SNOWPACK CONDITIONS
Snowpack in Colorado remains mostly the same as last month with some improvement recorded in the South Platte Basin.
The figures are based on snow/water equivalent of average: Gunnison, 83%; Upper Colorado, 84%, South Platte, 84%; Laramie/North Platte, 79%; Yampa/White, 83%; Arkansas, 92%; Upper Rio Grande, 108%; and San Miguel/Dolores/Animas/San Juan, 96%. The Western States Water Council is asking the Administration to request almost $12 million in FY 2002 to maintain the NRCS’s Snow Survey and Water Supply Program. The USGS is spending about $14 million to maintain its cost-shared Streamgaging Network. The satellite telemetry component of this program provides instream flow data as well as advanced flood warnings.
SB 01-216, RECREATIONAL IN-CHANNEL DIVERSIONS
A “late” bill was just introduced to give the Colorado Water Conservation Board more authority over recreational water right applications. The bill:
* would limit recreational in-stream diversions to a county, municipality, city and county, water district, water and sanitation district, water conservation district, or water conservancy district
* would require the applicant to submit the application to the CWCB before it goes to water court so the CWCB can make a recommendation to the court whether it should be granted, granted with conditions or denied.
* would subject an in-channel diversion to a public interest review no other water right is subject to with the catch-all phrase, “The CWCB shall consider such other factors as may be determined appropriate.”
* would reverse the Supreme Court ruling that says only perfected rights should be considered when evaluating a new water right application and not conditionals
* would prohibit a conditional right to be changed to an in-channel diversion
* would be retroactive, affecting applications already pending in water court. (Besides affecting the Golden application, it would also capture applications already filed by Aspen, Eagle River Water and Sanitation District (Vail) and Breckenridge.)
The implications of this bill are that it would: deny a constitutional right of every citizen to divert water for beneficial use; infer exclusive jurisdiction over water matters granted to water judges by statute; and likely bring the CWCB instream flow program to a grinding halt while the Board promulgates rules and then institutes a hearing process for recreational applications. The bill can be read at <http://www.leg.state.co.us/2001/pubhome.nsf>
WQCC DISMISSES APPEAL OF ARAPAHO SKI AREA SNOWMAKING 401 CERTIFICATION
The Colorado Water Quality Control Commission has ruled they do not have the authority to make an unfavorable decision on the effects of the snowmaking water right’s affect on water quality because of the limits of 25-8-104 (CRS).
Section 104 says that water quality can not interfere with the exercise or development of water rights. Based on this decision, Trout Unlimited and Colorado Wild have filed a judicial appeal in Summit County District Court claiming the Water Quality Control Commission and Division did not following correct procedures under the Administrative Procedures Act and Colorado statute interferes with the purpose and intent of Clean Water Act. Trout Unlimited is concerned about the loss of habitat, over-winter mortality of fish and contends the Commission could have required mitigation without interfering with the water right.
The McCarren Amendment, adopted by Congress in 1952, delegated the responsibility of allocating water to the states. Since then, Congress has passed several pieces of environmental protection legislation that conflicts with this authority given to the states. This will be an interesting case to follow in that it highlights the conflict among federal laws and between federal and state laws and could have a bearing on how the Clean Water Act is implemented throughout the US.
UPPER ARKANSAS WATER CONSERVANCY DISTRICT TO HOLD ELECTIONS
Citizens in the Upper Arkansas Basin is following the lead of those in the Upper Gunnison in asking the court to order election of district Board members. Besides reporting on the pending election, Ed Quillen has used the April edition of Colorado Central Magazine to provide a comprehensive background on conservancy districts. [I strongly urge anyone interested in Colorado water politics to give it a read.]
<http://www.coloradocentralmagazine.com/archive/archive.htm>
INSTREAM FLOW ACQUISITION
For the first time in the history of Colorado’s Instream Flow Program, the CWCB is requesting funds ($75,000) from the legislature to allow them to acquire water rights where no water is available to make new appropriations. Of the monies available to the CWCB from the Severance Tax Trust Fund Operational Account, the Board is seeking permission to acquire or lease senior rights where that is the only option because of the limited water availability in developed areas of the state.
