Especially this year, the Gunnison River deserves a spring cleaning

GJ Sentinel Guest Column from TU's Colorado Water Project Director, Drew Peternell: This spring, for the first time in more than a decade, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has an opportunity to provide the Gunnison River with a large flushing flow like those that occurred periodically prior to the construction of Blue Mesa, Morrow Point and Crystal reservoirs.

Thanks to the most significant snowpack in the Gunnison Basin in years, the bureau — the agency that manages the Aspinall Unit, as the three reservoirs are known — should have ample water to release a large flushing flow this spring to re-create more natural conditions downstream in the Gunnison River.

http://www.gjsentinel.com/search/content/news/opinion/stories/2008/05/04/050408_Peternell_col.html

DOW to sample fish in Parachute Creek

Phillip YatesGlenwood Springs correspondent Aspen, CO Colorado April 30, 2008

Ken Neubecker, president of Colorado Trout Unlimited, said the DOW's efforts to sample the fish population in Parachute Creek was a good idea, especially in light of sediment allegations raised by the Colorado Attorney General.

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20080430/NEWS/460094699

Bringing back trout

By Luke Morin Longmont Times-Call

“Man, while trying to meet his own basic needs of food and water, has devastated that river,” said Chuck Howard, a member of St. Vrain Anglers. “Slowly, over time, you change the character.”

So when Boulder County began making progress in negotiations with private landowners that promised future access to the long-restricted area, St. Vrain Anglers — a local chapter of the angling and activist group Trout Unlimited — decided to take action.

http://www.timescall.com/outdoors/outdoors-story.asp?ID=8190

Last Call for Tom Burke

In Burke’s final meeting as wildlife commission chair, commissioners debate what to do about zebra mussels...

By DAVE BUCHANAN The Daily Sentinel Saturday, May 03, 2008

http://www.gjsentinel.com/hp/content/sports/stories/2008/05/03/050408_OUT_column_WWW.html

Shell makes run on water

By Steve Lipsher - The Denver Post - 05/04/2008

"In its quest to melt oil out of western Colorado's shale, Royal Dutch Shell has been buying up land and water rights in anticipation of what is likely to be a thirsty new industry.

Some officials, however, worry that the demands of the oil-shale industry could drain every drop of the region's remaining water.... "

http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_9138674

Peak Water: Aquifers and Rivers Are Running Dry. How Three Regions Are Coping

Wired Magazine - by Matthew Power - 4/21/08 "Water has been a serious issue in the developing world for so long that dire reports of shortages in Cairo or Karachi barely register. But the scarcity of freshwater is no longer a problem restricted to poor countries. Shortages are reaching crisis proportions in even the most highly developed regions, and they're quickly becoming commonplace in our own backyard, from the bleached-white bathtub ring around the Southwest's half-empty Lake Mead to the parched state of Georgia, where the governor prays for rain...."

http://www.wired.com/science/planetearth/magazine/16-05/ff_peakwater?currentPage=all

Study suggests dams can benefit California salmon runs by releasing cold water as fish spawn

The Associated Press

May 1, 2008

California's vast network of reservoirs — which destroyed more than 5,000 miles (8,000 kilometers) of salmon habitat when their dams were erected decades ago — could turn out to be a savior for a species on the brink of collapse, according to a new study....

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/05/01/america/NA-GEN-US-Disappearing-Salmon.php

Minturn: Will private resort have enough water?

The Vail Daily - by Steve Lynnhttp://www.vaildaily.com/article/20080502/NEWS/855214206

Xcel's Shoshone power plant back in business

by Cathy Proctor Denver Business Journal - Thursday, May 1, 2008 "Although old and small, the power plant plays a powerful role in Colorado's water wars, where old water rights have priority to pull water from the state's rivers....

http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2008/04/28/daily37.html

Measure ties growth to water supply

Bill headed for approval; New developments to be scrutinized - April 30, 2008 By Joe Hanel | (Durango) Herald Denver Bureau

DENVER - A weakened version of a bill that ties population growth to water supplies appears headed for passage....

http://durangoherald.com/asp-bin/article_generation.asp?article_type=news&article_path=/news/08/news080430_1.htm