Tuesday, February 7, 2006

Rotational Crop Management Bill - HB1124 Here's a short article about HB1124 from the Montrose Daily Press. They write, "Agriculture interests in Colorado are divided over a bill that allows farmers to lease water but keep their land. "Called the Rotational Crop Management Bill, the legislation passed the state House Agriculture, Livestock and Natural Resource Committee last week on a 10-1 vote and will works its way through several other committees before a vote on the House floor. The senate is working on similar legislation. "Rep. Mary Hodge, D-Brighton, said the bill will help thirsty Front Range communities get new sources of water without taking land permanently out of production. "Under Colorado law, water is permanently tied to the land, so a sale of water requires the sale of land. With the proposed legislation, a farmer or group of farmers permanently rotate areas of land out of production. The decreased water usage would be purchased by municipalities and domestic water companies." Category: Colorado Water 5:49:33 AM     Snowpack According to the Pueblo Chieftain the snowpack picture is not as rosy statewide and in the southern mountains. From the article, "The statewide snowpack average has slipped just below the long-term average in Feb. 1 survey readings, and southern river basins are far below average snowpack. One survey site on La Veta Pass measured the lowest level for the date in the past 65 years. "Although the central mountains of Colorado have received some impressive storms in the past month, the statewide snowpack is only 86 percent of the Feb. 1 average last year and 99 percent of the long-term average... "Basin snowpack: Gunnison 97; Colorado 127; South Platte 112; North Platte 123; Yampa/White 128; Arkansas 100; Rio Grande 43; San Juan, Animas, Dolores 54; Statewide 99." Category: Colorado Water 5:35:53 AM     Moab tailings cleanup? This year's proposed federal budget is falling short in removing radioactive mine tailings from the banks of the Colorado River near Moab, according to the Salt Lake Tribune. From the article, "People who want the Moab uranium tailings cleaned up from the banks of the Colorado River say President Bush's budget proposal for their project just won't do. "The president's budget for next year includes $22.8 million for planning and beginning the removal of about 18 million tons of uranium processing leftovers, a volume roughly 1 1/2 times the rubble removed from the World Trade Center collapse in New York. "The pile, which sits on the edge of the Colorado River north of Moab, leaches ammonia and other contaminants into water used by about 25 million people downstream in four states. "Last year, the Energy Department announced plans to haul the pile by train more than 30 miles north to Crescent Junction at an estimated cost of around $470 million. But the president's budget proposal contained less money for next year than the budget for this year. "'Oh, no. We need twice that much next year,' said Judy Carmichael, vice chair of the Grand County Council, who predicted any delays beyond the eight-year estimated timetable would add to costs." Past Coyote Gulch coverage of the issue here. Category: Colorado Water 5:26:35 AM

© Copyright 2006 John Orr. Last update: 12/29/06; 11:06:36 AM.