer opposed much of the bill because it increased the federal role in public schools. "There were like 23 changes we made in the bill at his direction," said Boehner, who chaired the House education committee during Schaffer's final term. In the end, Schaffer voted against No Child Left Behind. "The school-choice provisions of the bill ... have been ripped out of the legislation," Schaffer said on the House floor in 2001. He introduced a bill in 2002 that would have created tax credits for parents who put their children in private schools. It passed out of a committee but never came to a vote on the floor. "Some of these ideas were pretty fundamental on the changes they would put in the education system," former Rep. McInnis said. "You're not going to get through in the first few years." Schaffer also sat on the Agriculture Committee and Resources Committee, which deals with public lands issues. Former Rep. Hefley also served on the Resources panel but said he doesn't recall much about what Schaffer did. "I just don't remember him being terribly engaged in the committee," Hefley said... During all six years, Schaffer was part of the "GOP Theme Team," a group of 30 to 40 House Republicans that worked to create what he described as a "coherent and consistent message" for the party. Each week, Schaffer said, they talked about upcoming legislation and brainstormed ways to push their points during floor debates. He didn't try to persuade other lawmakers to vote a certain way, Schaffer said. But if they agreed with his position, he said, he could tell them how to form their arguments, particularly on education issues... Schaffer was seen as very conservative, even among Republicans, said Goodling, the former Pennsylvania congressman. Tancredo described Schaffer as a "strong fiscal conservative, a strong social conservative." In Fort Collins, Schaffer was seen as "to the right of the center of the party," said John Straayer, a political science professor at Colorado State University. Asked to describe himself politically, Schaffer said "100 percent Colorado." Asked how voting with the GOP position most of the time fit with "100 percent Colorado," Schaffer said, "If you vote for your state and others tend to agree with you, that's what you want." He later said, "I'm a conservative. I'm a Bill Owens, John McCain conservative," then added "throw Ronald Rea gan into the mix too." Schaffer in October 2002 voted for authorizing the use of force in Iraq. He left Congress before many of the subsequent votes on funding the war or attempting to shift strategy. He offered legislation requiring a balanced budget. Through a congressional resolution, he proposed a constitutional amendment requiring the same. Both died in committee. In November 2001 he was one of nine lawmakers who voted against the post-9/11 plan to beef up airline security. It approved inspection of all bags and a federal takeover of air security. When the House that same year voted 407-3 to set up a toll-free number allowing people to check whether a product was American-made, Schaffer was one of the three votes against it. That bill died in the Senate. Schaffer said Americans deserve a "robust" security system with concern to travel and that "to consign such an important function exclusively to government was a step backwards." As for the toll-free number, he felt it was a waste of money and went so far as to tell constituents they could call him, and he would find out where the product was made. "I didn't receive a single call," Schaffer said. As a fiscal conservative, he frequently voted against spending bills, ranging from major ones funding federal departments to others funding veterans programs and student loans. Schaffer said he pushed agricultural issues as one of his priorities. Congress in 2002 passed a major farm bill, one that subsequently came under criticism for the price supports it gave farmers. The Colorado Farm Bureau, however, lauded Schaffer for his help... The League of Conservation Voters put Schaffer on its "Dirty Dozen list" of lawmakers running for election in competitive 2008 races whom the group sees as most environmentally unfriendly. The group, which supports Udall in the Senate race, cited Schaffer's vote for President Bush and Vice President Cheney's 2002 energy plan. The House version of that, which did not become law because it was rewritten in the Senate, would have given $33 billion in tax breaks to oil, gas and coal companies, said Tony Massaro, League of Conservation Voters senior vice president. "It was dramatically spurring oil and gas drilling in Colorado on public lands," Massaro said. Additionally, Massaro said, Schaffer opposed legislation promoting the use of alternative fuels. "He consistently sided with the special interests," Massaro said. "He consistently sided with President Bush and his leadership, none of whom has been supportive of the environment in the Rocky Mountain region." Although Schaffer during his House tenure often stood to the right of Democrats and most Republicans, professor Mazurana said, that's a record he's likely to edge away from as he runs for Senate. Colorado voters now want a different kind of lawmaker in Congress, he said. "His argument is going to be he is the best for business, he is the best for economic development," Mazurana said. "He is going to try to get away from his more conservative positions, if he's allowed." More Coyote Gulch coverage here. "denver 2008" 8:16:42 AM

