Craig Daily Press - By Collin Smith
An ongoing study into the possible effects of coalbed methane production in the Sand Wash Basin now shows the area has deep faults potentially connecting coal seams and near-surface water reservoirs.This would mean activity in those coal seams could affect water resources used by local residents. Read more
The Colorado Independent - by By David O. Williams
The two remaining GOP gubernatorial candidates won’t even wait to see how new, environmentally tougher oil and gas drilling regulations work during an actual gas boom, according to the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel, instead promising to yank the regs as quickly as possible if elected.Why bother to Read more ?
the Colorado Independent - by By David O. Williams 11/20/09 3:31 PM
Salazar, who outright pulled eight of the leases near critical national parks like Arches and Canyonlands and deferred 52 others for more study, said they were sold at the direction of Bush administration officials trying to push them through on their way out the White House doors. Read more
Summit Daily News - by Bob Berwyn
A coalition of conservation and outdoor user groups wants to earmark specific portions of the $3.2 million pot for restoration and law enforcement, but some regional public land administrators, along with representatives of motorized groups, advocated the status quo.... Speaking on behalf of Colorado Trout Unlimited, Dave Peterson said enforcement and restoration efforts haven't come close to keeping pace with the growth in off-road use in recent years. Read more
The Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) on Monday approved a proposal from Pitkin County to hold 4.3 cubic feet per second of water in a trust in order to leave the water flowing down Maroon Creek and the Roaring Fork River. The trust agreement allows the county to ultimately retain its water rights, without weakening those rights, and empowers the CWCB to manage the water under its minimum streamflow program to the benefit of the rivers’ aquatic environments.
Pitkin County’s proposal, which has been in front of the CWCB since January, had the support of the Colorado Water Trust, Trout Unlimited, and the Colorado Environmental Coalition.
DENVER — Pitkin County will become the first holder of water rights in Colorado to donate water to a river in order to augment in-stream flows.
The nine voting members of the Colorado Water Conservation Board approved a trust agreement with the county Monday in Denver after a four-and-a-half-hour hearing.
“Everybody had smiles on their faces — except the opponents,” said John Ely, county attorney, in a telephone interview at the close of the proceedings.
The CWCB staff, Pitkin County and representatives of Trout Unlimited and the Colorado Water Trust spoke in favor of the trust arrangement, as did the city of Aspen's water counsel, Ely said.
http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20091116/NEWS/911169978/1077&ParentProfile=1058
Sat. Nov 21, 6:00pm - 9:00 pm at Virtuosity Gallery, 106 North F Street, Salida - 719-221-8964. Salida artists Joshua Been and Carl Ortman present an angler and water themed art show at Virtuosity Gallery to benefit Collegiate Peaks Anglers. Both painters continually support local conservation efforts and invite you to share a visual journey of our valley. Please join us for an evening of wine, hors d'oeuvres, tall tales and original oil paintings. With the holidays coming, pick up a one of a kind painting for your one of a kind person. Prices range from $150 to $3000 and 30% of the proceeds will benefit Collegiate Peaks Anglers. To see examples of Joshua Been’s work go to www.joshuabeen.com.
Opinion: Grand Junction Daily Sentinel
We hope the court will direct the Department of Interior to cancel the Roan leases, refund the lease money and consider technological changes that would allow the industry to extract the bulk of the natural gas. Environmentalist contend that, using 2007 technology, the vast majority of the gas resources underlying the Roan can be extracted without disturbing the top. Read more
According to Drew Peternell, of Colorado Trout Unlimited's Western Water Project, the Supreme Court laid out a new test for public utilities. In the Pagosa Springs case, the court ruled that the city's claim for water based on a 100-year planning horizon was not reasonable.
“They have to show that claim for water is based on realistic projections for population growth. They can't just pull numbers out the air,” Peternell said.
In its most recent appeal, TU argued that the districts’ revised figures were still not in line with credible future water use projections and amounted to speculation. In Monday’s decision, the high court unanimously agreed, finding insufficient evidence to support the quantities of water Lyman awarded, either in direct flow rights or storage.
In its decree, the Supreme Court ruled that the 23,500-acre-foot size approved by the water court is based on “speculative claims, at least in part.”
In response, TU insists that, “Unless the Pagosa districts can now demonstrate a ‘substantial probability’ that a reservoir of that size is needed to meet future needs, the water court must reduce the amount of their claimed water.”
TU went on to say, “We’re ready to talk with the Pagosa Springs stakeholders and craft a solution that meets a range of valid needs, including municipal growth, agriculture and recreation and wildlife. But any solution has to be based on credible, substantiated numbers about future water supply and needs.”
http://www.pagosasun.com/archives/2009/11november/110509/pg1drygulch.html
