Coyote Gulch

 



















































































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  Wednesday, June 18, 2008


? for President?

The Next Right channels Dr. Martin Luther King Jr: "Elections are about judging candidates by the content of their character and the quality of their ideas, not the color of their skin."

"2008 pres"
6:16:55 PM     


Climate Change: The earth is a beautifully complex system
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grist: "I have been reading Sean Casten's post on the economics of carbon pricing with interest. After some thought, here's my take. A carbon tax or a cap-and-trade system will, without question, raise the price of energy, at least in the short term. In the long-term, it may well be that technological developments lead us to new energy sources that turn out to be cheaper than anything we have today. But that's pure speculation."

Cheaper energy is not the whole picture in the conversation about policy around cap and trade or a carbon tax. It may be that the cost of reducing carbon in the atmosphere should be included in the cost of energy.

"2008 pres"
6:13:50 PM     


War on terror

Andrew Sullivan: "McCain, Obama, Gitmo: What are the substantive differences? Happily - really happily - not that big a gap."

"2008 pres"
5:56:34 PM     


Northern Integrated Supply Project
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Here's a recap of Monday's public meeting for the proposed Northern Integrated Supply Project from The Fort Collins Coloradoan. From the article:

Many of the 74 people who signed up to speak during the hearing opposed the proposal and asked that alternative solutions be considered for water conservation and usage. Many also expressed concerns for the vitality of the Poudre River. "It's not a sustainable solution," said Cordelia Stone, who lives in LaPorte. "Conservative measures need to be more thoroughly researched. It shouldn't just be about water as a commodity, but about saving our river."[...]

Various representatives from the 15 participating communities spoke Monday night about the need to prepare for growth in their areas and the importance to their communities of building Glade. "We feel this is a responsible way to handle a very scarce commodity," said Fred Burmont, a member of the Evans City Council. But Martha Roden of Fort Collins questioned the impact of growth on the area. "The problem may not be entirely water conservation but continued growth," she said. "When we don't adjust our habits, it's the environments that pay the price. We need to look at radically adjusting our behaviors." Dana Miller traveled from Buena Vista to the hearing Monday evening to speak in favor of the proposal. "I think with this project there's definitely a need that's been identified," she said. "I don't believe this project is excessive. I believe it's prudent at this point. ... I came from Buena Vista because I believe in this project, and I'd like to see a positive change for people along the Front Range."[...]

Most who spoke at the hearing also asked that the public comment period be extended at least 90 more days to allow more time to review the 700-page Environmental Impact Statement document. "I think that we all have a right to have time to review this enormous document to have a fair say in what is happening," said Catherine Thomas of Fort Collins, who said she opposed the project. NISP project manager Chandler Peter from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Steve Dougherty of ERO Resources, third party consultants for the project, attended Monday night's meeting. All comments made at forums this week will be added to comments submitted to the Corps of Engineers through July 30.

From The Longmont Daily Times-Call: "Another open house is scheduled from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday, followed by a public hearing, at the University of Northern Colorado Student Center, 2045 10th Ave., Greeley. For more information, call 970-532-7700."

The North Forty News asks What if NISP isn't built?. From the article:

So, what happens if the project isn't built? The largest impact of "no action" would be the loss of irrigated farmland in northern Colorado, since growing communities would buy up more water from agriculture. Chandler Peter of the Army Corps said it's hard to predict just how much ag land would be lost to production, but the agency estimates the loss at 33,600 to 69,000 acres. Project opponents, including the Save the Poudre Coalition, say that water conservation and efficiency, on the part of both cities and agriculture, could have a dramatic impact on water demand, thereby protecting the rivers and slowing the loss of ag land...

Both sides agree that, whether or not NISP is built, cities and towns will continue to buy up ag water for their thirsty residents. Brian Werner of the Northern Water Conservancy District, which is spearheading NISP, said more ag land will go out of production in any case, but he'd prefer that not all the demand for domestic water be satisfied by drying up agriculture. Peter said it would be a mistake for the public to think that "no action" means that everything--including the Poudre River--would stay the same. Communities would look for other ways to obtain drinking water, and many of those would still impact the river.

NISP proposes to use a junior water right on the Poudre, the Grey Mountain right, to fill Glade Reservoir. If the project isn't built, other entities such as Thornton could exercise their rights on the river that are junior to the Grey Mountain right. In that case, streamflow would decrease just as it would with NISP. Furthermore, Peter noted, there are ways to obtain the Poudre River water without building a reservoir. Existing canals and ditches could be used, with pipelines built to those canals. Projects such as those would not require Army Corps permits, Peter said, so the agency could neither scrutinize the projects nor require any mitigation. If the project fails, some entities might join forces to build pipelines, said NISP project manager Carl Brouwer. For instance, Thornton might be able to recruit partners for a pipeline from the Poudre. "No action just becomes a more scattered approach," said Brouwer. "There would be more dry-up and more pipelines built, done in a way that wouldn't require permits."[...]

The 12 NISP partners include the Fort Collins-Loveland Water District and Windsor. Officials from those entities spoke with the North Forty News recently about alternative plans if NISP isn't approved. Windsor has grown from a burg of 5,000 in 1990 to a city of almost 19,000 in 2008. According to Dennis Wagner, director of engineering for Windsor, if NISP isn't built the city will continue to buy up Colorado-Big Thompson water, as it has been doing for the past several years. C-BT water can be used for either ag or municipal needs. Windsor also owns shares of North Poudre Irrigation Co. water, which has both C-BT and ag components. Up until now, the city has rented the ag water back to farmers in the Wellington area...

