Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Iraq Juan Cole: "According to Farsnews writing in Persian, Khamenei told al-Maliki that the most important and fundamental problem for Iraq at present is the presence of Occupation forces. He affirmed, 'We are certain that the people of Iraq, through their intrinsic unity and effort, will cross over these difficult conditions and arrive at a place befitting them. The dream of the Americans most certainly will never be realized.' He emphasized that the Islamic Republic of Iran considers helping the government and people of Iraq a religious duty. He expressed the hope that al-Maliki's visit to Iran and the agreements he signed there would strengthen relations between the two countries." "2008 pres" 7:31:17 PM

Amendment 46 SquareState.net: "Today's Denver Post has the announcement that a religious organization opposes Californian Ward Connerly's Amendment 46 that would do away with affirmative action programs." "denver 2008" 7:21:25 PM

Energy policy: Oil and gas Colorado Pols: "Ignoring the position of most affected local governments, the State of Colorado, Senator Salazar, Reps. Udall and Salazar, and the nearly unanimous sentiment of citizens who participated in the BLM's planning process for Colorado's iconic Roan Plateau, the Bush Administration-on its much anticipated exit-has decided to open all the remaining unleased public lands for oil and gas drilling on and around the Roan this August. For the Bush Administration, apparently, ignoring everything it has heard during the planning process is an example that it 'worked for the past seven years with local officials, private citizens, state agencies, industry and environmental groups,' according to an op-ed by C. Stephen Allard of the Department of Interio." More coverage from The Aspen Times. From the article: The Bureau of Land Management announced Monday that it was including 55,000 acres of land on the Roan Plateau in its August lease sale. The agency's announcement immediately drew rebukes from Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter and U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar, both of whom said the BLM ignored their proposals for the area. The BLM's Aug. 14 lease sale will include 55,186 acres in 31 parcels in the Roan Plateau Planning Area, according to the agency. Eighteen of the 31 parcels, which encompass a total 34,087 acres, are for the top of the plateau. The announcement that Roan acreage will be included in the August lease sale comes after years of controversy surrounding possible natural gas drilling on the western Colorado landmark. Several environmental groups and sportsmen who want to protect the area's wildlife have opposed the BLM's plan for drilling in the area. Some groups are even contemplating possible litigation to prevent it from it going forward. But advocates for oil and gas development on the Roan Plateau say drilling can bring back hundreds of millions of dollars back to Colorado. The BLM has estimated that federal revenue from oil and gas royalties and lease sales could generate $857 million to $1.13 billion over the next 20 years. Colorado would receive an estimated $428 million to $565 million in money generated from oil and gas extraction on the Roan, according to the BLM estimates. In a statement expressing disappointment with the BLM's move, Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colo., said the state will not receive any money from the Aug. 14 Roan lease sales or ongoing royalties and gas revenues until the cleanup of the Anvil Points research station near Rulison is complete. "I am deeply disappointed that the administration is proceeding with its plan to auction off the entire top of the Roan Plateau for oil and gas development, despite objections by the state of Colorado," Salazar said in a prepared statement. "The BLM's plan ignores a set of sensible recommendations for the protection of wildlife habitat, the environment and other recreational resources that (Gov. Bill Ritter) and the state of Colorado developed last year, and which I have included in legislation that I have introduced in the U.S. Senate." "2008 pres" 7:11:44 PM

? for President? Andrew Sullivan: "Obama On The Judiciary: He's not quite the knee-jerk liberal base-pleaser some want us to believe. Here's a blog post by Obama three years ago defending Feingold's and Leahy's vote for John Roberts. In some ways, it's a very good summary of why Paul Krugman is right not to like him, and why more conservatives than you might think are drawn to him." New West: "Will Amendment 48, the pro-life ballot measure that will be voted on in the November election, cost Barack Obama Colorado? That's one possibility raised in recent days by local politicos eyeing the fall presidential race. , At the same time we are witnessing what the Grand Junction Sentinel calls "a fundamental realignment of the formerly reliably Republican Rocky Mountain West." Brought to the ballot by abortion foes centered in Colorado Springs, Amendment 48 would revise the state constitution to define life as starting at conception. The measure could "bring out conservatives in droves, possibly spoiling the electorate's recent Democratic tendencies." Here's a roundup of conservatives that are not that charged up by the McCain candidacy from The Daily Kos. "2008 pres" 7:00:59 PM

