Water Rights: Laws, Guns, & Money
89 episodes - English - Latest episode: 7 months ago - ★★★★★ - 12 ratingsWater Rights - Law, Guns and Money - Why is water so dang complicated? We are going to explain it drop by drop. You gotta start slow or it's overwhelming. We'll explore the early history, evolution of water rights, farmers versus cities, interstate squabbles, lack of common sense in administration, reallocation to form new uses, problems with water court, the ridiculous amount of time to get permitted, investments in water, and other topics. It is complicated but we have fun making sense of it all. We may get shot, but we will take aim at all these issues.
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Episodes
Episode 84 OVERPUMPING GROUNDWATER CAUSES MORE PROBLEMS THAN WATER DRAWDOWNS
October 02, 2023 04:00 - 12 minutes - 8.31 MBRisks beyond diminishing the supply of water · Remaining water unsafe or undrinkable · Saltwater intrusion Subsidence · Cracks in the earth · Moving an entire city because it is sinking Support the show
Episode 83 LOOKING UNDER OUR FEET
September 17, 2023 01:00 - 25 minutes - 17.5 MBGreat report from the New York Times · Reflecting from 1800 to 1950 · Endless bounty of all resources Rain and snow · Rain refills aquifers in east · Snowmelt feeds western rivers Thirsty farms and growing urban areas tap aquifers · Overused and under regulated · Overuse causes subsidence which reduces aquifer capacity Support the show
Episode 82 UPDATE ON COLORADO RIVER NEGOTIATIONS
September 01, 2023 21:00 - 19 minutes - 13.6 MBPoints of Agreement · Current operations not working · Next set of rules should be interim Where they disagree · Upper Basin says Lower Basin exceeding allocations · Lower Basin wants to include all upstream reservoirs Support the show
Episode 81 MONEY TALKS
August 24, 2023 00:00 - 18 minutes - 12.8 MBStrange things happen · Metropolitan Water District of Southern California · Imperial Irrigation District Role reversals · Jeffrey Kightlinger now advising Imperial · Imperial suddenly in mood to collaborate rather than demand Support the show
Episode 80 SOMETHING IS SO ROTTEN IT STINKS
July 30, 2023 17:00 - 39 minutes - 27 MBKickbacks or other forms of favors · Not at State employee level · Maybe elected officials Such a sweet deal given to Fondomonte · Low price on land rental · All the water you can possibly use for free Public employees encourage monitoring water use · Nixed or ignored at the elected level · Does this stink to you? Support the show
Episode 79 WILL DROUGHT PUT ALFALFA FARMERS OUT OF BUSINESS OR AT LEAST ON THE HOT SEAT
July 18, 2023 03:00 - 22 minutes - 15.5 MBA British newspaper reports on our drought · Alfalfa is king · Powell and Mead have risen to 36% of capacity from 28% Our country is disconnected from food supply · Forage crops can be converted to save water · Farmers love alfalfa: it’s reliable with a steady demand Need for alternatives · Rotational crops · Possibly hydroponics Support the show
Episode 78 AN EXPERT’S OPINION ON FIVE IDEAS
July 03, 2023 21:00 - 27 minutes - 19 MBJennifer Gimbel · Extensive and impressive experience · Shares thoughts and ideas Discussion of Five Ideas · Easier processes for farmers to sell saved water · 1041 Regulations impacts and benefits to local citizens · Strong agreement on Two Forks Reservoir · Stop discouraging buy and dry · Create special zones for buy and dry Support the show
Episode 77 ARIZONA GETS DESPERATE; GRASPING AT STRAWS
June 17, 2023 15:00 - 24 minutes - 16.9 MBOcean desalination plant being discussed · Where’s the ocean? · Straw into the northern tip of the Gulf of Mexico Environmental and economic constraints · $5 billion is a low-ball estimate · Pipelines to cross national park and environmentally sensitive areas Would you bet on this project? Support the show
Episode 76 ARIZONA FINALLY ADDRESSING REGULATIONS – IS IT TOO LATE?
June 12, 2023 23:00 - 20 minutes - 13.9 MBArizona Big Media · Blatantly touting a vast resource of water in Arizona · Hub of data center and semiconductor plants Arizona officials waking up · No more housing developments in Phoenix proper · Some rural areas passing much needed groundwater laws Support the show
Episode 75 WHO OWNS THE WATER IN COW MILK? A REAL LITIGATED QUESTION!