GOVERNOR APPOINTMENTS
Gov. Owens has nominated Martha Rudolph, Paul Grundemann and Chris Wiant (reappointment) for appointment to the Colorado Water Quality Control Commission. Once confirmed, the composition of the Commission will be 3 water lawyers, 1 dairy farmer, 1 vegetable farmer, 1 potato farmer, 1 rancher, 1 engineer and one consultant.
The Governor has nominated Greg Hoskin from Grand Junction, David Smith (reappointment) from Meeker and Carolyn Mcintosh from Denver for the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB). Two current members seeking reappointment were not nominated. They are Eric Kuhn, manager of the Colorado River Water Conservation Board and Patty Wells, chief attorney for Denver Water Board, two of the most respected water leaders in the state.
DRY CREEK FLOOD CONTROL PROJECT
The CWCB plans to initiate a study in Larimer County on the feasibility of a multi-million dollar flood control project that would remove a substantial amount of homes and property from the regulatory 100-year floodplain of Dry Creek.
SUPREME COURT HEARS KANSAS VERSUS COLORADO
After Kansas rejected Colorado’s offer to pay back the 428,005 af owed Kansas for under-delivery of water in the Arkansas River from 1950-1996 with supplemental water deliveries, Kansas asked for $57 million. Colorado countered with $9 million. The water master suggested $38 million. The master said, “the damages should be based upon Kansas’ loss rather than any gain to Colorado, subject to the overriding consideration that the remedy provide a fair and equitable solution.” The Justice Department has filed a brief with the high court supporting the water master’s recommendations. An issue debated in oral arguments was whether and how much interest should be paid on the amount of the damages. It is now up to the Supreme Court to decide.
WATER REUSE
Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-CO) introduced S.491, a bill to amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate in the design, planning, and construction of the Denver Water Reuse project. Read the bill at <http://thomas.loc.gov/>
N. PLATTE RIVER AGREEMENT
A recent agreement limits irrigation from the North Platte River by Wyo. while allowing Neb. to retain its right to 75 percent of the river’s flow.
And while the Nebraska A.G. claims the deal is a win for his state, a Wyo. attorney says it only maintains the status quo. Billings Gazette (AP); March 19
<http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?section=wyoming&display=content/wyoming/2water.inc>
AMIMAS/LA PLATA UPDATE
A secret meeting (no public notice and no public was invited) was hosted by Reclamation on 3/8 in Durango. One of the next steps discussed was the need to re-negotiate the cost sharing agreement, taking into account a smaller project. The CWCB has more than $5 million allocated for its portion and the Colorado Water and Power Authority has about $42 million set aside. About 5,200 af of water is allocated for the state which could cost as much as $18 million to develop. If the Tribes are allowed to develop this water the state could contract with the Tribes to hold this water until future needs develop. This water is in addition to the 2,600 af of storage allocated for municipal and industrial use by non-Indians. [It looks like all of the non-tribal interests might just let the federal government build the whole project and then just lease tribal water, making federal taxpayers subsidize all future water use in SW Colorado and NW New Mexico.]
A BUMPY ROAD FOR RECOVERY PROGRAM
The Upper Colorado River Recovery Program for endangered fish has run into some obstacles. Both Colorado’s Attorney General, Ken Salazar, and Director of the Department of Natural Resources, Greg Walcher, are criticizing the Program for its goals. Instead of having water flows, habitat protection, restoration and fish population as goals, the Colorado representatives seem to want goals that set only fish population numbers as goals.
On another but similar front, the flow recommendations for the Gunnison River do not have consensus support from the Biology Committee. Several minority reports seem to misinterpret the Recovery Implementation Plan (RIP). In the RIP, it gives the USF&WS the responsibility to propose scientifically based flow recommendations.
Floodplain habitat needs are an independent but related subject to flow recommendations. The minority reports suggest floodplain habitat needs can be met by breaching levees but not changing historic flow patterns.
The flow recommendations include flows that provide channel maintenance and enhancement of the floodplain habitat. Whether the flow recommendations are achievable should not be used as a criticism for the scientific basis of the recommendation. The Management Committee has the responsibility to make the hard choices of how to implement the recommendations.
On 2/24, several mechanical failures resulted in the loss of 30,000 1-year-old razorback suckers at the hatchery near Grand Junction. A pump ceased to re-circulate water properly in the fish tanks, a pressure-sensing device did not activate an emergency backup oxygen system and an alarm to alert hatchery staff failed. More than 51,000 razorback suckers remain unaffected, though.
