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Wednesday, June 25, 2008
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Tamarisk Leaf Beetles are now being used to fight Tamarisk on the Lower Arkansas River Valley, according to The Lamar Ledger. From the article:
Sixteen thousand tiny residents arrived in Prowers County last weekend. The new residents were deposited at two locations about a half mile apart along the Arkansas River between Granada and Holly on Saturday on land owned by Rick Enstrom. The new residents are a variety of an Asian beetle that eats tamarisks, an invasive plant also known as a salt cedar. The beetles were released with the hope they would be able to put a dent in the region's tamarisk population. The majority of tamarisks in the state are located in the Arkansas River Basin.
Michael Daskam, the district conservationist for the Natural Resource Conservation Service's Holly office, said the release is the second in as many years, but varies from the previous year's release in both its size and timing. In 2007, Damask said his office released approximately 150 beetles during the fall. He said he was not sure if any beetles from last year's release made it through the winter, but was more confident Saturday's release would prove to be fruitful. "We got enough to get a good trial. We'll see if it's going to work," said Daskam.
The beetles typically take a few years to become established after being released said Daskam. Once the species is established, noticeable results are possible within a few years. The beetles control the tamarisk population by eating the plant's leaves, essentially defoliating the tree. After two to three years of being defoliated, the tamarisk plant will eventually die after exhausting its resources. The beetles are believed to only eat the tamarisk plants. The beetles have been used extensively in other states, especially Utah and Nevada, to reign in tamarisk problems. In a release inside the Colorado River Basin, the beetles have effectively cleared several miles of river bottom that had previously been infested with tamarisk.
More Coyote Gulch coverage here.
Category: Colorado Water
6:12:12 PM 
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From a press release from The EPA:
To protect our nation's water supply for future use, the Environmental Protection Agency is promoting and enhancing the market for water efficient products through the WaterSense program. The latest is a draft specification for water-efficient new single-family homes. The specification will create standards that new homes must meet to be certified and labeled as WaterSense homes. "WaterSense is a common sense ethic of efficiency for protecting water, America's most important liquid asset. WaterSense certified homes will help homeowners save water, money and energy, and communities will have an important new tool for sustainable growth and water efficiency," said Donald S. Welsh, regional administrator for EPA's mid-Atlantic region. The specification is designed to ensure sustainable, efficient water use, as well as a high level of performance and customer satisfaction. WaterSense labeled new homes will combine with other water efficient fixtures and practices to reduce water usage by approximately 20 percent. Homes earning the WaterSense label must meet criteria for indoor water use, outdoor water use, and homeowner education. Third party inspectors will certify that homes meet all the required criteria.
EPA is inviting public comment on the draft specification. The comment period will end July 21, 2008. Please send any comments or suggestions to watersense-newhomes@erg.com. For more information or to obtain a copy of the draft specification for water efficient single-family new homes, go to: http://www.epa.gov/watersense/specs/homes.htm.
Thanks to beSpacific for the link.
Category: Colorado Water
6:10:46 PM
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From The USGS: "Dr. Matthew C. Larsen has been named Associate Director for Water of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). In his Associate Director role, Dr. Larsen has programmatic responsibility for all water-related research and activities at the USGS. He will be responsible for water issues relating to flooding, water quality, drought, climate change and water availability. Larsen has been the leader of the USGS National Research Program in hydrology in his position of Chief Scientist for Hydrology since 2005."
Category: Colorado Water
6:10:05 PM
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Say hello to drought in southeastern Colorado along with abnormally dry conditions over most of the eastern plains. Governor Ritter is asking for federal help for Kiowa, Prowers, Baca and Bent counties, according to The Colorado Springs Gazette. From the article: "Gov. Bill Ritter today asked the federal government for drought relief assistance to help farmers and ranchers in Baca, Bent, Kiowa and Prowers counties in Southeast Colorado. In a letter to Lewis Frank, Colorado director for the Farm Service Agency within the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Ritter noted that 'In parts of southeast Colorado precipitation is as low as 19 percent of normal.' Ritter wrote, 'I am particularly concerned about the production of native pasture. I am hearing reports that ranchers are reducing their herds due to lack of pasture.'"
Thanks to the Water Information Program for the link. Here are some screen shots from the US Drought Monitor: January; April.
Category: Colorado Water
6:00:42 PM
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From Colorado State University: "CoCoRaHS, the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network, is celebrating its 10th year anniversary with a campaign to find 500 additional volunteers this year. Started in 1998 as a result of the 1997 Fort Collins flash flood, the network now has more than 10,000 observers across 33 states. State residents of all ages are measuring rainfall in their own yards, which is making a difference in providing accurate precipitation information to area weather scientists. For more information or to register as a volunteer, go to http://www.cocorahs.org/."
Category: Colorado Water
6:30:11 AM
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From 9News.com: "A newly drilled well is now pumping water from the Leadville Mine Drainage Tunnel (LMDT). The EPA says 1,000 gallons of water are being pumped per minute...The water travels down a 4,700 foot long pipeline to a water treatment plant, operated by the Bureau of Reclamation, before being released into the Arkansas River...The EPA proposes plugging the tunnel in several places once the water pressure is lessened from the pumping now underway."
Here's the EPA press release.
More Coyote Gulch coverage here and here.
Category: Colorado Water
6:23:19 AM
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From The Denver Post: "Desperate to save a reservoir that traditionally has supported one of Colorado's most superb warm-water fisheries, the Division of Wildlife found a way to purchase about 5,000 acre/feet of water, from the city of Aurora. The lifesaving drink that Nee Noshe craves currently is headed down the Fort Lyon Canal to the Amity Canal, which has been dry and collecting tumbleweeds for years. "The water is supposed to be delivered sometime this week. It could be on its way now," Jim Ramsay, the wildlife division's southeastern region fish biologist, said Tuesday. Water engineers say the 5,000 acre/feet of water would raise the playa lake back to 475 surface acres. It would be 18 to 20 feet deep at its deepest point. Ramsay said there's a chance the initial slug could be followed by another water purchase of 10,000 to 15,000 acre/feet. If that happens, Nee Noshe would fill to dead pool - the level just below outflow conduits."
Category: Colorado Water
6:19:15 AM
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© Copyright
2008
John Orr.
Last update:
7/1/08; 8:10:09 AM.
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