May 31, 2023 00:00 - 17 minutes - 12.1 MBLeprino cheese factory in Greeley, Colorado · About 1000 AF a year of milk · Mile is 87% water Is that water state water or private water? · Is this similar to diverted water that is not consumed? · What if milk sent out of state? Support the show
Episode 74 I'M MAD AS HELL AND I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE
May 18, 2023 20:00 - 24 minutes - 16.6 MBThe kick the can legislature · Only 16 water bills this session · Like we need another study State should step up to complex and sensitive water issues · Dan Beard – saying it like it is · Our problems are immediate, but others are dire Support the show
Episode 73 I HAVE SEEN THE FUTURE AND IT IS HERE
April 23, 2023 14:00 - 27 minutes - 19.1 MBFarm Box Farms – containerized farming Eric Gostenki, VP of Sales · Produce 250 containerized farms per year and growing · Experimenting both with crops and concepts Joaquin Gonzales, Director of Fodder · 1 container produces as much cattle fodder as 30 acres of irrigated ground · Containerized fodder uses less than 5% of irrigated acreage Support the show
Episode 72 UNIVERSITY OF COLORAD EXPERIENCE LEADS TO OTHER ISSUES
April 12, 2023 15:00 - 44 minutes - 30.7 MBHappy until lawsuits filed · Abandonment of water rights · Potential expansion of use Prior appropriation provides path forward for dispute resolution · Times change farming practices and technology/manpower requirements · Society operates under reactive system · Only crisis prompts change Technical issues that affect water users · Free river water and how it is used · Transit losses and how measured Support the show
Episode 71 DISCUSSION OF FARM ISSUES FROM THE HOWLING COW
April 02, 2023 00:00 - 32 minutes - 22.3 MBMeeting with Rob Graves at the Howling Cow Restaurant · Saving water – what is it and who can benefit? · Monitoring use of water is a problem Other questions about moving water · Water quality issues · Thornton and 1041 issues Elephant in the room · Buy and dry close in to the cities · Only the three Ds will stop farmers: Debt, Death and Divorce Support the show
Episode 70 BEWARE THE IDES OF MARCH
March 15, 2023 22:00 - 20 minutes - 14.1 MBBad omen for the Colorado water world Five things to consider · Stop discouraging buy and dry · Do away with HB 1041 · Pass bill to allow farmers to sell saved water · Resurrect Two Forks · Create a special zone for buy and dry Support the show
Episode 69 BETTER IDEAS THROUGH MONITORING
March 08, 2023 17:00 - 38 minutes - 26.5 MBTragedy of the commons · Referring to a public resource · Transaction costs are almost prohibitive Disincentive to saving water · Demand management in real time · Can’t fix what you don’t know Cities’ rights administered in a more lax manner Support the show
Episode 68 HOW RIVER COMMISSIONERS RUN OUR RIVERS
March 04, 2023 23:00 - 24 minutes - 17.2 MBMartin Sarley, past river commissioner, Ian Ferrell, attorney · Importance of quantifying river conditions · Administer water per laws and court rulings As much an art form as a science · Different administrations depending on history and district · Goal to be same with real time data Support the show
Episode 67 FARMERS TRYING TO SAVE WATER
February 22, 2023 19:00 - 17 minutes - 12.4 MBMore discussions with Evan Jeffries · Piping saves water simply by requiring less to transport · Leaving stubble from harvest keeps soil moisture higher History shows why most water is owned by farmers · Other issues affecting farmers · Farmers in CA & AZ benefited unfairly from Mead and Powelll Support the show
Episode 66 FIREFIGHTER, RANCHER AND WATER THINKER
February 18, 2023 19:00 - 21 minutes - 14.6 MBExperiences of Evan Jeffries in Evergreen and Otis · Running cows in a regenerative process · Manages and advises ranchers on water Some illegal water ponds protected for use for firefighting · 60 identified in Jefferson County · $300k to $500k per AF on Bear Creek Support the show
Episode 65 A TRAIN WRECK IN PROGRESS
February 07, 2023 20:00 - 24 minutes - 17.1 MBColorado River Basin talks with limited results · Six states agree · California holds out Lawsuits are inevitable · Time consuming · Indian tribes left out again Support the show
Episode 64 AUGMENTATION, DEPLETIONS AND ACCRETIONS
January 29, 2023 22:00 - 28 minutes - 19.6 MBBill Berg, Hydrogeologist with Marin and Wood Water Consultants · South Platte River augmentations more complicated than in San Luis Valley · Most augmentation plans used for out of priority wells Replacement source · Must match time, place and amount of depletion · Water wells create a drawdown cone within the aquifer Support the show
Episode 64 AUGMENTATION, DEPLETIOINS AND ACCRETIONS
January 29, 2023 22:00 - 28 minutes - 19.6 MBBill Berg, Hydrogeologist with Marin and Wood Water Consultants · South Platte River augmentations more complicated than in San Luis Valley · Most augmentation plans used for out of priority wells Replacement source · Must match time, place and amount of depletion · Water wells create a drawdown cone within the aquifer Support the show
Episode 63 VERIFICATION OF FARM WATER USAGE
January 18, 2023 01:00 - 22 minutes - 15.2 MBRelationship of water to economic output · Farming uses lots, contributes not so much · Cities use little, contribute a lot more Legislature waking up to water problem · Centerpiece of new legislation · Presentation of my solutions Support the show
Episode 62 A FILM ON CONSUMPTION OF WATER IN THE WESTERN U.S.