PROTECT HABITAT TO FORESTALL RESTRICTIONS
Various stakeholders in southern Colorado’s San Luis Valley are teaming up to push Congress to “preserve and restore riparian wetlands” along a 33-mile stretch of the Rio Grande just north of the New Mexico border says the Denver Post 3/22. The unusual coalition includes environmental groups, water users, local government as well as state and federal agencies, and wants the “natural area” designation to stop cattle from further damaging the riparian corridor and to forestall other restrictions on private land use to protect the endangered southwestern willow flycatcher.
MEXICO AGREES TO PAY BACK WATER TO TEXAS
The 1944 Treaty with Mexico, besides requiring the US to deliver 1.5 maf of water to Mexico in the Colorado River, also requires Mexico to deliver 350,00 af of water in the lower Rio Grande. Mexico has fallen behind in those deliveries to the tune of 1.4 maf. In an agreement worked out between Presidents Bush and Fox at their February meeting at Fox’s ranch in San Cristobal in February and finalized last month, Mexico has agreed to deliver 600,000 af during this growing season and will agree to a pay-back of the rest of the water due by the end of this year.
<http://www.austin360.com/local/partners/aas/legislature/032001/water.html>
DO THE RIGHT THING: SAVE THE RIO GRANDE MINNOW
What is the cost of saving the endangered Rio Grande silvery minnow? For years, environmentalists and irrigators have battled over the Rio Grande’s dwindling waters. But ultimately, state officials and irrigators should recognize that the minnow’s survival is not just a question of law, but ethics. Albuquerque Tribune; March 21
SUPREME COURT MIGHT APPLY CLEAN AIR REASONING TO RIO GRAND WATER
The U.S. Supreme Court’s recent ruling that the EPA can set air pollution limits without regard to their economic cost looms large in New Mexico’s fight over Rio Grande water and the endangered silvery minnow. Albuquerque Tribune; March 26
SILVERY MINNOW NEGOTIATIONS COLLAPSE
Efforts to reach a mediated settlement in a federal lawsuit over keeping enough water in the middle Rio Grande to save the endangered silvery minnow have collapsed says the Albuquerque Journal 3/29. Citing “irreconcilable differences,” environmentalists, federal water managers, the state of New Mexico, city of Albuquerque and irrigators will now be headed to court as “each party firmly believes no additional concessions can be made.” A short-term agreement during last summer’s drought provided enough water to save a few of the minnows but this summer will likely present new challenges in saving the imperiled fish.
STATE, IRRIGATORS BICKER OVER EFFICIENCY OF RIO GRANDE DIVERSIONS
State officials ordered the Middle Rio Grande water district to take only the water it needs from the river, noting that only 22 percent of its diversions actually water farm fields. But district officials say the water they don’t use recharges the river later. Albuquerque Tribune; April 2
LOWER COLORADO WATER ACCOUNTING
Now that the Surplus Criteria have been finalized allowing California 15 years to wean itself of excess water deliveries above their 4.4 maf allotment, Reclamation is now focused on fine-tuning the way it accounts for water use in the Lower Basin. The Bureau of Reclamation has proposed a rule that delineates how inadvertent overruns are to be paid back. Reclamation is also developing a rule to fine-tune how it accounts for consumptive use of riparian vegetation. Although the rule does not contemplate requiring the Lower Basin states to be responsible for evaporative losses from Lake Mead, water used to restore habitat under the Multispecies Conservation Program (MSCP) will likely have to come out of someone’s allotment. As a possible source of water and a restoration project for the MSCP, the Board of the Cibola Valley Irrigation and Drainage District has indicated a desire to enter into exploratory discussions associated with the sale of the entire district.
HCP KEY TO LETS MAKE A DEAL
Negotiations are underway between the USFWS and various Southern California water agencies on what mitigation measures would be included in a habitat conservation plan (HCP) needed for the transfer of water from Imperial Valley irrigators to urban water users in San Diego says the Imperial Valley Press 3/15. The transfer of irrigation water would impact habitat in the already ailing Salton Sea as well as long-term plans to wean Southern California from using more than its allotment of Colorado River water.
