Jul. 22, 2004 - 15:48 MDT

THE WONDERING JEW

Western Dilemma

More precious than gold, diamonds or most anything else is Water. In many of our states there is an adequate amount, some have a surplus of water, but not in most of the west.

An article by Deborah Frazier of the Rocky Mountain News of today gives us an idea. In part:

Study: Greater efforts needed to preserve water

"Delta -- Even with conservation and the completion of reservoirs, the Denver area will need to either dry up more farms or divert water from western Colorado to meet the demand in 2030, researchers said Wednesday."

"There is not a surplus anywhere in the state, but there are some some opportunities we can explore," said Rick Brown in a presentation to the Colorado Water Conservation Commission."

"An ongoing statewide water suppy study found that the population served by the South Platte River will climb by 1.9 million, but the supply wil be 41,800 acre feet short, enough for about 82,000 new homes. The area includes parts of metro-Denver, the foothills and northeastern Colorado."

"Other river basins in the state face similar shortfalls."

"And the shortages will be far worse if communities in Jefferson, Arapahoe, Douglas and Adams counties fail to build planned reservoirs and pipelines," Brown said." "The solution will require multiple solutions, including more conservation, new storage and water transfers from agriculture and other basins," said Brown. "They will all play a role in meeting future demands."

"The $2.7 million Statewide Water Supply Project study, due for completion in November, is looking at fu;ture water need, supplies and the gap between demand and available water."

"The alternatives won't be popular with western Colorado residents and eastern Colorado farmers. A series of roundtable discussions will start Aug. 10 across the state Brown said."

"Taking water from farm fields and sending it to subdivisions is a "piece by piece tearing apart of one of the biggest contributors to our state's economy and quality of life," said Don Ament, who heads the state agriculture department. Agriculture is the state's third-largest industry."

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Opinions from a native Coloradan. Most of the Western United States is actual desert with a good portion of arid country (semi-desert). As a child when taken east of town the dryness was very plain for me to observe. Only where there were irrigation ditches were crops green. If the area did not have rights to ditch water, no farms, dust and tumble weeds. Always has been and probably always will be.

Water wars are rife. Colorado River water, most of it goes to sources downstream of our state a huge amount to Southern California. Platte River water also goes out of state, that water is not all ours. The Arkansas River water which feeds farms along its valley, some water rights of farmers which have now been sold to other interests than farming, resulting in the famous Rocky Ford cantaloupes and other farm produce including grain and such things being reduced more and more each year.

Without adequate control, cities, new industries and realestate developments are creating demands on water that probably will not be met. Including those huge apartment and condo complexes of some stories high which are rapidly filling our area, one of which could house the families of a small town. Thus taking needed water away from our farmlands and ranches.

Farming and ranching has always been an iffy thing here. Ditch companies were formed long ago to take water from streams coming down from the foothills and mountains and put to farms. Otherwise a good part of the state would be dry land farms and ranches or barren prairie.

Management of water has always been a hard fought thing and many lawsuits have been fought over water rights in the west.

It is obvious that our country's population is growing, Colorado keeping pace with other states, but without the liquid necessity to support more people.

Even with the construction of reservoirs and pipelines it is somewhat doubtful that water here can support the inflow of more people during years of drought. And drought has been known to last for years.

Just thinking, all I ever knew from being born and raised in Denver, Colorado was that our potable water was free. We did pay miniscule water and sewage bills, but could use all the water we wished without extra charge. Just before the sale of our house, the city of Denver installed water use meters on all residences, extra water now costs extra money. And with drought the yard watering restrictions are becoming severe.

Is there an answer to this ? Catch one of those balls of ice moving in outer space and use it ? Or maybe tow some of the ice-bergs to our coasts and pipe the water here ? Do 24-hour a day rain dances and pray for more rain ? I don't know if easterners can truly understand our Western Dilemma . . . . . . . .

Blog