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Tuesday, January 22, 2008
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Come retirement Coyote Gulch will be drinking Dolores River water down in Montezuma County where we've purchased our old age home. We love Southwestern Colorado with the mountains, canyons and streams. There's a chance that some of those streams will carry and Wild and Scenic designation, including the Dolores, in the future, according to The Durango Telegraph. From the article:
The San Juan Mountains boast many of the West's finest rivers and streams, and yet the Wild and Scenic River designation has somehow eluded Southwest Colorado. That trend may be reversed in coming years, however. The San Juan Public Lands Center recently took a big step toward Wild and Scenic status for several of the region's streams and is now looking to the Durango community to pick up the charge...
The San Juan Public Lands Center recently released a draft management plan for Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management lands in Southwest Colorado. As part of that draft, the agencies evaluated the area's rivers and streams with a mind toward Wild and Scenic status. "For the first time, we're taking a complete look at possible Wild and Scenic Rivers on BLM and Forest Service lands in the area," explained Thurman Wilson, assistant manager of the San Juan Public Lands Center. In recent years, the agencies have undertaken an exhaustive search for "outstandingly remarkable values" on each of Southwest Colorado's rivers and streams. Those values can be biological, recreational, geologic or archeological. In its search, the San Juan Public Lands Center short-listed dozens of creeks and rivers in the region that have one or more values. The list included everything from the entire Animas and Piedra rivers to the water-deprived Lower Dolores and obscure creeks like Cinnamon, Deer Park and Molas. In recent months, the Forest Service and BLM took a sharper look at "suitability," shortening the list to rivers which actually stand a chance of gaining the prestigious designation. That short list includes stretches of the Los Piños, the Piedra, and the Lower Dolores River from McPhee to the town of Bedrock. "The Dolores, Pine and Piedra rivers were all studied back in the late '70s and early '80s and found to be eligible and suitable then," Wilson said. "With the recent work, we're affirming that they continue to be suitable for a Wild and Scenic designation."
A new, strong candidate for Wild and Scenic status also emerged in the agencies' study - Hermosa Creek. The stream just north of Durango boasted strong wild, scenic and recreational values and now represents one of the San Juan Mountains' best shots at a Wild and Scenic designation. "The big one that really pops out is Hermosa Creek," said Wilson. "It has never been studied before, but it has strong attributes and a good chance of making it through the process and becoming a Wild and Scenic River." Hermosa Creek has been on the Friends of the Animas River's wish list for many years, and Wegner noted that the population of Colorado River Cutthroat Trout in the stream and its tributaries is a strong argument for the designation. "I think Hermosa Creek and the tributaries that feed it have been on our radar for a long time," he said "That's largely because of the potential to restore native cutthroats in the drainage."
Thanks to The Water Information Program for the link.
Category: Colorado Water
9:13:01 AM 
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Here's an update on HB 08-1165 and HB 08-1161 from the The Telluride Watch. From the article:
Companion measures prompted by a fight over plans for an in-situ uranium mine in northeastern Colorado's Weld County were introduced last week in the state Legislature to bump up regulation of the industry. "We're on the verge of a new mining boom in Colorado, but it could leave behind a toxic legacy," said Rep. Randy Fisher, D-Fort Collins, in the official roll-out of House Bills 1161 and 1165. "We need to encourage responsible mining practices and ensure that Colorado's communities and our waters are protected."[...]
At the state level, HB 1161, with bi-partisan sponsorship, would require all in-situ leach mining of uranium to restore all affected surface and groundwater to its pre-mining quality. It also would require applicants for in-situ leaching mining permits to notify landowners within three miles of the affected land. The bill would allow the state's regulatory board to deny a permit if the applicant fails to demonstrate that the reclamation of both land and water will be accomplished. Sen. Steve Johnson of Fort Collins is the only Republican sponsor of the bill...
Only Democrats are sponsoring the more-pervasive HB 1165, which would increase the regulatory authority of the state's Reclamation, Mining and Safety Board over all hard rock mining in Colorado. Similar to last year's increased regulation on the oil and gas industry, HB 1165 would increase the size of the board to include the executive director of the Department of Public Health and Environment and at least one member representing local governments.
Stuart Sanderson of the Colorado Mining Association said the industry also is gearing up to oppose both bills. He was particularly critical of a provision he said would give local governments veto power over mining operations and technologies. "The (industry) has consistently supported strong state regulatory programs," Sanderson said. "We believe that decisions on matters of statewide interests such as the development of minerals should remain in the hands of technical experts with solid expertise and funding, rather than scattered throughout the various levels of local government." Sanderson called the regulatory bill an attempt to circumvent a pending case before the Colorado Supreme Court dealing with Summit County's ban on leach mining of gold...