WYOMING STUDY SAYS COAL-BED METHANE WATER CAN BE TREATED
Water pumped from coal-bed methane wells is not toxic, according to a two-year study by University of Wyoming professors, though treatment and monitoring are required to prevent reactions with some soils. “Two years ago, I saw people say ‘this water is OK,’ and drink straight from the well, and I didn’t think that was too scientific. But I saw the same gentleman two years later and he didn’t die. So, at least it’s not toxic.”– Quentin Skinner, one of two University of Wyoming professors whose two-year study concluded that water from coal-bed methane wells isn’t toxic but can react with some soils. Billings Gazette; March 23 <http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?section=wyoming&display=content/wyoming/2coalbedh20.inc>
MORE BUDGET CUT RUMORS
Additional casualties of Bush’s budget cuts may be the elimination of the water quality monitoring branch of USGS and important conservation programs like the Wetlands Reserve Program and Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program.
MORE MONEY FOR DRINKING WATER
Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) introduced S.503, a bill to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to provide grants to small public drinking water systems. Read the bill at <http://thomas.loc.gov/>
IDAHO DELEGATION PROPOSES STATE SOVEREIGNTY OVER WATER
Four members of Idaho’s congressional delegation want to make it harder for the federal government to obtain control over water, potential security to irrigators but a potential barrier to conservationists trying to reserve water for fish and habitat. Salt Lake Tribune March 11 <http://www.sltrib.com/2001/mar/03112001/nation_w/78589.htm>
Rep. Michael Simpson (R-ID) has introduced a House companion bill, HR 1156, to Idaho Senator Mike Crapo’s State Water Sovereignty Protection Act, S 446. This legislation would have an impact on not just ESA, but also on protection of water for national parks, monuments, refuges, wilderness areas and tribal lands. Under the bill the federal government would have to depend on the states to voluntarily provide water from willing sellers.
In a related matter, Senator Allard has asked Sec. of Agriculture Ann Veneman to remove the by-pass flow requirement with some special use permits for water diversions and impoundments on National Forests.
MORE FEDERAL SUBSIDIES FOR WATER USERS
Another bill, H.R.1157, introduced by Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA) would authorize the Secretary of Commerce to provide financial assistance to the States of Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, and Idaho for salmon habitat restoration projects in coastal waters and upland drainages.
ENVIROS READY TO FIGHT FOR WATER
Environmentalists in the Klamath basin are ready to go to court to make “sure endangered fish and threatened bald eagles get their share of water” says OregonLive, AP 3/8. With a dry summer expected, “seven conservation organizations” have already filed a notice of intention to sue to keep “enough water in Upper Klamath Lake to support endangered shortnosed suckers and Lost River suckers” as well as the refuges that sustain the largest winter concentration of bald eagles in the lower 48 states.”
WATER MANDATED TO SAVE EAGLES
For the first time, the USFWS has “mandated annual deliveries” from the Klamath Basin irrigation project to save bald eagles from “outright starvation” says the Oregonian 3/25.
An ongoing drought and water diversions are threatening the Lower Klamath NWR whose migrating waterfowl are prey for some 950 threatened bald eagles in what is “the largest bald eagle wintering ground in the continental U.S.” The “crash in Pacific Coast salmon runs” has removed a “once dependable” food source for the wintering eagles and unless the refuge is provided enough water to maintain a minimum of 125,000 waterfowl the eagle’s reproduction, survival and recovery could be harmed.
KLAMATH PROJECT DOUBLE WHAMMY
A second draft biological opinion, this one by the NMFS, has found that continued irrigation in the Klamath basin would “jeopardize the survival of threatened coho salmon” says OregonLive, AP 3/21. According to the NMFS, irrigation as usual “poses an ‘unacceptable risk’ to salmon fry in the spring, juvenile coho in summer and returning spawners in fall” and advised the Bureau of Reclamation to “more than triple river flows at the height of the irrigation season.” Provisions in an earlier USFWS bi op to protect 2 endangered species of sucker also calls for reduced irrigation to maintain water levels in Klamath Lake and may, however, “run head-on into instructions” to protect the salmon.