December 31, 2022 21:00 - 3 minutes - 2.15 MBSupport the show
Episode 61 COMMENTS FROM A LONG TIME FARMER
December 17, 2022 00:00 - 41 minutes - 28.2 MBSupport the show
Episode 60 OTHERS ARE QUESTIONING HAY GROWTH IN THE WEST
December 09, 2022 04:00 - 23 minutes - 15.9 MBComparing other uses to reduction of hay fields · Curbing Kim Kardashian’s use of water · Eliminating coal-fired power plants · Not even close to providing water to restoring Colorado River King Alfalfa is the real culprit · Consumes more than all cities in the Basin · $400 billion has been approved to buy, lease or loan water to the River Support the show
Episode 59 HYDROPONICS – A POSSIBLE GAME CHANGER
November 26, 2022 22:00 - 17 minutes - 12.3 MBShipping container gro pods · Suppliers producing more sealed grow units · Use <1% of water of regular farming Suggestions to solve crisis · Greater use of hydroponics · Buy and dry · Revive Two Forks reservoir · Aquifer Storage and Retrieval Support the show
Episode 58 WYOMING WIDE OPEN SPACES
November 19, 2022 18:00 - 22 minutes - 15.8 MBCheyenne, Casper, Gillette, Laramie – the big cities · East side of State · Not using Colorado River water Flaming Gorge reservoir draw downs Farming, fishing and few water consumers · Potential U.S. Congressional action Support the show
Episode 57 A SHOCKING REPORT ON SILENT EXPORT OF DESERT WATER
November 07, 2022 01:00 - 23 minutes - 16.5 MBThrough alfalfa, water being sent to Saudi Arabia · Alfalfa farms clearly sucking potable water from cities’ supplies · Middle East countries prevent using water for low value crops And what are we doing? · Arizona allows unlimited pumping in most locations · How much time left before Arizona runs out of water Support the show
Episode 56 NEW MEXICO – STATE NEEDS STUDIES ON WATER
November 02, 2022 17:00 - 21 minutes - 14.6 MBHeavy reliance on groundwater · Case study on running out of water · State should track water use Albuquerque’s water supply · Depends on Colorado River water for recharge and direct use · Impact of cutting back on Colorado River water Support the show
Episode 55 ARIZONA AND THE CENTRAL ARIZONA PROJECT
October 24, 2022 02:00 - 25 minutes - 17.6 MBWhat are sources of Arizona water? · Groundwater · Native rivers · Central Arizona Project Legislation authorized of Central Arizona Project in 1968 · Completed in 1994 · Serves interior of Arizona Arizona’s share of river is 2.8 MAF · Cities get 1.5 MAF through CAP · Remainder for agriculture · Cuts in 1922 Compact will hurt all Support the show
Episode 54 UTAH WATER – IN THE SAME BOAT WITH EVERYONE ELSE
October 19, 2022 14:00 - 21 minutes - 14.9 MBPrecipitation amounts · Great Basin drains toward Great Salt Lake · Colorado River watershed Total Use of water · Agricultural use · Municipal use Reserved water rights · Indian claims · Other reserved rights Support the show
Episode 53 INDIAN RESERVATIONS, TRIBES GUARANTEED A SHARE OF THE COLORADO RIVER
October 11, 2022 23:00 - 27 minutes - 18.7 MBIndians may have right to 25% of Colorado River water · Water rights in the Grand Canyon · Other Indian water rights Water rights came with establishment of reservations · Better to sue or negotiate? · In any case, wait is so long as to maybe never come · Moral obligation to supply Indian water Support the show
Episode 52 THE CUTS THEY ARE A COMING
September 28, 2022 22:00 - 25 minutes - 17.4 MBBureau of Reclamation steps in · Largest cut to Arizona · Not enough cuts to trim deficits in Mead and Powell California is the largest user · Most goes to Imperial Valley Irrigation District · Some of Metropolitan Water District · With 19 million customers, MWD will need more Support the show
Episode 51 THREE ISSUES OCCURING OVER THE SUMMER
September 20, 2022 23:00 - 23 minutes - 16.2 MB1041 Regulations upheld · What is in State’s interest · Thornton in a bind Colorado Water Conservation Board · Updated state water plan · Call for public input Colorado River problems · Impact on 7 states and Mexico · Covered in future episodes Support the show
Episode 50 REFLECTIONS ON PAST EPISODES
June 13, 2022 00:00 - 15 minutes - 10.6 MBChanges needed in Colorado water law · Speculation · Statistics support change Colorado water owned by the Public? · Past huge government investments · Should government simply give away rights? Support the show