Both bills were assigned to the House Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Natural Resources, chaired by Rep. Kathleen Curry, D-Gunnison. She said the bill dealing with water quality would be heard first, but the broader regulatory bill needs more work. "My strategy will be to look at the water bill first and tighten up the language in that," Curry said. "On the bigger questions of how do we structure the regulatory framework in general, I want to pull together some of the key players and thing about the long term." Neither bill has been scheduled for a hearing, but Curry indicated it could be several weeks before HB1165 is heard before her panel. "It's pretty far reaching so have to make sure it's done thoughtfully," she said. "I want to know whether we've roped in the whole hard rock industry with this. So we just need to start having the right group of players around the table talking before I'm going to run that second bill." Curry said, however, that she agrees the regulation of hard rock mining needs a legislative review. "Our focus has been more on the reclamation side and less on the process for the reclamation permit," she said. "We have to look at this as an industry that is going to be with us for years. It's statewide, it involves different types of technology, and I'm not going to be rushed into it until I feel like we've thought in through."
More Coyote Gulch coverage here.
Category: Colorado Water
8:20:29 AM
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Here's a short update on the potential Zebra mussel problem in Lake Pueblo, from The Pueblo Chieftain. From the article: "State parks and wildlife officials plan more testing at Lake Pueblo this winter to determine the extent of an infestation of zebra mussels...The mussels damage aquatic habitat and can clog pipelines. Pueblo, Pueblo West and the Fountain Valley Authority all have pipelines that connect directly to Lake Pueblo. The mussels usually spread by attaching themselves to parts of boats that are moved from one lake to another."
More Coyote Gulch coverage here.
Category: Colorado Water
8:01:48 AM
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The Northern Integrated Supply Project and it's planned reservoirs and reservoir expansion is meeting with a good deal of opposition. Here's an opinion piece with some background from The Fort Collins Coloradoan. From the article:
Projections show that the population could increase by almost 2 million people by 2030. Interestingly, there is enough water available to sustain that growth, but at what cost? If additional supplies are not made available, those new residents will use the agricultural water in our area and dry up 25,000 acres of the irrigated farmland we all enjoy living near.
The Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District has listened to those who don't want a dam on the main stem of the Poudre River that could provide more water. Instead, they have a creative solution to build the Glade Reservoir between the hogbacks north of Ted's Place (that's the intersection of highways 14 and 287 north of La Porte). They call this project the Northern Integrated Supply Project. There are 15 partners (water districts, towns, etc.) who have joined with the district to use the water, which will be diverted from the Poudre River during peak run-off, using existing structures. This water will create a lake larger than Horsetooth, which will add significant recreational opportunities for area residents. NISP will store Poudre River water that has been used for more than 100 years, in addition to that which usually escapes our area during high run-off years due to our lack of ability to store it. It will also provide a way to bank the water from wet years and release it during dry years for the benefit of Northern Colorado cities, towns and agricultural users.
So, what's the problem? NISP is being attacked by BANANA (Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anybody) Rebels. They fear that the Poudre River will dry up because water will be diverted from the river during low flow times, creating stink holes along the river course through Fort Collins. The NCWCD folks have pledged not to take water from the river during low flow periods, so the problem will be no worse than it is currently. Another criticism is that the diversion of water will keep the riverbed from being cleansed by maximum run-off events (better known as floods). In reality, the diversion structures and canals aren't big enough to divert a flood so those waters will continue downstream and scour out the river bottom just like they always have.
More Coyote Gulch coverage here and here.
Category: Colorado Water
7:54:53 AM
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From Marketwire, "Xynergy Corporation announced today it has selected Boulder, Colorado as the site for its flagship restaurant, anticipated to open sometime this summer. The restaurants will have a 'green' theme, and be powered by revolutionary generators featuring hydrogen power. The company is planning on designing the restaurant in such a way as to make the generators a focal point of the interior of each restaurant so as to highlight the technology.
"Boulder has long been associated with green, eco-friendly consumers and is a natural launching site for the Xynergy flagship restaurant. Rock Bottom Brewery, Old Chicago's Pizza, Spicy Pickle, and Noodles and Company are examples of national restaurant chains originating in Boulder. Xynergy Corporation is counting on its as yet un-named chain to enjoy the same fate. 'We will announce the name of our flagship restaurant in the coming weeks. We can only say that it will be a water themed restaurant and it will be powered by water. This is a truly revolutionary concept and as such will be handled with the utmost sensitivity relative to the release of information.'"
Category: Colorado Water
7:42:10 AM
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© Copyright
2008
John Orr.
Last update:
1/31/08; 9:22:07 AM.
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