WE’RE GOING TO SUE
Environmentalists are taking the “federal operators of the Klamath project irrigation project” to court for failing to prevent “thousands of endangered fish from being drawn into diversions to die” says OregonLive, AP 3/21. “After 10 years of mostly inaction,” the Bureau of Reclamation must now answer to the court for killing thousands of Lost River and shortnosed suckers by delaying the USFWS’s 1992 order to install fish screens on Upper Klamath Lake’s main water diversion canal and failing to install the screens on another reservoir.
KLAMATH BASIN PROJECT ESA OUTLAW
A federal court has found that the irrigation project in OR and CA “deliberately violated the ESA last year by ignoring the needs of threatened salmon” says the SF Chronicle, AP 4/4. Until the project “comes up with a legal plan of operations,” irrigation water will be provided only if there is a surplus above that required by what scientific biological opinions say are needed to protect listed species that include 2 species of suckers and coho salmon. Environmentalists say that until decisions on water allocation are “based on science, not political tinkering or pressure from the White House they will be in violation of the court’s injunction.”
RETURN OF THE GOD SQUAD?
The Bureau of Reclamation is considering invoking the “God Squad,” to exempt the Klamath Basin project from the ESA after the USFWS declared that continued irrigation “as usual” would threaten “extinction of the Lost River sucker and shortnosed sucker” says OregonLive, AP 3/14. The Endangered Species Committee, which weighs “economic benefits of federal projects against the survival of endangered species,” was created as a 1978 amendment to the ESA and is composed of 7 cabinet-level officials chaired by the interior secretary. The God Squad has been invoked just 3 times to “consider the fate” of the snail darter, the whooping crane and northern spotted owl.
WASHINGTON DECLARES DROUGHT EMERGENCY
Washington officials are cutting off irrigation rights for the first time in two decades as a worsening drought threatens to drop rivers and reservoirs to the lowest levels since records have been kept. Spokesman-Review; March 14
BPA PUTS NORTHWEST INDUSTRY, CONSERVATIONISTS ON NOTICE
The Bonneville Power Administration has alerted the Northwest’s aluminum industry it can no longer expect cheap federal power, and it has told conservationists it can spare no water to help preserve salmon. Idaho Statesman; 3/12. Water releases are called for in the salmon recovery plan biological opinion and Native American tribes as well as environmentalists are now saying that they will go to court to force the BPA to obey the recovery plan.
DAM THE FISH, POWER TO THE PEOPLE
Declaring that “this is an emergency,” the Northwest Power Planning Council found that “up to 10% of the young salmon leaving the Columbia River for the sea” need to be sacrificed so that the “Northwest will make it through the summer and fall without electricity shortages” says OregonLive 3/28. The NPPC, charged with balancing electricity production with fish conservation has come up with four recommendations to balance water needs for migrating salmon against demands for more hydropower. Idaho Statesman; April 5. <http://www.idahostatesman.com/news/daily/20010405/LocalNews/100278.shtml>
SALMON PROTECTION YANKED
In the latest administration assault on protections for imperiled species, the NMFS and USFWS have “told 5 land management officials” to disregard a supplemental biological opinion increasing protection for salmon on the east side of the Cascades says, The Olympian, AP 3/22. The “rollback of protections for the fish” removes clarifications on “how federal lands are managed” and reduces buffers that loggers must leave along streams. Earthjustice contends that this is but another of the “piece by piece withdrawal of rules and regulations” protecting the environment.
BULL TROUT LOSER IN JARBIDGE ROAD DEAL
Trout Unlimited has “condemned” the USFS for a deal allowing “private property activists” to open a road that could harm “threatened bull trout” in Nevada’s Jarbidge River says the SF Chronicle, AP 3/12. According to TU, the USFS has given “away federally mandated protection” of the bull trout’s habitat and negotiated “with lawbreakers rather than enforce federal laws,” actions which the group says “will only encourage further violations of the law” and “intimidation of federal officials.”
CALIFORNIA SUSPENDS POLLUTION STANDARDS FOR QUICK ENERGY FIX
California has lifted air and water pollution standards and promised quick approval for developers of gas-fired “peaking” power plants officials hope will stave off blackouts this summer. Arizona Daily Star (AP); March 30.