? for U.S. Senate? Washington Times: "The last three Coloradans to hold this year's open Senate seat could be described as variations on a Republican theme: the exceedingly conservative Bill Armstrong, the rather conservative Hank Brown and the dependably conservative Wayne Allard. "It's hard to imagine putting any modifier in front of 'conservative' to describe Mark Udall, unless it's 'not.' Yet the Democratic congressman has staked a claim as the early front-runner in the race to succeed those bastions of Colorado Republicanism. "At a Democratic volunteer rally Saturday, Mr. Udall, wearing the traditional Western campaign ensemble of jeans, cowboy boots and a hefty silver belt buckle, fired up the party's ground troops by telling them that 'as Colorado goes, so goes the nation.' "'Traditional conservative values are reflected more by Democrats now in the West than Republicans,' Mr. Udall said later. 'There's a new kind of conservatism, particularly the 'live and let live' approach to people's personal lives.'" "denver 2008" 6:15:45 PM

San Luis Valley confined aquifer Here's an update on the implementation of Judge Kuenhold's ruling on the confined aquifer in the San Luis Valley, from The Valley Courier. From the article: Attorneys are still sorting out the costs - and who will pay for them - of the lengthy 2006 confined aquifer rules water trial. The trial which lasted the better part of six weeks dealt with challenges to state-proposed rules regarding new groundwater withdrawals from the confined or deeper aquifer under the San Luis Valley. The state water engineer maintained that the Rio Grande Basin (Water Division 3) was already over-appropriated so any new water withdrawals would have to be matched on a one-for-one basis. District Judge O. John Kuenhold presided over the trial in the spring of 2006 and after reviewing the numerous exhibits, evidence and testimony he ruled in favor of the state's regulations. The state and associated proponents for the rules subsequently asked the court to grant reimbursement from the losing parties for costs associated with this case. Although not entitled to attorney's fees, the victors in the case were entitled to reimbursement for expenditures ranging from copying costs to expert witness expenses. Proponents of the state rules are requesting reimbursement in the neighborhood of $500,000, not counting attorney's fees. Those requesting reimbursement for expenses associated with the water trial include the state which was represented by the attorney general's office, the Rio Grande Water Conservation District, the Conejos Water Conservancy District and the Rio Grande Water Users Association. Judge Kuenhold this week held a daylong hearing to take testimony substantiating the requested reimbursements. Those taking the stand in an ironic turn of events were attorneys normally accustomed to standing on the other side of the witness stand. Those included Attorney David Robbins, legal counsel for the Rio Grande Water Conservation District, and Bill Paddock, legal counsel for the Rio Grande Water Users Association. Attorney Alan Hale, legal counsel for objector Cotton Creek Circles, questioned the amounts requested by those who presented and defended the state's rules. Hale also asked for additional information regarding the requested reimbursements. Hale cross-examined the proponents' attorneys and expert witnesses at length during the hearing on Tuesday about the costs the rules proponents incurred. At the conclusion of the day the judge asked the state and its proponents to provide more detailed documentation to Hale and the court to support their requests. Kuenhold will then enter a ruling at a later date. Hale can appeal the judge's ruling further if he is not satisfied at this level. Robbins said prevailing parties in a case like this are entitled to costs other than attorney's fees. He said that includes costs of transcripts, travel, hotel rooms and costs associated with the expert witnesses... Also on Tuesday, Judge Kuenhold held a status hearing on another water case involving some of the same players. The case involves water rights for the expanded Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, and Cotton Creek Circles is the primary objector in that case as well. Judge Kuenhold has scheduled a three-week trial in that case to begin July 28. However, the attorneys told the judge on Tuesday they might be able to reach an agreement short of trial. Both sides said they were ready to go to trial if an agreement was not reached but still hoped to come to a consensus. More Coyote Gulch coverage here. "colorado water" 5:58:39 PM

