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Sunday, June 29, 2008
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Larimer County flood program
Here's a look at the recent FEMA report on flooding potential in Colorado, from The Fort Collins Coloradoan. From the article:
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has labeled Larimer County and six other Colorado counties as high-risk flood areas but found little work to be done in Fort Collins and Larimer County. A FEMA spokesman said the classification, made during a recent maps modernization project for the region, does not mean the entire county is in imminent danger or that recent changes led to the categorization. But be-cause of its flood history and high population, Larimer County was made a priority by FEMA as it went through the process of modernizing its flood maps to match the current conditions of the county...
Since the 1997 flood, Fort Collins has obtained a FEMA Community Rating System of 4 on a scale of 10, with 10 being poor. Out of 66 percent of the communities in the National Flood Insurance Program, Fort Collins is one of three communities with a ranking of four or better. Fort Collins' CRS number means residents required or choosing to have flood insurance save 30 percent on their annual insurance premium. "Fort Collins has one of the best managed flood plain programs you'll find in the country," said Kevin Houck, a state engineer who worked with FEMA on its map modernization project. Not only does Fort Collins have a solid Community Rating System number, but the Dry Creek flood plain was recently reduced in size after completion of the city's Dry Creek Flux Control project in north Fort Collins.
"colorado water"
5:03:51 PM 
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Cotter domestic water-use survey Canon City
From The Cañon City Daily Record: "As of Wednesday, Cotter Corp. had received 226 post cards back from property owners in connection with its water-use survey and is encouraging the remaining property owners to return their cards. Cotter sent out about 950 letters and response cards to Lincoln Park property owners. The cards ask property owners to tell Cotter if there is a well or spring on their property and if those wells or springs are in use for domestic purposes inside the home. Phil Krauth, a Cotter representative, told the Community Advisory Group on Thursday that of the 226 cards returned so far, 20 property owners said they had wells and four said the wells were in use domestically. Cotter will offer city water hookups to those property owners who are using their contaminated well water domestically. The company will also sample all the wells and springs within the survey area to determine the reach of the contamination plume."
More Coyote Gulch coverage here.
"colorado water"
4:55:48 PM
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EPA issues new rule on diversions
From The Washington Post: "A Florida environmental group sued the Bush administration Friday over a recent decision to allow water to be transferred without a permit. Water is routinely moved from reservoirs, rivers and lakes into other waterways for drinking, irrigation and other uses. While the discharge of pollutants into water from a pipe or other "point source" needs a permit under the Clean Water Act, the Environmental Protection Agency on June 9 said the requirement would no longer apply to water transfers, even though the water could contain contaminants. The Florida Wildlife Federation, which filed the suit in U.S. Circuit Court in Atlanta, argues that the decision will allow contaminated water to enter pristine waters. 'We are seeking to invalidate the rule. This will have terrible consequences all over the United States,' said David Guest, director of the Florida office for Earthjustice, which is representing the federation in the case."
More Coyote Gulch coverage here.
"colorado water"
4:44:49 PM
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Gun control
Western Democrat: "On June 26th the Supreme Court upheld the personal right to keep and bear arms. In much of the West, this ruling will have little effect, because that right is already reflected in local laws." Heh.
"2008 pres"
11:10:10 AM
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Northern Integrated Supply Project: Larimer County public hearings coming up
For those of you interested in the proposed Northern Integrated Supply Project here are a couple of upcoming meetings. Thanks to Save the Poudre for the heads up.
7:00 pm Wednesday, July 9th
Larimer County Commissioners Public Hearing
Northern Integrated Supply Project (NISP)
County Courthouse, 200 W. Oak Street
6:30 pm Wednesday, July 16th
Larimer County Planning Commission Public Hearing
Proposed 1041 Regulation - new powers for the county to require permits prior to state or federal permitting of large projects
County Courthouse, 200 W. Oak Street
"colorado water"
10:51:54 AM
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Leadville Mine Drainage Tunnel: H.R. 5511 passes U.S. House
From The Leadville Chronicle: "The Leadville Mine Drainage Tunnel (LMDT) debacle has now gone all the way to Congress. The House of Representatives passed a bill June 19 directing the Bureau of Reclamation to take full responsibility for the LMDT's present and future needs. Bill H.R. 5511 was co-sponsored by Congressman Mark Udall (D-Eldorado Springs) and Doug Lamborn (R-Colorado Springs)."
