Colorado Central Magazine - The monthly magazine for powder hounds

WATER DIET FOR CALIFORNIA

For the first time in the 81-year history of the law, California will promise to use only its allotted share of Colorado River water, to the relief of officials in upstream states. Denver Rocky Mountain News; Oct. 16 <http://www.headwatersnews.org/stories/redirect.php?id=11469> <http://www.nytimes.com/auth/login?URI=http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/17/national/17WATE.html> <http://www.enn.com/news/2003-10-16/s_9487.asp> <http://www.enn.com/news/2003-10-17/s_9527.asp> <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A38266-2003Oct16.html>

COLORADO RIVER WATER BATTLES FAR FROM OVER

California’s agreement to limit its use of Colorado River water temporarily settled some of the controversy, but it didn’t create any more water for an increasingly thirsty region. Salt Lake Tribune; Oct. 21 <http://www.sltrib.com/2003/Oct/10212003/opinion/103952.asp>

WASHINGTON TRIBE MAY SUE TO FORCE CLEANUP OF MERCURY-TAINTED RESERVOIR

The Colville Tribe in eastern Washington is considering a lawsuit to force a Superfund cleanup of Lake Roosevelt behind Grand Coulee Dam, similar to the Coeur d’Alene Tribe’s suit that pushed cleanup of Idaho’s Silver Valley. Spokane Spokesman-Review; Oct. 7 <http://www.headwatersnews.org/stories/redirect.php?id=11312>

COLORADO OFFICIALS DISAGREE ON WATER PACT

Gov. Bill Owens thinks the state should build reservoirs to save Colorado River water signed over by California; the state attorney general says no. Rocky Mountain News; Oct. 19 <http://www.headwatersnews.org/stories/redirect.php?id=11510>

COLORADO’S HISTORIC DISTRUST COMES TO SURFACE WITH WATER REFERENDUM

Backers of Colorado’s referendum to spend as much as $2 billion on unspecified water projects must battle decades of Western Slope suspicion about Front Range motives. Denver Rocky Mountain News; Oct. 9 <http://www.headwatersnews.org/stories/redirect.php?id=11353> <http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~64~1719266,00.html>

BLACK CANYON NATIONAL PARK EXPANSION

S. 677 will revise the boundary of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area in Colorado. Under the bill, the size of the park would increase by 2,725 acres. <http://amriversaction.ctsg.com/ctt.asp?u=2940&l=7325>

COLORADO RIVER LAW MAY HOOK ANGLERS

Gunnison County officials are considering trespass charges against a river guide and his clients, a new development in Colorado’s confusing river access laws. Denver Post; Oct. 23 <http://www.headwatersnews.org/stories/redirect.php?id=11600>

COLORADO WATER FOES NEGOTIATE A NEW RESERVOIR FOR DENVER

Denver, Aurora and Western Slope water interests are negotiating an agreement for a new reservoir that would help supply the cities, mountain towns and endangered fish. Denver Rocky Mountain News; Oct. 24 <http://www.headwatersnews.org/stories/redirect.php?id=11642>

COLORADO WATER PACT SIGNALS NEW ERA OF COOPERATION

A new deal between Denver and Western Slope water interests shows that the past century’s bullying over water projects may be a thing of the past. Rocky Mountain News; 10/28 <http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/opinion/article/0,1299,DRMN_38_2381108,00.html>

WAPA

Western Area Power Administration collects hydropower revenues from its customers and deposits them into a Basin Fund. This Fund is used to fund WAPA’s contributions to the Recovery Program’s base and capital accounts as well as repaying the Federal Treasury for the cost of building Colorado River storage projects. Because of the drought, WAPA has not been able to generate sufficient revenues to meet its delivery obligations, so has been forced to buy power on the open market. This has drained the Basin Fund. WAPA has been meeting with is customers to reduce commitments for the next 20 years by about 10%. WAPA also committed to their customers that they will seek appropriations to replace power revenues for base funding for the next budget cycle (possibly FY 05, but perhaps not until FY 06). Appropriations will be sought one year at a time, depending on the status of the basin fund. For capital funds for FY 04 and 05, WAPA has requested a Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) loan, as outlined in the legislation.

