Coyote Gulch's 2008 Presidential Election

 












































































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  Sunday, August 31, 2008


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Senator Barack Obama has answered the top 14 science questions facing America put to him by the Science Debate 2008 people. Here's what he has to say about water issues:

Solutions to this critical problem will require close collaboration between federal, state, and local governments and the people and businesses affected. First, prices and policies must be set in a ways that give everyone a clear incentive to use water efficiently and avoid waste. Regulations affecting water use in appliances and incentives to shift from irrigated lawns to "water smart" landscapes are examples. Second, information, training, and, in some cases, economic assistance should be provided to farms and businesses that will need to shift to more efficient water practices. Many communities are offering kits to help businesses and homeowners audit their water use and find ways to reduce use. These should be evaluated, with the most successful programs expanded to other states and regions. I will establish a national plan to help high-growth regions with the challenges of managing their water supplies.

In addition, it is also critical that we undertake a concerted program of research, development, and testing of new technologies that can reduce water use.

We're wondering what a, "national plan to help high-growth regions with the challenges of managing their water supplies," would look like?

We hope it includes desalination in the southwest, near the oceans. Water could stay in the Colorado mainstem for environmental purposes or used by the lower basin states in areas distant from the desal plants.

We should revisit the de-commissioning of Glen Canyon Dam. The water loss from evaporation could be reduced by moving Upper Basin storage to Lake Mead. Less surface area, less evaporation.

The U.S.A. should explore the idea of prohibiting transbasin diversions. These are river killers. When water is used in the same basin, for irrigation or municipal uses some of the water is returned, not consumed. When water is transported, out of basin, all of it is gone from the originating basin forever.

We're seeing this type of thinking bubbling up from the grass roots. A good example is the Great Lakes Basin Compact and its approval by the Great Lakes States, Ontario and Quebec. They're planning to keep all water in basin.

According to Science Debate 2008 Senator McCain has agreed to answer their questions. No word about whether he's going to advocate teaching creation science in the schools as his soulmate has.

"colorado water"
11:12:09 AM    


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Gustav lost some of its power over western Cuba and is now a category 3 storm as it bears down on the Gulf Coast. It is moving faster and is now expected to make landfall midday Monday. Forecasters expect it to slow as it approaches the coast.

Watching coverage yesterday we noticed the usual mix of people willing to move to shelter and those that want to ride it out.

From The National Hurricane Center:

A HURRICANE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE NORTHERN GULF COAST FROM CAMERON LOUISIANA EASTWARD TO THE ALABAMA-FLORIDA BORDER...INCLUDING THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS AND LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN. A HURRICANE WARNING MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED WITHIN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS. PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY SHOULD BE RUSHED TO COMPLETION...

GUSTAV IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 16 MPH...26 KM/HR...AND THIS MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS WITH SOME DECREASE IN FORWARD SPEED EXPECTED ON MONDAY. ON THIS TRACK...GUSTAV WILL BE MOVING ACROSS THE CENTRAL GULF OF MEXICO TODAY...AND MAKE LANDFALL ON THE NORTHERN GULF COAST ON MONDAY.

REPORTS FROM AIR FORCE RESERVE AND NOAA HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT INDICATE THAT MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE DECREASED TO NEAR 120 MPH...195 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. GUSTAV IS A CATEGORY THREE HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE. SOME RESTRENGTHENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS...AND GUSTAV COULD REGAIN CATEGORY FOUR STRENGTH LATER TODAY OR TONIGHT. FLUCTUATIONS IN STRENGTH ARE LIKELY...BUT GUSTAV IS FORECAST TO REMAIN A MAJOR HURRICANE UNTIL LANDFALL.

GUSTAV IS A LARGE TROPICAL CYCLONE. HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 50 MILES...85 KM...FROM THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 200 MILES...325 KM. THE NOAA AUTOMATED STATION AT PULASKI SHOAL LIGHT FLORIDA RECENTLY REPORTED 2-MINUTE AVERAGE WINDS OF 51 MPH...81 KM/HR...WITH A GUST OF 60 MPH...96 KM/HR.

Good luck to y'all.

"colorado water"
8:40:59 AM    



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