Sunday, February 8, 2009

Cortez City Council to consider bids for town's micro-hydroelectric plant From the Cortez Journal: "The Cortez City Council is scheduled to meet at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10, at City Hall, 210 E. Main St., Cortez... "Officials will consider approving a bid from URS Corp. to provide the final design and construction service for the city's 2009 Micro-Hydro Electric Unit plan analysis with a power purchase agreement via Empire Electric Association. Purchase of equipment for the city's micro-hydro unit will be considered through Canyon Hydro in the amount of $456,800." More Coyote Gulch coverage here. Category: Climate Change News 8:35:26 AM     Fluoride dosing and the effects on infants Here's a perspective about fluoride dosing in drinking water, from Gordon McEvoy writing in the Denver Post. He writes: Fluoride is a highly toxic substance. Therefore, enamel fluorosis could be considered an early warning sign of more advanced fluoride poisoning, or a crippling bone disease known as skeletal fluorosis. The American Dental Association (ADA) now advises that infants through the first year should consume fluoride-free water, concluding that "more research is needed before definitive recommendations can be made on fluoride intake by bottle-fed infants." Furthermore, studies indicate fluoride may cross the uterus to the developing fetus. Various factors contribute to fluorosis in infants and children. First, this subpopulation is more vulnerable to toxins, such as pesticides. Data from the Environmental Protection Agency show that infants drink more water per pound of body weight than adults. The EPA also uses average adult weight as a starting point for determining maximum safe levels of fluoride. The allowable safe level of fluoride in tap water is higher than optimal target concentrations (doses that water plant operators "aim" for). Spikes of fluoride above the optimal target levels in public tap water do occur, as a result of unpredictable water plant treatment processes. Specifically concerning for Colorado residents, a community's average high temperature determines the target tap water fluoride concentration, assuming that people in warmer climates drink more water than in colder climates. The target dose for Dallas is close to 30 percent lower than Vail, for example. Colorado, however, is a relatively dry climate, with the highest mean altitude of the 50 states, two factors contributing significantly to dehydration. As it stands, infants swallowing fluoridated tap water in Colorado are, in some cases, receiving higher dosages than adults in warmer areas. Category: Colorado Water 8:17:58 AM     Southern Delivery System: Fremont and Pueblo county commissioners to weigh project this week Fremont County and Pueblo County are both holding meetings this week on Colorado Springs' proposed Southern Delivery System, according to a report from Chris Woodka writing for the Pueblo Chieftain. From the article: Fremont and Pueblo county commissioners will take up questions surrounding the Southern Delivery System at separate meetings... The project looks different in each county, but could have significant impacts for Pueblo County under either scenario. Under the Pueblo County route, there would be a large pump station added to the buildings already at the base of Pueblo Dam. The pipeline itself would cross seven miles of Pueblo West and another seven miles of Walker Ranches on the west side of Interstate 25. Flows would increase on Fountain Creek, both from more wastewater returns day-to-day and more intense floods aggravated by new development. The Fremont County route could deplete flows in the Arkansas River above and below Lake Pueblo, while flows in Fountain Creek would increase anyway. Colorado Springs Utilities say that while the river intake would be more costly, it is a feasible way to provide the water users in El Paso County with the water they need. Pueblo West would spend more to build its own river intake below Pueblo Dam if SDS goes through Fremont County. Fremont County commissioners will get their first look at SDS at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Fremont County Courthouse. Pueblo County commissioners will continue a public hearing that began in December at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Sangre de Cristo Arts and Conference Center... Pueblo County commissioners accepted Colorado Springs' application for a 1041 land use permit last year, and hired consultants Banks & Gesso to help articulate concerns about the impacts to Pueblo County. The consultants have relied on information made public in the Bureau of Reclamation's environmental impact statement, but have reached different conclusions than Reclamation. While the bureau said all seven alternatives have adverse consequences, all are acceptable and the alternative from Pueblo Dam causes the least damage. County staff is arguing that further mitigation is needed to offset the worst impacts. At a hearing last month, county staff outlined mitigation needed for the construction of the pipeline itself in terms of damage to property and roads. The tougher issues of water quality, lake levels, river flows, flooding and further damage to Fountain Creek are expected to be the major topics of Wednesday's meeting. More Coyote Gulch coverage here, here and here. Category: Colorado Water 8:12:00 AM     Greeley pipeline: Portion of old railroad bed named one of Colorado's most endangered historic places Here's some background regarding the historic nature of the remnants of a trans-continental railroad that landowners near LaPorte are using to block the construction of a proposed pipeline to serve the city of Greeley, from Kenneth Jessen writing for the Loveland Reporter Herald. From the article: Property owners Mary Humstone and Rose Brinks have worked hard to save two trestles and about 100 yards of track, the only remnant of the Greeley, Salt Lake & Pacific, dating back more than a century. This little bit of history is significant to Larimer County because it was part of a plan to build a transcontinental railroad up the Cache la Poudre River, over Cameron Pass and across North Park. So why is it endangered? The city of Greeley has proposed the construction of a 60-inch water pipeline right through the historic railroad right of way, which would result in the complete destruction of what little is left... There are 17 other routes for the pipeline, according to the engineering company hired by the city of Greeley; however, Greeley is determined to use the railroad right of way. In reaction to this, a petition was circulated, and the 2,000 signatures from area residents opposing its construction were presented to the city of Greeley More Coyote Gulch coverage here. Category: Colorado Water 7:57:41 AM

© Copyright 2009 John Orr. Last update: 2/12/09; 7:10:24 AM.