STUDY FINDS NO LINK BETWEEN CLOUD SEEDING AND MORE SNOW

A new national study found little evidence that cloud seeding increases precipitation and little justification for the millions spent on 66 separate cloud-seeding programs, most of them in the West. New York Times; Oct. 14 <http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/14/science/earth/14CLOU.html>

SNOW’S ABSENCE GRIM REMINDER OF COLORADO DROUGHT

Along much of the Rocky Mountain Front, bare mountaintops and warmer-than-average temperatures in Utah, Colorado and Arizona signal drought’s tightening hold on the West. Boulder Daily Camera (AP); Oct. 25 <http://www.dailycamera.com/bdc/state_news/article/0,1713,BDC_2419_2375409,00.html>

DROUGHT LEAVES NEW MEXICO HIGH AND DRY

Water managers at all levels in the state say conditions are the worst they have ever seen and say water restrictions may cause farmers to rethink plans to plant next year. Santa Fe New Mexican; Nov. 2 <http://www.santafenewmexican.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=7&ArticleID=35018>

SANTA FE STUDY REVEALS TOUGH QUESTIONS ABOUT WATER

Santa Fe’s long-overdue accounting of water demand shows that even at its low end, residents will need more water than the city can immediately supply. Santa Fe New Mexican; Oct. 10 <http://www.headwatersnews.org/stories/redirect.php?id=11362>

TIGHT WATER SUPPLY RAISES VALUE OF SANTA FE’S TREATED SEWAGE

The city of Santa Fe agreed to provide 147 million gallons of treated effluent a year to water a luxury development’s golf course, a deal that showed the rising demand for a limited resource. Santa Fe New Mexican; Oct. 6 <http://www.santafenewmexican.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=6&ArticleID=33706>

SANTA FE BUILDINGS MUST NOW CATCH AND STORE RAIN

Santa Fe County officials passed new rules that require builders to include systems on all commercial buildings and larger homes to catch rainwater and ease dependence on the aquifer. Santa Fe New Mexican; Oct. 15 <http://www.santafenewmexican.com/main.asp?FromHome=1&TypeID=1&ArticleID=34168&SectionID=2&SubSectionID=6>

NEW MEXICO NEEDS A BETTER WATER PLAN, MANAGERS SAY

Critics say the comprehensive plan unveiled Wednesday lays out obvious objectives such as encouraging conservation; the state engineer says the state has years of work to finalize water rights disputes and put monitoring systems in place. S.F. New Mexican; 10/23 <http://www.santafenewmexican.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=7&ArticleID=34519>

NEW MEXICO USES NEW WEAPON IN SALT CEDAR WAR

Salt cedar has invaded waterways throughout the West, and state and federal officials are targeting the thirsty, nonnative species because of dwindling water supplies and the threat of wildfire. <http://www.enn.com/news/2003-10-14/s_9391.asp>

GRAND CANYON’S ARTIFICIAL FLOODS SHOULD CONTINUE, OFFICIAL SAYS

The Bush administration wants to continue experimental floods in the Grand Canyon to help restore parts of the ecosystem, according to an assistant Interior secretary. Denver Post; Oct. 30 <http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~11676~1731078,00.html>

INDIAN WATER RIGHTS BILL GETS HEARING

A bill written by Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., that would give several tribes the rights to much of the water remaining for future growth in Arizona received its first hearing in both the U.S. Senate and House last week. Arizona Republic; Oct. 5 <http://www.headwatersnews.org/stories/redirect.php?id=11282>

RECLAMATION (BOR) TO TRANSFER SLY PARK TO EL DORADO IRRIGATION DISTRICT

In accordance with legislation passed by Congress, BOR is transferring Sly Park Unit of the Central Valley Project in Pollock Pines, including Sly Park Dam, Jenkinson Reservoir and other lands and facilities to the water district. Reclamation built the Sly Park Unit between 1952 and 1955, and EID has operated and maintained it since completion. It supplies irrigation and drinking water to farms and nearly 100,000 residents in Pollock Pines, Shingle Springs, Placerville, El Dorado Hills, and other communities in the foothills region. Additional information is available from either Reclamation at 916-978-5100 or EID at 530-642-4184.

