Thursday, February 15, 2007

Hook and bullet crowd New West: "Last year, I posted a column critical of the National Rifle Association's anti-habitat, anti-hunter policy, which is way different than anti-hunting policy. Other outdoor writers across the nation did the same. Now, I see a small sign that the most powerful lobby in America is starting to get it. "Washington Post reporter Blaine Harden (with contributions from Juliet Eilperin) recently interviewed several NRA executives and in reading their excellent article, it sure looks like group's starting to hear the chorus from their four million members and hunters who refuse to join until priorities change." Category: 2008 Presidential Election 7:07:35 PM     Pipe bombs found in the California Aqueduct U.S. Water News Online: "Authorities beefed up patrols and surveillance at critical points in the city's water system after pipe bombs were found in a portion of the California Aqueduct...Three pipe bombs were discovered near a valve in a portion of the California Aqueduct, which had been partially drained as part of a routine check for submerged objects. The California Highway Patrol said if the bombs had been triggered, they could have opened the valve and released water. A bomb unit detonated them in a safe area. It wasn't known if the bombs were placed in the aqueduct to intentionally disrupt California's water supplies, but Michaels said New York City wasn't taking any chances." Category: Colorado Water 6:52:54 PM     Grace Napolitano (Chair of the Energy & Water Subcommittee of the House Resources committee) to speak at Douglas Dems Clinton-Carter dinner All you water nuts should make the Douglas County Democrats 3rd Annual Clinton/Carter Dinner. The keynote speaker is Congresswoman Grace Napolitano (D-CA). From email, "Grace Napolitano is Chair of the Energy & Water Subcommittee of the House Resources committee, making her the leading House Democrat dealing with such crucial issues as renewable energy and western water supply. Category: Colorado Water 6:14:09 PM     Lower South Platte River Symposium From the Fort Morgan Times, "The 2007 Lower South Platte Water Symposium will be held March 7 at Northeastern Junior College in Sterling. Cost for the symposium is $20 prior to Feb. 21 and $35 after that date. Lunch is included. Registration will begin at 8 a.m. at the theatre in French Hall. Registration forms are available at the Morgan, Logan and Sedgwick Extension and NRCS offices. Those with questions or needing a registration form should call 970-345-0508 or 345-2287... "Alan Berryman of Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District will talk about the three-state agreement. Berryman has been involved with negotiations for Colorado with Wyoming and Nebraska. One the key concerns with water availability in the South Platte deals with the three-state agreement and the Endangered Species Act with protected species living on the Platte River system. Global warming and concerns over the potential for climate change have been in the news. What is the potential impact of climate change to Colorado and the Western United States water supply? Dr. Brad Udall, director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration at Boulder, will discuss the potential impact of climate change to the future of Colorado water supplies. Other topics will include changes in the river water supply, future of legislation regarding water, the regional impact of irrigation, Parker water and the Lower South Platte, a statewide water supply needs update and water conservancy districts and water rights." Category: Colorado Water 6:14:44 AM     Tailwater fishery below Pueblo Reservoir Here's an article about the tailwater fishery below Pueblo Reservoir from the Pueblo Chieftain. They write, "A local fly-fishing shop owner found dead fish and disappointed anglers on the Arkansas River last week after flows from Pueblo Dam were cut back. The problems have more to do with how fish were transferred and their adjustment to new conditions than lower flows, state wildlife officials say. In addition, a water lease with the Pueblo Board of Water Works will protect the habitat for fish in coming weeks, they say." Category: Colorado Water 6:04:43 AM     HB 1132 HB 07-1132 made it out of the Senate Agriculture, Natural Resources & Energy Committee, according to the Pueblo Chieftain. From the article, "The head of a Southeastern Colorado water district said Wednesday that although it's still very permissive and narrowly focused, a water quality bill approved by a Senate panel will go a long way toward protecting Colorado's rivers. John Singletary, president of the Lower Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy District, told the Senate Agriculture, Natural Resources & Energy Committee that linking water transfers and water quality has been a long time in coming. 'It's time that Colorado shows a leadership role in water quality as well as quantity,' Singletary told the committee, which approved HB1132 on a 6-1 vote. 'The real benefit long term is going to be the ability to look at water quality as a necessary issue in Colorado. I think the precedent really is going to be the position that water quality should take and will take in Colorado because it is such an invaluable resource,' Singletary said... "The bill, which is limited to permanent transfers of 1,000 acre-feet or more, requires a judge who chooses to consider that environmental impact to use standards set by the Colorado Water Quality Control Commission. Opponents to the idea in past years have come aboard this year, in part, because of fears that water court judges already have the ability to consider environmental damage and would apply their own standards to it rather than those set by the commission... "This year's measure has won wide support not only because newly installed Gov. Bill Ritter has said he will sign it, but also because it's been narrowed to apply only to permanent water transfers. As a result, lawmakers such as Sens. Greg Brophy, R-Wray, and Jack Taylor, R-Steamboat Springs, who voted against it last year, favored it in Wednesday's committee hearing... "Sen. Ted Harvey, R-Highlands Ranch, was the sole committee member who voted against the measure. The bill heads to the full Senate, but it is unknown when it will be scheduled for a debate. The bill overwhelming passed the House earlier this month." Category: Colorado Water 5:58:00 AM

© Copyright 2007 John Orr. Last update: 3/1/07; 6:55:05 AM.