State and federal officials, water users and conservation groups have reached a tentative agreement in a 30-year legal battle over the river that flows through the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park in western Colorado... http://www.examiner.com/a-1428900~Tentative_deal_reached_in_Gunnison_River_water_rights_battle.html
The politics of oil shale
[Stand-by to pull your hair out. ED]
Fortune [magazine] talks to Sens. Orrin Hatch and Wayne Allard about the roadblocks to oil shale production.
http://money.cnn.com/2008/06/06/news/economy/birger_shale.fortune/?postversion=2008060614
Town of Fraser approves guided fishing on Fraser River
The Fraser Board of Trustees voted 6-1 Wednesday night to allow commercial fly-fishing on the Fraser River. Trustee Joyce Burford voted against it....
State fears loss of surface-water rights
By Dick Kamp, Wick News Service
Gov. Janet Napolitano and the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality say they're losing the ability to regulate surface water in the state.
At a May 19 ADEQ hearing in Tucson on declaring Davidson Canyon as “Outstanding Arizona Water” — a designation that strengthens water quality protection — a controversial Supreme Court Decision raised questions of a larger significance to Arizona and other Western states.
The hearing also provided an opportunity for those in attendance to comment on he state's proposed revisions to water quality regulation, which was of little concern to most were present to overwhelmingly support protecting the canyon by giving it a higher surface water quality standard than other surface water bodies.
Attorney Melinda Kassen of the Denver office of nonprofit environmental group Trout Unlimited pointed to successful local efforts in Boulder among local water regulatory agencies and within county planning and zoning departments to fill in the gap left by Rapanos, while conceding that “nobody knows what will happen as a result of it.”
Presentation: Roadless Areas of the Pike-San Isabel National Forest
Do you know where the Roadless areas are in YOUR backyard?
Come to this slideshow to find out! Wild Connections is sponsoring a "Roadless Roadshow" in 7 communities in early June. This free public presentation will discuss the ecological values of Roadless areas, give details and facts pertaining to the current management of these areas such as fire management flexibility, and provide trails and hiking information so you can go explore Roadless areas in your own backyard. Please attend one of these shows!
Salida - Monday, June 9 Bongo Billy's Coffee 300 West Sackett Ave. Salida, Colorado 81201
Westcliffe - Tuesday, June 10
Rancher's Roost Cliff Lanes
25 Main Street (west end of Main)
Westcliffe, Colorado 81252Leadville - Wednesday, June 11
National Mining Hall of Fame
120 West Ninth St.
Leadville, CO 80461
Colorado Springs - Thursday, June 12
Penrose Branch (Downtown) Pikes Peak Library District
20 North Cascade Ave.
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Denver, CO
Date TBD
All Presentations are:
Why is this timely and important?
 |
| Jefferson Roadless Area 2008 vs 2001 Inventory |
The US Forest Service is working right now on developing a Colorado-specific rule. The draft Colorado Roadless Rule is slated to be published in just a few weeks. While we don't know the details of what this new Colorado rule will look like, we are certain that it will weaken current protections currently afforded to these undeveloped lands. Wild Connections, and the broader conservation community, have made it a priority to analyze the impacts of the proposed rule, and we will need your voice to help ensure that the human and ecological services that Colorado's Roadless lands provide are not compromised.
Giant Salmon Takes to the Road
Save Our Wild Salmon is a nationwide coalition of conservation organizations [including TU], commercial and sportsfishing associations, businesses, river groups, and taxpayer advocates working collectively to restore self-sustaining, healthy, and abundant wild salmon to rivers, streams and oceans of the Pacific Salmon states. "Last year, just four Snake River sockeye salmon survived their journey from the Pacific Ocean to their ancestral spawning grounds in Redfish Lake in Idaho’s Rocky Mountains — an ancient upstream migration of more than 900 miles inland and 6,500 feet above sea level. Just four fish...."
Web Cam will allow officials, citizens to monitor water levels
Colorado Daily Staff ReportOriginally published 04:25 p.m., May 29, 2008
"Now everyone can have a view of Boulder Creek from the comfort of their living room..."
http://www.coloradodaily.com/news/2008/may/29/word-jump-line-here-city-installs-creek-cam-web/
Squeezing water out of oil
CNet Green Tech Blog
May 29, 2008 4:00 AM PDT - Posted by Stefanie Olsen
Excavating oil and gas has a little-known byproduct that costs the energy industry billions of dollars annually in removal--smelly sludge water.
A New Mexico start-up is trying to deal with the problem. Privately held Altela has developed a hydrothermal system that aims to turn the ancient groundwater extracted in oil or gas production into clean drinking water....
USDA report says climate change affecting crops, livestock
| Associated Press Writer - 12:06 AM CDT, May 28, 2008 "Climate change is increasing the risk of U.S. crop failures, depleting the nation's water resources and contributing to outbreaks of invasive species and insects, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in a report released Tuesday...."
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-climatechange-cropfa,0,3711650.story
Ritter names members to state wildlife, water quality panels
Governor Ritter appoints TU member Bob Streeter to Colorado Wildlife Commission http://www.examiner.com/a-1417438~Ritter_names_members_to_state_wildlife__water_quality_panels.html
