Wednesday, January 25, 2006

HB1124 Not everyone is happy with HB1124 - The Rotational Crop Management Bill, according to the Pueblo Chieftain. From the article, "Area water officials are leery of a bill that would allow water judges to approve rotational crop management contracts, or land 'fallowing' plans. While supporters have lauded the bill for allowing farmers to enter into contracts with cities to lease water, critics say the bill wouldn't allow anything not currently permitted under substitute water supply plans already in place. At worst, it could allow cities to 'cherry pick' senior water rights... "'This will keep more farmers on the farm because, what's happening now, cities are buying up whole farms and drying them up,' Hodge said. 'That takes the John Deere dealer out. It takes the school out. It takes a community out. This just allows people to stay in business. they can use water as a cash crop and they can still farm.' "While it's hard to argue with that sentiment, the bill does more than just present opportunities to farmers. It could also tie up senior agricultural water rights to benefit large cities while leaving diminished opportunities for other farmers, critics say... "Hodge said the current state rule that limits ag transfers to three years out of 10 does not give farmers enough flexibility. The bill would not eliminate the three-in-10 rule, but would allow some water rights to be leased more frequently under a court decree... "While the bill would limit water taken off the land to historical consumptive use, or the amount needed to raise a crop, it would allow farmers to continue to irrigate with the remaining water not used, if specified under a contract. Consumptive use credits are generally used as a yardstick now in substitute supply leases and water use change cases in court. The new law would apparently change how those are administered in rotational crop management contracts, however." Category: Colorado Water 6:57:44 AM     Colorado funds for cloud seeding Colorado is establishing a permanent fund for cloud seeding, according to the Rocky Mountain News [January 25, 2006, "Thirsty Colo. aims to harvest hope from the clouds"]. From the article, "Colorado plans to establish a permanent fund for cloud seeding in hopes of boosting water supplies at home and in other Colorado River Basin states. "Under a proposal by the Colorado Water Conservation Board, a $75,000 fund would be established this year to provide grants for those who wish to try their luck with the weather gods. "State water officials hope the program will grow, possibly through partnerships with water utilities and other western states hoping to increase water supplies by boosting mountain snowpacks... "In 2002, when the drought hit hard, 14 Front Range cities, led by Denver, raced to get a state permit to begin what would become the largest weather-modification program ever undertaken in Colorado, at a cost of about $1.2 million. "State water officials, researchers and water utilities hoped that the program would generate enough scientific evidence to determine conclusively whether seeding clouds can force them to produce more snowflakes than normal. "But the research failed to yield answers, in part because it didn't last long enough, and federal research funds ran out." Category: Colorado Water 6:47:10 AM     Governor Owens' picks for Interbasin Compact Committee From today's Denver Post: "Gov. Bill Owens named five of his six picks to the Interbasin Compact Committee on Tuesday, including an environmentalist and several prominent water users. "The legislature created the committee last year to promote discussion and cooperation on water-management issues and storage projects. "The committee will have 27 members representing the state's seven river basins and the southern and northern Denver metro areas. Lawmakers will name some of the members. "The governor's appointees include Rita L. Crumpton of Grand Junction, manager of the Orchard Mesa Irrigation District; Wayne Vanderschuere of Colorado Springs, water supply manager for Colorado Springs Utilities; Melinda R. Kassen of Boulder, director of the Colorado Water Project for Trout Unlimited; T. Wright Dickinson of Maybell, a Moffat County rancher; and Rich ard Eric Kuhn of Glenwood Springs, general manager of the Colorado River Water Conservation District." Category: Colorado Water 6:27:03 AM

© Copyright 2006 John Orr. Last update: 12/29/06; 11:02:37 AM.