PLAN COULD PUMP DESERT DRY
Plans by a private company, Cadiz Inc., to pump water from the Mojave Desert aquifer and sell it to Southern California cities has local residents, the USGS, NPS and environmentalists, worried that it would cause “irreparable harm” to the desert environment says the SF Chronicle, AP 3/28. The recharge rate for the aquifer, which has been built up over centuries, is unknown and besides drying up wells, over pumping could affect surface water and threaten “habitat for bighorn sheep, desert tortoises and other species.”
ANOTHER FARMER BUYOUT?
The Westland Water District is proposing that farmers in the San Joaquin Valley stop irrigating 150,000 to 250,000 acres in exchange for $500 million federal buyout. Because of the need to restore Kesterson Reservoir, Reclamation has spent $200 million since 1986 to address drainage problems and estimates another $600 million is needed. Only willing sellers will be involved in the retirement program.
CANADIAN GOVERNMENT TO AGAIN CONSIDER WATER EXPORTS
Canadian officials will again evaluate exporting water to the U.S., a reversal of the prime minister’s two-year-old pledge to block exports and a revival of a controversy that included a U.S. businessman’s plan to ship B.C. water to the U.S. in supertankers. National Post; April 5 <http://www.denverpost.com/business/biz0405c.htm>
MONTANA’S FLATHEAD LAKE TROUT POSE THREAT TO HUMAN HEALTH
Traces of mercury have been showing up in larger lake trout in Flathead Lake, and whether it’s from industrial pollution or nature, state and tribal governments are planning a major public information campaign. Missoulian; March 18
SNOWPACK’S POLLUTANTS MAY BE KEY TO HABITAT CHANGES
Snowpack in the West’s mountains acts as a chemical reservoir for the pollutants that fall all winter, and scientists are looking at the chemical composition of the snow to see what might happen to pristine lakes and streams during runoff. Missoulian; April 1
“WETLAND RESOURCES OF YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK” -This report is an offshoot of a recently completed inventory of Yellowstone’s wetland resources that was co-funded by the National Park Service and US Fish & Wildlife Service through an Interagency Agreement for National Wetland Inventory (NWI) mapping. This exceptional publication was co-authored by Mary Hektner (Yellowstone NP) and Chuck Elliott (NWI) and further brought to life by the spectacular photography of Jennifer Whipple (Yellowstone NP) and others. In addition to data summaries on wetland classifications and acreages occurring in the park, the text provides excellent discussions of topics including wetland plants, wetland wildlife, thermal wetlands, and human-wetland interactions. This report is now available for viewing and downloading at the web address <http://wetlands.fws.gov/Pubs_Reports/pubs.htm>
ARMY CORPS DELAYS MO RIVER RESTORATION PLAN AGAIN
The Army Corps of Engineers has once again delayed the release of a “controversial” plan to alter water flows in the Missouri River to restore habitat for 3 listed species says the St. Louis Post-Dispatch 3/15. Missouri Senator Bond recently sent a letter to the President calling on the Corps “to stop all activity” until the USFWS plan could be reviewed and American Rivers now hopes that “efforts aren’t under way to try and get the corps to violate the ESA. We have species on the brink of extinction.”
THE IMPERFECT STORM
Maine’s controversial ESA listing of wild Atlantic salmon got unexpectedly complicated when a commercial fishing boat hauled in a single Atlantic salmon off Cape Cod, the first that anyone can remember in 25 years says the Portland Press Herald, Blethen Maine Newspapers 3/10. The boat’s skipper is “now facing state and federal charges for illegal possession of an Atlantic salmon” although “criminal prosecution would be unlikely considering where and how the fish was caught.” The fisherman says he “would have thrown it back as the law requires, but after hours in the net, the fish was dead.”
ARSENIC
The Bush administration announced it will abandon the new drinking-water standards for arsenic of 10 ppb, enacted at the end of the Clinton administration. <http://washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A33451-2001Mar20.html> The National Academy of Sciences completed the most recent analysis of arsenic in 1999, concluding that the old standard of 50 ppb was more than 100 times less protective than other drinking water standards. The academy did not recommend a new number. But it urged the federal government to move quickly to revise the World War II-era rule to protect public health. Even Congress expressed frustration with the slow pace of revising the arsenic standard, and in 1997, Congress directed the EPA to set a new arsenic standard.
