Environmental report for Chimney Hollow shows possible effects of reservoir southwest of Loveland

By Pamela DickmanLoveland Reporter-Herald

'The 90,000-acre-foot reservoir near Carter Lake (southwest of Loveland) would store water from the Windy Gap project for Front Range communities.'

http://reporterherald.com/news_story.asp?ID=18920

Feds defend BLM’s Roan Plateau drilling plan

The government, in response to a lawsuit filed by a coalition of 10 environmental groups [including CTU] in July, denied allegations that the BLM’s plan for natural gas development on the Roan Plateau violated the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), court documents show.

http://www.postindependent.com/article/20080919/VALLEYNEWS/809189973/1083&ParentProfile=1074&title=Feds%20defend%20BLM%E2%80%99s%20Roan%20Plateau%20drilling%20plan

River Rehab

by David Halterman - Durango Telegraph

'Now that river levels have dropped, monsoon season is over, and tuber sightings are as rare as ants teeth, the banks of the Animas River have been calling for a bit of attention. Well, they got it last Saturday morning as local volunteers came out to cash in on a little river karma while tidying up the shoreline. Organized by Ty Churchwell of Trout Unlimited...."

http://www.durangotelegraph.com/telegraph.php?inc=/08-09-18/day.htm

Feds defend BLM’s Roan Plateau drilling plan

By Phillip YatesGlenwood Springs, CO Colorado

GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colorado — The Bureau of Land Management’s drilling plan for the Roan Plateau Planning Area does not violate federal environmental law, U.S. Department of Justice attorneys argued in court documents filed earlier this week.

The government, in response to a lawsuit filed by a coalition of 10 environmental groups in July, denied allegations that the BLM’s plan for natural gas development on the Roan Plateau violated the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), court documents show.

The groups’ lawsuit argues that the BLM’s plan should be invalidated and that the issuance of any leases should be blocked because it “relies on the (agency’s) illegal plan and its inadequate environmental analysis.”

The environmental groups’ lawsuit argues the agency did not analyze the long-term environmental impacts of its actions nor did it consider a reasonable range of alternative approaches.

They argue that the BLM’s environmental impact statement for drilling “ignores the vast majority of the oil and gas development that eventually will result from the (BLM’s) leasing decision” and also ignores the possible ozone pollution that may result from natural gas development in the area.

The government, in a response filed Monday, denied those allegations.

The coalition of environmentalists — which include the Wilderness Society, Colorado Trout Unlimited, Colorado Mountain Club and the Wilderness Workshop — filed its lawsuit in July about a month before the BLM auctioned off 31 parcels that encompassed about 54,600 acres of the Roan Plateau Planning Area.

http://www.postindependent.com/article/20080919/VALLEYNEWS/809189973/1083&ParentProfile=1074&title=Feds%20defend%20BLM%E2%80%99s%20Roan%20Plateau%20drilling%20plan

Trout Unlimited Asks Manufacturers to Eliminate Production of Felt-Soled Waders and Equipment by 2011

Read the TU News Release

Pifher tabbed to lead Aurora Water

By Adam GoldsteinThe Aurora Sentinel

Mark Pifher will move up from his city post as deputy director for water resources to a new duty as director of Aurora Water, city officials announced Friday, Aug. 29....

http://www.aurorasentinel.com/main.asp?SectionID=8&SubSectionID=8&ArticleID=20255

Stream's habitat gets help

By Charlie MeyersThe Denver Post

FAIRPLAY — The setting, someone said, suggests Patagonia, that part of Argentina where rivers spill down from the Andes to the delight of peripatetic anglers and filmmakers.

A backdrop of majestic mountains, sweeping loops of flowing water, trout rising in nearly every bend.

Instead, this place exists less than two hours from Denver where the Middle Fork of the South Platte River bisects Colorado 9 at what once was a stage stop called Garo.

Fishermen know the site as Buffalo Peaks Ranch, a possession of Aurora's water department, a place of public access and a point of concern where it involves the extended health of a river that suffered historic abuse, mostly from an invasion of cattle.

Colorado Trout Unlimited aims to help. The conservation organization is hip-deep in a project designed to improve habitat on 3 1/2 miles of a stream whose fish-holding capacity has been diminished by variety of ills.

http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_10481592

Energy Committee Approves Colorado Land and Water Bills

From: Barn On Air and Online

[The Committee] approved legislation to rehabilitate the Jackson Gulch Irrigation Canal in Montezuma County, authorize construction of the Arkansas Valley Conduit in southeastern Colorado, designate lands in Mesa, Montrose and Delta Counties as the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area and Wilderness, and protect open space in and around the Arapahoe-Roosevelt National Forest in northern Colorado.

http://brianallmerradionetwork.wordpress.com/2008/09/12/09-12-08-energy-committee-approves-colorado-land-and-water-bills/

State moves forward on water model for basin

By CHRIS WOODKATHE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN

The work of several agencies will be coordinated as the Colorado Water Conservation Board moves ahead with a decision support system for the Arkansas River basin...

http://www.chieftain.com/articles/2008/09/12/news/local/doc48ca1deb97453435634625.txt

For the Love of Water

FLOW (For the Love of Water) will premiere at the Starz FilmCenter in Denver on Thursday September 25, continuing through Thursday October 2. Shown at the Sundance Film Festival in February, this comprehensive documentary illuminates the threats to our future global water resources, from privatization to pollution, that have affected communities from Bolivia to Michigan. Complete information about the film can be found at www.flowthefilm.org.Our hope is that FLOW will provoke discussion and a new level of thoughtfulness about global water resources among the greater Denver community. To launch the film, several special events will take place at the Starz FilmCenter:

• DOC NIGHT - Director Irena Salina will be in attendance and will lead a discussion with the audience on Thursday night September 25. A small reception will follow. Please visit www.denverfilm.org for more information about our programs.

DISCUSSION PANELS  - Following the 7 PM screenings on Friday September 26 and September 27, leading experts on Colorado water resources will discuss FLOW and relate it to water issues affecting our community.

• DOC DAY - There are still openings for high school students to see the film and learn more about our water resources at 10 AM on Friday September 26. Director Irena Salina will also participate in the discussions.

For more information or group ticket sales, please contact Ann Collier, Denver Film Society Outreach Coordinator, at ann@denverfilm.org. You can also purchase tickets online at www.denverfilm.org.