Thursday, April 20, 2006

America's Most Endangered Rivers - 2006 American Rivers: "America's most endangered rivers - 2006." Category: Colorado Water 7:16:07 AM     Not one more drop Ken Neubecker (via the Vail Trail): "..while I am no supporter of trans-basin diversions, the cities on the east slope are not always 'the big enemy' Roger claims they are. The demand of the Front Range cities and the lower basin states isn't for 'our water.' Like it or not, it's for their water. Trans-basin rights from Eagle County and the Colorado River were acquired years ago through Colorado's prior appropriation system and interstate compacts. Often the system itself is as much an 'enemy' of streams as any particular diversion might be... "I agree strongly that the Colorado River from Kremmling to Dotsero needs established and enforced minimum in-stream flows. Even better would be a serious and effective flow management plan incorporating both flows and the hydrographic variation that a healthy river needs. Such a plan might allow existing rights, diversions and storage to co-exist with a healthy river system... "We are trying to move past the water wars. Hopefully, negotiation can resolve the water needs of Colorado as a whole, as opposed to warring fiefdoms divided by politics and mountains. The cry of 'not one more drop' makes great political rhetoric, but raising it now does not help. Water wars are long and costly, creating only greater divisiveness and wealthier lawyers. If we do return to a stance of 'not one more drop,' add Gypsum Creek to the mix. It would be a great thing if the Piney River were given Wild and Scenic status. The entire upper Colorado, from Rocky Mountain Park and Berthoud Pass to Glenwood Springs should be Wild and Scenic. Wild and Scenic designation doesn't mean that diversions would be stopped. Wild and Scenic is very different from wilderness, allowing current and historic uses to continue. Such designation wouldn't necessarily prevent a Wolcott reservoir filing with water from the Piney. Even RICD's (Recreational In Channel Diversions), while keeping water in a stream, are not for environmental needs. Any benefit to the environment from RICDs is simply a bonus. The rub is that only human use of water is considered valid. Nature, rivers, trees and wildlife have no real standing in our culture. Natural systems are second-class citizens with little recognition of a right to exist for their own sake. Rivers simply don[base ']t have the right to 'use' their own water, especially in Colorado. To suggest otherwise is blasphemy. It took a monumental court battle for Native Americans on reservations to be recognized as having 'senior rights' by being there first (Winters, 1908). At least Native Americans were finally accorded some standing as humans. Recognizing the rights of nature will take more than a court case or catchy political slogans." Category: Colorado Water 7:02:18 AM     Preferred Storage Options Plan The Preferred Options Storage Plan (PSOP) for the Arkansas Valley is the subject of this article from the Pueblo Chieftain. They write, "The PSOP proposal, sponsored by the Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District, already is embroiled in controversy after five years of attempts to come up with a bill that satisfies all Arkansas River water interests, as well as Western Slope concerns. A committee trying to craft a bill acceptable to everyone last week wrestled with concerns from U.S. Rep. John Salazar, D-Colo. The committee will look at the latest version of the law nextTuesday. The committee still must decide how to address concerns raised last month by Lake County Commissioners and a proposal by Southeastern President Wally Stealey to restructure funding of the study... "In late 2004, the Lower Ark District blocked an 11th-hour attempt to pass PSOP legislation, and in early 2005 enlisted the aid of Salazar and his brother, Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colo., to have their concerns drafted into legislation. Negotiations on a potential agreement related to PSOP have continued for the past 15 months, and have stalled again. Attorneys and representatives for nine parties in the negotiations will meet again next week to continue talks, Singletary said... "The Preferred Storage Options Plan was proposed in 2001 by the Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District to increase storage in the Arkansas Valley. Among its elements: Enlargement of Lake Pueblo and Turquoise Lake. Current legislation would authorize a $4 million feasibility study; Lake Pueblo could be enlarged by as much as 75,000 acre-feet; Cities west of Pueblo eventually would benefit from more storage in Turquoise; Long-term excess capacity contracts of up to 36,000 acre-feet in Lake Pueblo would provide a more firm source of supply for cities up and down the valley; PSOP legislation would formalize the Bureau of Reclamation's authority to contract for storage and exchanges with Aurora, even though the Denver suburb is not part of the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project; PSOP participants are Colorado Springs, Fountain, Security, Salida, Florence, Canon City, La Junta, Lamar, Poncha Springs, Pueblo West, Otero County, Pueblo Board of Water Works, Crowley County, the Upper Arkansas Water Conservancy District and the Southeastern District." Category: Colorado Water 6:37:27 AM

© Copyright 2006 John Orr. Last update: 12/29/06; 11:30:12 AM.