The 10 parts per billion standard for arsenic, however, is widely supported by drinking water utilities, states, scientists, public health officials and environmentalists, though not by the mining industry, some Western states and some scientists. If the EPA ultimately rescinds the new standard, there may be no standard whatsoever for arsenic. Under the new rule, all communities would have to be in compliance with the new standard within five years. But if that rule is repealed, there is a question as to whether the old standard would automatically go back into effect five years from now.
EPA chief Christine Whitman told the Western Governors Conference last month her agency will institute tougher arsenic standards by 2006, after further study of how low limits should be.
SARAWAK DAM REVIVED
Malaysia announced plans to “revive construction of a massive hydroelectric project in the heart of one of the world’s last great rainforests” says Sydney Morning Herald 3/3. “Outraged environmentalist” contend the project will “destroy the habitat of a vast range of endangered species” and displace some 10,000 “tribal villagers.”
SHORTFALL IN WATER INFRASTRUCTURE
The American Water Works Assoc. (AWWA) notes that drinking water and wastewater utilities need to invest nearly $1 trillion for treatment plants, distribution and collection systems over the next 20 years. At the same time, their report notes that the competing needs of pipe replacement and expensive treatment and technology upgrades have sapped the ability of utilities to fully invest in infrastructure replacement, resulting in an investment shortcoming of $23 billion every year.
MACROINVERTEBRATE
For those interested in web based macroinvertebrate slides: <http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dow/stream/index.htm>
WEBSITE REVAMPTED
River Network, a leader in assisting grassroots river and watershed conservation groups, has completely revamped their web site. The new site makes it easier for you to find the information you need to preserve and protect watersheds in your community. <http://www.rivernetwork.org>
DAMS AND DELVELOPMENT
To view and download the World Commission on Dams report “A New Framework for Decision-making”, released in Nov., 2000, go to <http://www.damsreport.org/>
2001 COLORADO WATER WORKSHOP
July 25-27, 2001
Gunnison, Colorado
The theme of this year’s workshop is Who’s in Charge? What forces, trends, and policy shifts are controlling water use? The proposed agenda includes: General changes in federal agencies, policies; Federal Control of Colorado’s Water; State legislature and Executive branch discussions; The judicial role; What is happening at the local level that affects Colorado’s water future?; Ballot Initiatives; and Economic Forces Controlling the Future. For more information contact Lucy High at <duke@montrose.net>
“MANAGING RIVER FLOWS FOR BIODIVERSITY: A CONFERENCE ON SCIENCE, POLICY AND CONSERVATION ACTION”
July 30-August 2, 2001
Ft. Collins, Colorado
Built around case-study symposia and field trips, the conference will:
* Build understanding of the conflict between meeting ecosystem needs and human demands for water, both in terms of water quantity and quality;
* Showcase the latest science concerning the in-stream flows required to protect biodiversity;
* Provide a look at current policy concerning regulation and management of water quality, quantity and use; and
* Involve participants in reviewing case studies that address inherent conflicts and potential solutions.
The case studies include: Upper Colorado River Basin, Missouri River Apalachicola- Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin, Sacramento/San Joaquin BayDelta System, Klamath River, Zion National Park, Trinity River, Beaverkill River, San Pedro River, Roanoke River, as well as examples from Brazil and Africa.
Early registration ends May 1. To register for this conference, visit <www.freshwaters.org/conference>
INTEGRATED WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP
October 15-19, 2001
Denver, Colorado, USA
In recent years, interest in integrated water resource management (IWRM) has risen significantly throughout the world due to the increasing demands placed on such a limited natural resource.
This Workshop will review and analyze recent developments in integrated water resource management and tools. The speakers will be experts from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and specialists from other water resource management entities who will provide a comprehensive overview of IWRM theory and techniques with discussion on policies and practical management issues — from river basin level to individual water resource projects.
Discussion will focus on assessing and dealing with competing demands imposed on a limited water resource and, at the project level, means to better promote their efficient operation, maintenance, and management for multiple purposes including irrigated agriculture, flood control, hydropower, water supply and environmental purposes. Specific sessions in the Workshop will be devoted to a wide array of topics including IWRM theory, data collection, water quality, water conservation, drought management, adaptive management, decision support systems, and conflict management.
The registration fee is $1500 for each participant. Visit the Workshop site for more info: <http://www.usbr.gov/international/trn_integrated.htm>
NOTICE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for research and educational purposes.