The Fort Collins-Loveland Water District serves a wide area lying between Harmony Road and north Loveland. Its service area includes fast-growing Timnath, and district manager Mike DiTullio said he anticipates a need for 8,000 to 10,000 new taps in Timnath over the next 20 years. FCLWD has several plans for procuring more water if NISP isn't built. First, the district would continue to buy C-BT and NPIC water. The district is also a participant in the Halligan-Seaman project, which if approved would enlarge two reservoirs on the North Fork of the Poudre. In addition, the district is considering water storage in gravel pits now being mined in the LaPorte area. Like Windsor, the district owns shares of NPIC water, and without NISP DiTullio anticipates going to water court to use the ag portion of those shares. The loss of rental water for ag would be one of the most significant impacts of the "no action" alternative, DiTullio said. Also, the price of C-BT water would likely go up if the project isn't built. DiTullio said the absence of NISP would not slow development. The district could turn down developers, he said, but as long as water is available for purchase, he will go out and buy it. According to the NISP EIS, cost is another factor favoring NISP for the communities involved. The project is estimated to cost about $426 million, while procuring water under the "no action" alternative is estimated to cost about $830 million.

More Coyote Gulch coverage here and here.

"colorado water"
6:20:10 AM     


Middle Park Land Trust '3rd Annual Celebration'
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The Middle Park Land Trust is starting a new program to concentrate on preserving the rivers around Grand County, according to The Sky-Hi Daily News. From the article:

To continue its preservation goals throughout the county, the Middle Park Land Trust has started a program that focuses on area rivers. "It's the land-based side of water quality and quantity," said Adam Cwiklin of the local nonprofit Trust dedicated to working with landowners to conserve agricultural lands and open spaces. "The rivers are our identity and are some of our greatest resources in the county," he said. "The river corridors, ecologically, are the most productive land there is, probably 100 times more productive than a lodgepole forest."

Working hand-in-hand with private landowners, the Trust hopes to preserve lands that include river ways, a mile on each side, where mixed riparian shrubs and forests, upland sage, irrigated meadows and associated wetlands naturally thrive. Doing so, according to the Trust, can help protect water quality, maintain forest bio-diversity, protect scenic viewsheds and travel corridors, and help restore rivers in poor health...

Willing landowners who value conservation are able to realize significant estate and income tax benefits for qualified conservation contributions due to their public benefit to clean water, clean air and wildlife. Land under such easements, which are maintained in perpetuity, may still be mortgaged, sold or passed on to one's heirs.

Also from the article:

The Middle Park Land Trust's 3rd Annual "Celebration" takes place from 4-6 p.m. Sunday, June 22, at the Devil's Thumb Ranch Broad Axe Barn. The event celebrates the Trust's successes and hosts a silent auction to help the organization continue its work "for all residents and visitors today and in the future." Tickets are $50 per person, available at the Middle Park Land Trust in Granby, Streamside Art in Granby, Winter Park Market in Winter Park and Jack Straw Mountain Gallery in Grand Lake.

"colorado water"
6:02:48 AM     


BoulderFloodInfo.net
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Boulder is embarking on an education program about flood potential in the town, according to The Boulder Daily Camera. From the article:

"Boulder is the No. 1 flood-risk community in Colorado," said Cristina Martinez, a city civil engineer. "That's the message we want to get out there." Starting soon, a message to that effect will be displayed on bus-side billboards that urge residents to visit BoulderFloodInfo.net.

Boulder is currently re-evaluating the flood potential of several creeks that drain into the city so it can map where flood waters would flow. Martinez is overseeing the South Boulder Creek study, which has been submitted to the federal government for review. Studies of Boulder Creek, Four Mile Canyon and Wonderland Creek also are under way...

Preparing for a flash flood ahead of time is critical, because a wall of water could come out of the foothills with only 20 minutes' warning, said Jerry Tate, director of the Boulder County Office of Emergency Management...

For most people, the easiest and safest response to a flash flood is taking a quick walk to higher ground, Tate said. But that's not a realistic option for everyone, particularly elderly people or those with disabilities. Some people might be better off heading for the second story of their home, provided the building is sound, he said. Tate's office has spent the last year reaching out to "vulnerable populations" -- such as residents of senior living facilities -- to make sure they're prepared, he said. It's handed out about 300 "weather-alert" radios -- which receive emergency warnings -- to people who can benefit from them, he said.

Tate said he and other emergency responders have been taking lessons from the failures that accompanied Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, where people waited too long to leave and were stuck calling 911 for help that was days in arriving. Rescuers are going to be concentrating on keeping themselves out of harm's way during the initial flood, he said, so it makes sense for people who are able to take care of themselves to do so.

"colorado water"
5:55:37 AM     


Moffat County approves Yampa/White Basin water requirements study
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Here's a recap of a meeting yesterday of the Moffat County Commission, from The Craig Daily Press. From the article:

At its Tuesday meeting, the Moffat County Commission approved a contract with CDM for $201,377 to begin the study on behalf of the Yampa/White/Green Basin Roundtable. Jeff Comstock, Moffat County Natural Resources Department director, presented the contract to the commission. "It's important to note that the money will not be coming from the county," Comstock said. "It's provided by Basin Roundtable funds that have to be approved by the commission. The county is acting as a fiscal agent."

The study's objectives include refining and updating the previous estimates of current agricultural water demands, identifying and evaluating future shortages, assessing the impacts of climate change on water availability, and more.

"colorado water"
5:46:59 AM     



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