Water Rights
March 10, 2010--Major political players train sights on Curry rafting-rights bill (Colorado Independent)
Former Democratic state Sen. Michael Feeley, a lawyer-lobbyist who spent seven years as Minority Leader, is behind an advertising campaign aimed at torpedoing a rafting rights bill floated in the House by Rep. Kathleen Curry.
February 19, 2010--Water fallout (High Country News)
The former uranium boomtown of Green River sits along I-70 in eastern Utah, 100 miles from the closest city. Now it may become the Western outpost of America's nascent nuclear renaissance. Blue Castle Holdings, a 3-year-old, politically connected startup, wants to build a nuclear power plant here -- Utah's first, and the first in the West since 1987.
February 13, 2010--Committee kills bill to fund water commissioners (Fort Morgan Times)
Things are about to get tougher for the state Division of Water Resources in enforcing water rights in the coming year, after the House Appropriations Committee killed a bill to fund four of the 10 water commissioners who monitor headgates and water rights. The appropriations committee voted Friday morning to kill HB 1006, sponsored by Rep. Kathleen Curry, I-Gunnison.
February 11, 2010--Opposition to proposed uranium mill water rights filed (Telluride Watch)
Three conservation groups and two government agencies have filed statements of opposition against water right permit applications filed by Energy Fuels Resources Corp., which is seeking to build the nation’s first uranium mill in nearly three decades in Paradox Valley.
February 11, 2010--State delays instream flow appropriation on San Miguel River (Telluride Watch)
At its first meeting this year, the Colorado Water Conservation Board voted to delay the appropriation of an instream flow water right on the lower San Miguel River until January 2011, in order to allow time to develop off-stem water storage in the watershed.
February 7, 2010--Telluride group files legal challenge to Energy Fuels mill water (Montrose Daily Planet)
A Telluride conservation nonprofit filed a legal challenge on January 26 in Montrose District Court to the proposed Energy Fuels (EF) Pinon Ridge yellowcake uranium mill, based on their belief that EF cannot prove they have the capacity to exploit and utilize water beneficially, and that they cannot avoid polluted water discharges from the mill.
February 3, 2010--Two groups challenge water-rights applications (Grand Junction Sentinel)
Two Utah environmental organizations are challenging water-rights applications for a proposed uranium mill in Colorado. Red Rock Forests and Living Rivers filed statements of opposition in Montrose County Water Court to applications by Energy Fuels Resources LLC for three permits.
January 29, 2010--Nevada water pipeline: In jeopardy? (Los Angeles Times)
The Nevada Supreme Court dealt a huge blow Thursday to Las Vegas officials’ controversial plan to siphon water from the state’s rural north, saying that a faulty application process invalidates the south's claim to tens of thousands of acre-feet of water.
November 19, 2009--Super Ditch announces first water leasing deal struck (La Junta Democrat)
John Schweizer, chairman of the Super Ditch consortium, announced Wednesday the group has worked out an agreement with Pikes Peak Regional Water Authority to lease 2,000 acre feet of water to seven Colorado Springs-area entities. The leasing of irrigation water rights held by farmers working under seven canal companies in Southeastern Colorado would begin in 2011, Schweizer said.
November 13, 2009--Colorado Supreme Court clamps down on water rights (Aspen Times)
High Country streams may be a little safer from speculative water raids after a Colorado Supreme Court ruling last week tightened up the guidelines on claiming water rights for future development. The case involved the city of Pagosa Springs and Archuleta County, but has broader implications.
