Sunday, April 1, 2007

Global warming: The Earth is a beautifully complex system Here's a preview of the report on climate change due out Friday, from the Globe and Mail. From the article, "A key element of the second major report on climate change being released Friday in Belgium is a chart that maps out the effects of global warming with every degree of temperature rise, most of them bad. There's one bright spot: A minimal heat rise means more food production in northern regions of the world. However, the number of species going extinct rises with the heat, as does the number of people who may starve, or face water shortages, or floods, according to the projections in the draft report obtained by The Associated Press Some scientists are calling this degree-by-degree projection a 'highway to extinction.' "It's likely to be the source of sharp closed-door debate, some scientists say, along with a multitude of other issues in the 20-chapter draft report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. While the wording in the draft is almost guaranteed to change at this week's meeting in Brussels, several scientists say the focus won't. The final document will be the product of a United Nations network of 2,000 scientists as authors and reviewers, along with representatives of more than 120 governments as last-minute editors. It will be the second of a four-volume authoritative assessment of Earth's climate released this year. The last such effort was in 2001. University of Victoria climate scientist Andrew Weaver said the chart of results from various temperature levels is 'a highway to extinction, but on this highway there are many turnoffs. This is showing you where the road is heading. The road is heading toward extinction.'[...] "Despite that dire outlook, several scientists involved in the process say they are optimistic that such a drastic temperature rise won't happen because people will reduce carbon dioxide emissions that cause global warming. 'The worst stuff is not going to happen because we can't be that stupid,' said Harvard University oceanographer James McCarthy, who was a top author of the 2001 version of this report. 'Not that I think the projections aren't that good, but because we can't be that stupid.'" Category: 2008 Presidential Election 8:59:46 AM     Fryingpan-Arkansas legislation Well this ought to clear up the picture along the Arkansas River. U.S. Congressman John Salazar has introduced what he is calling, Fryingpan-Arkansas legislation, according to the Pueblo Chieftain. From the article, "A bill requiring a study of the cumulative impacts of Arkansas River basin water transfers before Lake Pueblo enlargement could be funded has been introduced in Congress. U.S. Rep. John Salazar, D-Colo., introduced legislation late last week to authorize a $10 million study by state agencies to look at cumulative social, economic and environmental impacts of past water transfers. A $4 million study looking at the feasibility of enlarging Lake Pueblo, or other parts of the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project, is authorized in the bill, but no construction could occur until the state impact study is complete. U.S. Rep. Marilyn Musgrave, R-Colo., will co-sponsor the legislation... "Besides the inclusion of a cumulative impact study, there are two important differences between Salazar's bill and earlier PSOP versions: "- Under the Fry-Ark bill, the project could be used only by water users within the basin to store non-project water, excluding water exporters like Aurora. The PSOP bill specifically allowed the Bureau of Reclamation to enter contracts with Aurora to export water from rights it owns in the valley. Existing contracts would not be affected under Salazar's legislation. "- The Fry-Ark bill does not mention PSOP as a preferred alternative for creating more storage in the Arkansas Valley. PSOP is the result of a study which began more than 10 years ago by the Southeastern district. Other agreements mentioned in PSOP legislation have been omitted... "Rep. Salazar is opposed to a 40-year contract now being considered between Reclamation and Aurora. Aurora would lease 10,000 acre-feet of excess-capacity space in Lake Pueblo and exchange up to 10,000 acre-feet per year under the contract. Aurora would use the contract to move water from rights it owns on the Rocky Ford Ditch and Colorado Canal, as well as future leases, out of the valley. Rep. Salazar, along with Reps. Mark Udall and Musgrave, has asked Reclamation to delay the contract until a full environmental impact study is done. Beyond that, Rep. Salazar has challenged Reclamation's authority to even enter into the contract, saying the Fry-Ark Project was intended to benefit the Arkansas Valley, not to fuel urban growth in the South Platte basin. 'Trying to keep the rural economy alive is a challenge, and without water, it's even worse,' Rep. Salazar said." The Pueblo Chieftain editorial board is in favor of the new legislation writing, "This legislation is a vitally important step toward saving the water of the Arkansas Valley. Ever since the idea of importing water to this basin began with a proposal to take unappropriated water from the Gunnison River, to the time when the Fryingpan-Arkansas Act was signed into law by President John F. Kennedy, the intention always was to aid the cities and agricultural irrigators in the Arkansas River basin, not any entity in the Platte River basin." More Coyote Gulch coverage of the Preferred Storage Options Plan and the Aurora Long Term Storage contract. Category: Colorado Water 8:40:59 AM

© Copyright 2007 John Orr. Last update: 5/1/07; 9:42:29 AM.