More from the article:
The bill is now on its way to the senate. U.S. Senator Ken Salazar is sponsoring a similar version that, if passed, would reconcile with 5511.
"If Salazar's bill passes, we would 'rubber stamp' the compromise," said Lamborn, "I think we're on our way to a solution to the problem in Leadville...I'm very excited." It will be an expensive ownership for the BOR, with estimated costs totalling up to $90 million. At this point, most of the work to remove the water backed up in the tunnel is done. The BOR began pumping water from the LMDT to a water treatment plant on June 19. Permanent parts are still on order for the pumping project underway, and the reclamation of the affected area is still to follow. Udall expressed the expectation that federal appropriations should be made available to the BOR for financial assistance, though none have been made yet.
More Coyote Gulch coverage here and here.
"colorado water"
10:40:04 AM
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Rainwater catchments
Here's a Denver Post perspective on making homeowners senior in priority for the purpose of allowing them to collect runoff from stormwater. From the article:
So Kris did what thousands of farmers before her have done: She applied for a water right. Except instead of seeking to divert water from a stream, she sought to collect rain that fell upon the roof of her house and greenhouse. To her surprise, the state engineer opposed her application, arguing that other water users already had locked up the right to use the rain. The Colorado Water Court agreed, and Kris was denied the right to store a few barrels of rainwater. If she persisted with rain harvesting, she would be subject to fines of up to $500 per day...
The problem arises because Colorado's Supreme Court has given an expansive interpretation to the term "natural stream" and coupled that with a presumption that all diffused waters ultimately will migrate to groundwater or surface streams. And because most streams are overappropriated, collecting rainwater is seen as diverting the water of those who already hold rights to it. How is a roof a "tributary"? Applying this legal fiction to Kris Holstrom's effort to grow food at home, the state engineer argued that her roofs were "tributary" to the San Miguel River. Because the San Miguel River is "on call" during the summer months, Kris's rain catchment would, the state engineer argued, "cause injury to senior water rights." The court agreed, even though there was no proof that the water dripping from Kris's roof would ever make it to the river...
If Kris wanted to collect rainwater for her gardens, she'd have to pursue an augmentation plan and convince the state engineer and water court that she could replace 100 percent of the precipitation captured. Not only did she have to return to the stream every drop of rain she collected, she would have to pay for a complex engineering analysis to prove that her augmentation water would return to the stream in a timeframe mimicking natural conditions.
More Coyote Gulch coverage here.
"colorado water"
10:06:35 AM
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Harris Sherman: The answers have been thoughtful and insightful
Here's a Denver Post guest commentary from Harris Sherman, the executive director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources. His subject is the wise use of water. Coyote Gulch would remind readers that "wise use" is in the eyes of the beholder but we think it's wise that he is pushing the state roundtable process as the means to solve Colorado present and future water problems. He asks his favorite question when dealing with water issues, "What do we want Colorado to look like in 50 years?"
More...
How does our use of water, an increasingly limited resource, tie into our vision of Colorado? And, what will Colorado look like if we don't have a clear statewide vision and strategy for sharing water? These are questions I've been asking Coloradans as I travel around the state. They are questions I have put to the members of the Interbasin Compact Committee, or IBCC, and the nine River Basin Roundtables, two statewide groups of water leaders created by the legislature to address issues between basins and provide a permanent forum for broad- based water discussions. The answers have been thoughtful and insightful...
Farmers and ranchers from the West Slope and the Eastern Plains, Front Range water providers, and environmentalists are all uneasy about Colorado's future if we let water-supply development continue as it has. That is why the IBCC is creating a vision for Colorado's water future. The process is just starting, but some common elements have emerged. Colorado's water should be developed and managed in a way that supports the strong and diverse Front Range economy that is key to a sustainable state economy. We should ensure viable and sustainable rural economies whether they are based on farming, recreation or energy. The vision should recognize the strong connection between land use and water planning. It should consider the pressures facing the headwaters' communities as they try to meet their own water supply needs while sustaining the state's environmental and recreational values. As we create this vision, we will also develop strategies for achieving it. We will look at how we can increase water conservation and how we can get all water users in Colorado to adopt Denver Water's slogan of "Use only what you need."[...]
I encourage all Coloradans to provide your input to the members of the IBCC and the nine Basin Roundtables. To stay updated on our progress, go to www.ibcc.state.co.us.
"colorado water"
9:45:40 AM
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© Copyright 2009 John Orr.
Last update: 3/14/09; 10:23:52 PM.
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