Friday, September 22, 2006

Intersex fish Boulder is recommending against disposing of medications, especially those containing hormones, by dumping them in the sink or toilet, where they may get into the effluent from water treatment plants. From the Colorado Daily: "The county asked locals not to dispose of excess or expired medications, 'particularly those containing hormones,' by dumping them in the sink or in the toilet. This is not exactly news, but many scientific studies now suggest fish downstream from wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) may develop 'intersex' characteristics - and products containing hormones may be among the culprits. Dr. David O. Norris, director of the Environmental and Comparative Endocrinology Laboratory at CU-Boulder, is among a number of researchers worldwide looking into the alarming situation. Norris and a CU research team recently produced written work on intersex and other reproductive disruptions found in fish from Colorado streams. The team, in part, collected samples of white suckers in the Boulder Creek from both downstream and upstream of Boulder's WWTP to test the sex characteristics of the fish. For example, two 2002 fish samples suggested severe imbalances between male and female downstream populations. A spring 2002 sample of 21 fish only had one male, while a fall 2002 sample of 39 fish had 30 females, four males, four intersex fish - and one from which 'no identifiable gonad tissue' was recovered." Category: Colorado Water 6:04:56 AM     National Pollution Prevention Week Coyote Gulch missed the fact that this week is National Pollution Prevention Week. From the website, "National Pollution Prevention Week is the third full week in September each year. This week is an opportunity for individuals, businesses, and government to emphasize and highlight their pollution prevention and sustainability activities and achievements, expand current pollution prevention efforts, and commit to new actions. National Pollution Prevention Week is the time when businesses, environmental groups and citizens can join forces for a common cause. By sharing information about pollution prevention (P2), businesses can become more competitive, businesses and government can realize cost savings, and environmental quality can be enhanced." Category: Colorado Water 5:57:06 AM     First in time, first in right Here's a short update about the water situation up on the South Platte River from the Rocky Mountain News. From the article, "Millions of dollars of crops in northern Colorado were left to die after three cities and farmers dependent on the water rejected an emergency plan that would have allowed well owners to continue pumping. Farmers like Steve Bruntz, who depends on the wells for his livelihood, said the state gave permission to pump the water and then took it away. He said farmers only took what belonged to them. Tom Cech, manager of the Central Colorado Water Conservancy District, said it's not fair to blame well owners for the region's water woes. He blamed a drought that began in 2002 for the lack of water in the river the past three years. 'Common sense says its bouncing back from the drought in 2002. To lay it all on junior water rights seems a little extreme to me,' he said. But Ken Scalva, who farms 130 acres of corn and hay near Atwood, said if the wells remain shut off, he's confident he can get a better crop next year. "To make sure, farmers who depend on the river have formed a coalition called the Senior Water Rights Association. It will oppose any attempts by state lawmakers to change the doctrine of prior appropriation that gives those with the oldest claims first rights to the water." That seems a bit paranoid to us. Coyote Gulch has not heard any sentiments to change the doctrine of prior allocation. All western water law stems from, "First in time, first in right." Talk about a water grab. Category: Colorado Water 5:41:48 AM

© Copyright 2006 John Orr. Last update: 12/29/06; 12:13:42 PM.