Northern Integrated Supply Project Here's an editorial in favor of the proposed Northern Integrated Supply Project, from The Fort Morgan Times. From the article: The city of Fort Morgan was farsighted in getting in involved in the Colorado-Big Thompson water project, and that has paid off in a big way. Not only has the quality of domestic water improved dramatically over the well water residents used in the past, but that well water has also become severely restricted by augmentation requirements. If the city had not gotten involved in C-BT years ago, Fort Morgan residents would be is a real pickle today. The same thing applies to NISP. As city Utilities Director Gary Dreessen has said repeatedly in recent months, if we don't get our water from NISP, where are we going to get it? That's a very good question, and there really is no answer -- except maybe "nowhere." And that simply is not an acceptable answer. A city of some 12,000 people can't simply ignore the prospect of running out of water and hope something comes along to bail it out. That's not going to happen. More Coyote Gulch coverage here and here. "colorado water" 6:32:59 AM

Runoff Here's some runoff news from The Sky-Hi Daily News. From the article: By the end of the month, based on SNOTEL data, only 34 percent of this year's peak snow water content remained. Almost half of the peak snow water content was lost during May. However, at 146 percent of average, June 1 snowpacks remain well above normal and significantly (over four times) higher than the snowpacks reported last year at this time. All the sub-basins report well above average snowpacks, ranging from 375 percent of average in the Willow Creek Watershed to 131 percent of average in the mainstem Upper Colorado Watershed (above Dotsero)... Although slightly below the totals reported last year at this time, reservoir storage in the basin is 99 percent of average. Runoff forecasts were increased from last month at most points in the basin. June-July volumes are still expected to be above to well above average at almost all the forecast points. Streamflows for the next two months should range from 94 percent of average for the inflow to Lake Granby to 155 percent of average for the Roaring Fork at Glenwood Springs. Statewide, average snowpack is 111 percent, with the highest snowpack in the Gunnison and Colorado River basins. Reported readings for the major river basins in Colorado are as follows: Upper Colorado River Basin averages 146 percent; Gunnison River Basin, 145 percent; South Platte River Basin, 119 percent; Yampa and White River Basins, 85 percent; Arkansas River Basin, 130 percent; Upper Rio Grande Basin, 86 percent; San Miguel, Dolores, Animas, and San Juan River Basins 95 percent; Laramie and North Platte River Basins, 122 percent of average for this time of year. More coverage from The Rocky Mountain News. They write: The Blue River below Green Mountain Reservoir currently has swollen to 757 cfs from a short recess Sunday, when BOR dropped flows to less than 300 cfs. The lower Blue hit a plateau of 1,200 cfs last week. At Silverthorne, the Blue is cruising at a more manageable 500 cfs, which is high enough to put trout on the feed for mysis shrimp, which have been pouring through Dillon Dam, but not prohibitively high for fishing. A sampling of other waters: - The Colorado River is rolling along at its muddy finest at Parshall and Kremmling (1,460 cfs), at Dotsero (8,320 cfs) and Glenwood Springs (13,500 cfs). - The Roaring Fork is a big 1,150 cfs at Aspen and a hearty 4,580 cfs at Glenwood Springs. - Taylor Park Reservoir is releasing 716 cfs into the Taylor River, which is far above average flows of less than 250 cfs for early June. - The Gunnison River is flush at 3,260 cfs near Gunnison, or about 1,000 cfs above average. In Gunnison Gorge, however, flows have dropped from 7,000 cfs a week ago. The Gorge now is running about average for early June, at 3,360 cfs and clearing. Cool weather has reined in runoff in the Arkansas River, but currents remain high and muddy (2,800 cfs at Wellsville). River edges, however, have been clear enough to fish. In the midst of all this heavy water, the close-to-home Cheesman Canyon and Deckers stretches of the South Platte River have been Old Reliable, burbling at a mild 156 cfs. Elevenmile Canyon also is angler-friendly at 150 cfs. More runoff news from The Pueblo Chieftain. From the article: As of Monday, about 24,000 acre-feet had been moved through the Boustead Tunnel at Twin Lakes, double what it had been one week earlier. If temperatures warm up too quickly, the snowpack could melt more rapidly, making it more difficult to capture the full amount. Below 10,000 feet, most of the snow has melted, but at higher elevations, where there are fewer measurement sites, the snowpack remains deep. At Fremont Pass on Monday, at an elevation of 11,400 feet northeast of Leadville, there were still 30 inches of snow on the ground, with a snow water equivalent of about 15 inches... River flows have slowed as well, following minor flooding in Canon City last week and approaching flood stage at La Junta. Flows at the Parkdale gauge on the Arkansas River, west of Canon City, were at about 2,700 cubic feet per second Monday, down from more than 4,000 cfs a week earlier. At Avondale, east of Pueblo, flows were at 2,400 cfs, about half of the peak flow recorded last week. A storm that came through Southern Colorado last week helped moisture conditions somewhat, but official rainfall, as measured at Pueblo Memorial Airport, was only 3.64 inches, well below the normal 4.65 inches and 6.43 inches by this time last year. "colorado water" 6:23:23 AM