Northern Integrated Supply Project Here's a background piece and update on the proposed Glade Reservoir. from The Denver Post. From the article: ... a massive $431 million dam and reservoir project would take 70 percent of what's left of the Poudre at peak flows. One of the biggest engineering proposals in the dry West and the largest on the Front Range since 1975, the project would fill a valley with a new pool bigger than popular Horsetooth Reservoir, move 7 miles of federal highway and add another major reservoir and pipeline system northeast of Greeley. Builders call it the best way to fill the taps of 40,000 new Front Range homeowners. "This project covers only half of the projected growth demand," said Carl Brouwer, project manager for the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District, which delivers water to cities serving 770,000 people. "Highways get busy and people notice. Well, we have water traffic jams on the horizon." Opponents add in decades of interest payments and call it a "billion-dollar drain pipe" that would ruin the best feature of a perennial "livable city" pick. They've labeled it an environmental and financial disaster that would force cities to chase development to pay off bonds at a time when the mortgage crisis has frozen the economy. Worst of all, they claim, the project is old-school dam-and-divert, in an era when the new West sought water through conservation instead of construction. Though the Poudre is tame in Fort Collins, its bolder upper reaches make it the only Colorado entry on the federal register of Wild and Scenic Rivers. "We think this project will destroy the Poudre," said Wockner, part of a coalition against the project that includes Save the Poudre, the Sierra Club and the Colorado Environmental Coalition. "It's the biggest environmental disaster facing Fort Collins in its history." The builders -- the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District and 15 cities that have bought shares in the new water -- dismiss the apocalyptic rhetoric. The new reservoir north of Horsetooth could actually put more water in the Poudre during dry months through carefully timed releases. It would create a new recreation lake for boaters who overrun Horsetooth. And this plan -- the Northern Integrated Supply Project -- is the least-damaging way to find new water. They say opponents would rather "buy and dry" farmland and wipe out a way of life on the Eastern Plains. "There is a no-growth contingent that believes water causes growth and all dams are bad," Brouwer said. "To that group, there's not much we can say. We place a high value on irrigated agriculture, and we don't shy away from that."[...] Objections to the reservoirs focus on three arguments: * The Poudre is too valuable a resource -- ecologically, aesthetically and financially -- to strangle with a major diversion. High spring and summer flows bring water to cottonwoods, scour silt and algae from pools, and protect the few remaining fish. Fort Collins and support groups have spent millions creating parks and paths along the river, so why dry up the city's prime amenity? * Northern Colorado lags far behind Denver and other cities in finding new water through conservation efforts, so choking off the Poudre is unnecessary. Moreover, 85 percent to 95 percent of water supplies are spread onto arid farmland; if cities need more water, they should buy up more of that farm water than they have already, or create cooperative exchange agreements with farmers for wet and dry years. * Going into debt to build a reservoir means chasing new homes that can pay the bill. Local homeowners will pay the massive price tag, in tap fees on new buildings or water rate hikes for all customers. Water planners say they are building reservoirs for only half the 80,000 new residents projected in northern Colorado over the next 40 years. But if the economy stays slow, will cities beg for growth to pay debts? Opponents point out that Berthoud and other towns have already found the price tag too high, withdrawing from the project before planning fees escalated into design and construction charges. Berthoud spent about $130,000 on the project over the past five years and recently sold its shares to Frederick for $30,000, said Town Manager Jim White. Berthoud's cost share would have ramped up to $800,000 in two or three years, and $8 million by 2011... Some towns, though, already have the cash on hand and say they need the water. Lafayette was "the poster child" for parched cities during the 2002-03 drought, said public works manager Doug Short. Lawns scorched under once-a-week watering rules. Since then, the city has shrunk its development footprint; the population will grow from 25,000 to 35,000 at buildout, and only 200 new homes plus 50 affordable homes can start each year. "We actually have the cash in our fund balance right now to pay for this," Short said. "We're in Boulder County -- people want to limit growth; we just want to make sure we have water during a drought." More Coyote Gulch coverage here and here. "colorado water" 8:03:33 AM

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