NEW DEFINITION OF WASTE SETS PRECEDENT IN WESTERN WATER POLICY

For most of the year, several of the nation’s biggest, richest, and most politically influential water agencies have been squabbling over the best way to divide California’s share of the Colorado River, the lifeblood of the Southwest. <http://www.enn.com/news/2003-10-10/s_7778.asp>

DROUGHT EXPECTED TO CONTINUE IN MUCH OF WEST

Experts predicted that Montana and Wyoming’s drought will continue at least through the winter, as will much of the Southwest’s, and even normal amounts of snow won’t bring soil moisture back to average. Billings Gazette; Oct. 17 <http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2003/10/17/build/state/25-drought.inc>

AGENCIES STALL SNAKE RIVER DAM APPLICATIONS FOR MORE DATA

Several state, federal and Indian agencies want Idaho Power Co. to conduct more studies as part of its application to relicense its Hells Canyon complex of Snake River dams. Idaho Statesman; Oct. 6 <http://www.idahostatesman.com/Business/story.asp?ID=50698>

IDAHO SENATOR IN INCREASINGLY DESPERATE TALKS TO STAVE OFF WATER-FOR-SALMON SUIT

Sen. Mike Crapo is shuttling between irrigators and business interests on one side, and environmentalists intent on saving salmon on the other to fend off a suit that could wrest control of Idaho’s water away from cities, farms and industries. Idaho Statesman; Oct. 9 <http://www.headwatersnews.org/stories/redirect.php?id=11348>

IDAHO SENATOR STILL HOPES TO BROKER SALMON DEAL

Four environmental groups have held off filing their intent to sue to consider Sen. Mike Crapo’s offer to work out a compromise on Snake River water use and the fate of four dams. Idaho Statesman; Oct. 19 <http://www.headwatersnews.org/stories/redirect.php?id=11508>

BREACHING SNAKE RIVER DAMS MUST REMAIN PART OF NEGOTIATIONS

Science is on the side of breaching four Snake River dams to help restore salmon populations, and despite negotiations over alternatives, it’s the best way. Idaho Statesman; Oct. 16 <http://www.headwatersnews.org/stories/redirect.php?id=11466>

BREACHING DAMS COMES UP AGAIN IN LETTER FROM CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERS

A letter from 118 members of the U.S. House urging President Bush to consider all scientifically valid means of restoring salmon, including breaching four Snake River dams, has angered Idaho irrigators, whose water is at stake. Idaho Statesman; Oct. 17 <http://www.headwatersnews.org/stories/redirect.php?id=11488>

FOREST SERVICE REWRITES HYDROPOWER POLICY WITHOUT PUBLIC COMMENT

On October 14, the US Forest Service announced that it has issued new Directive 2770 governing general policies and procedures governing hydropower licensing on Forest Service lands. According to the notice, the USFS issued a final revised agency directive amending its Forest Service Manual (FSM) Chapter 2770 guiding USFS policies and procedures for hydropower relicensing on National Forest System lands — all without providing an opportunity for comment.

Furthermore, the directive suggests that the comprehensive Forest Service Handbook (FSH), the implementation end of this directive, is also under revision internally and will follow a similar pattern of issuance without any public notice or comment. The draft revisions articulate new Forest Service policy for the drafting of 4(e) conditions transmitted as part of the hydropower relicensing process and limits the application of Special Use Authorizations for hydropower projects. <http://amriversaction.ctsg.com/ctt.asp?u=2940&l=7121>

FINDING FISH IN “FISHLESS” STREAMS

Biologists have found surprising biological diversity in 18,000 miles of Montana prairie streams once considered “fishless”. (Billings Gazette) <http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2003/10/20/build/state/30-streamfish.inc>

AGENCY SETTLES SUIT WITH PROMISE TO DESIGNATE BULL TROUT HABITAT

Federal officials have promised to designate critical habitat for threatened bull trout along 18,000 miles of streams in the N

Western Water Report: November 4, 2003

Although portions of this report are used on occasion in Colorado Central Magazine, we do not publish the full report there, as we do on this website. It is prepared by Steve Glazer of Crested Butte and is distributed early each month via an email list. To subscribe to that list, email to <listserv@lists.sierraclub.org> with SUBSCRIBE RMC-CONS-WATER as the message.

Please note that this is an archive, and some links may no longer function.