Mineral lease trumps conservation easement? Here's a look at the conflict amongst Bill Barrett Corp., Aspen Valley Land Trust, Garfield County and Colorado's conservation easement regulations from The Glenwood Springs Post Independent. From the article: Garfield County commissioners on Monday voted to require Bill Barrett Corp. to join with the Aspen Valley Land Trust in its application for a county permit to build a water gathering facility near Silt. Commissioners voted in favor of the move after Assistant County Attorney Carolyn Dahlgren suggested that the Aspen Valley Land Trust (AVLT) - which holds a conservation easement that covers the entire 280-acre property where Barrett plans to build its water facility - could be considered a co-owner of the surface property. That means Barrett now has to have the AVLT be a co-applicant in its request to build its water project south of Silt, she said. Circle B, which is a company owned by Barrett, bought the 280-acre property three years ago with the conservation easement already in place from a previous landowner. The AVLT received its conservation easement to the property, which is about 9 miles south of Silt, in 1997. Bill Mitchell, senior land man for the Barrett, has had brief, initial conversations with the AVLT over the matter, but added the company is going to "do what we have to do" to resolve the situation... Barrett's proposed facility will collect produced water from on-site and surrounding gas wells, separate oil and recycle the used water through a pipeline back into its operations, according to county records. The intent behind the project is to minimize wasteful disposal of water and the need for taking additional fresh water from the Colorado River... Martha Cochran, executive director of the AVLT, said that she didn't know whether there was any middle ground to come to an agreement with Barrett over the intent of its conservation easement on the property. She said it's their responsibility to uphold the terms of the easement, which was set by the donor. "I hope it doesn't get litigated," Cochran said. "It is a simple legal question. Once the facts are determined for both sides, then I think it is a pretty simple question of whether this type of facility is allowed or not. If an active mineral lease preceded the conservation easement, then the conservation easement would be subordinate to that lease." The conservation easement currently on the 280-acre property precludes industrial operations and auxiliary facilities like the one Barrett has proposed. The county has the ability to approve industry-related facilities through special-use permits. However, conservation easements can disallow industrial uses on a certain property regardless of the county's zoning regulations... The conservation easement for the property is meant to "preserve and protect" the scenic, natural and wildlife features of the property," the AVLT wrote to the county. The easement also prohibits change, disturbance or alterations that would impact the property's wildlife and scenic attributes, the organization says. "colorado water" 6:14:45 AM

© Copyright 2009 John Orr. Last update: 3/14/09; 10:21:28 PM.