Episode 49 REASONS TO KEEP WATER FLOWING TO THE FARMS
June 01, 2022 02:00 - 16 minutes - 11.2 MBEqual time to agricultural interest · Don Schwindt, farmer near Cortez, Colorado · Dan Keppen, Family Farm Alliance president Upcoming negotiations on guidelines for Colorado River Compact operations · New interim guidelines coming in 2026 · Ag communities want to play a major role Support the show
Episode 48 CONTINUATION OF NISP PROJECT – OPERATIONAL DESGIN
May 04, 2022 17:00 - 28 minutes - 19.6 MBComponents of NISP · Glade reservoir · Galeton reservoir Operate in tandem · Projected yield from project · Physical sizes and water quality considerations Support the show
Episode 47 NISP FROM THE HORSE’S MOUTH
May 03, 2022 23:00 - 24 minutes - 16.9 MBGreg Dewey, NCWCD Project Manager/Water Resources Engineer · Permitting for 18 years · History of Poudre and project Poudre designated as Wild and Scenic · Proposals for 3 on-stream reservoirs dropped · Reservoir water rights transferred to off-stream Glade Support the show
Episode 46 RURAL WATER DISTRICTS
April 17, 2022 17:00 - 25 minutes - 17.7 MBStan Linker, manager of Central Weld County Water District · How rural districts were formed · Take Advantage of clean water in the CBT system Raw water sources and costs · CBT, Windy Gap · Prices skyrocketed in 10 years · Other sources of water Support the show
Episode 45 1041 REGULATIONS AND THEIR IMPACT ON WATER PROJECTS
April 03, 2022 23:00 - 18 minutes - 12.9 MBA land use regulation · Initially State oversight protections · State quit funding oversight Eagle and Larimer Counties use of 1041 · Seems to be blackmail · State oversight should return Support the show
Episode 44 SOMEONE ELSE QUESTIONING AG WATER USE
March 20, 2022 19:00 - 20 minutes - 13.9 MBSaving water · Anyway to incentivize farmers? · HB 1121 – cash for grass Colorado Sun reporter Trish Zornio · Asking hard questions · Same old calculus doesn’t work anymore Support the show
Episode 43 WATER COURT CONTINUED
March 07, 2022 17:00 - 24 minutes - 16.6 MBFollowing up with the teaser · Private condemnation · Exchanges Water Court and marketing water · Ditches interfering with sale of private property rights · Agricultural Water Protection Water Right · Should be expanded Out of priority diversions · Augmentation plans · Onus on applicant Support the show
Episode 42 FINALLY GETTING TO WATER COURT
March 01, 2022 23:00 - 20 minutes - 14.1 MBWays to establish water rights · Other states mainly a permitting system · Colorado uses a court system Composition of water court and duties · Seven courts corresponding to seven water basins · Steps to obtain a water right or change in use of a water right Support the show
Episode 41 SOME LAWS NEED TO BE CHANGED TO FIT THE TIMES
February 21, 2022 23:00 - 22 minutes - 15.7 MBTimes of drought · Worst in 1200 years · Temperature affect dryness Saving Water · At least three ways · No incentives to save Support the show
Episode 40 COMPACT CORRECTION AND THOUGHTS ON SOURCES OF MORE WATER
February 13, 2022 18:00 - 18 minutes - 12.7 MBRelook at the 1923 South Platte River Compact · Upper and Lower Sections of South Platte River · Nebraska seems intent on moving forward Anti-speculation bill’s impact on water prices · Two views on strengthening laws · How to create more water supply in a water short area Talk to your legislator Support the show
Episode 39 MIDDLEMEN LEGAL PURCHASE OF WATER PUSHING PRICES UP?
February 06, 2022 18:00 - 26 minutes - 18 MBPrices of water · Farmers 401K plans? · Supply and demand at work · Farmers seem to want investors in the market Water rights trades under the radar · Transparency needed in water sales · Farmers can’t afford water for farming Democracy and capitalism Support the show
Episode 38 CHANGING LAWS - WHY THE PUSH?
January 26, 2022 19:00 - 23 minutes - 16.4 MBContinuing with James Eklund · Case Laws · Encourage Ag in Colorado · Midde Ground Cities want no middle men · Ag producers want an open market · More important issues should be discussed Support the show
Episode 37 ANOTHER POINT OF VIEW ON ANTI-SPECULATION
January 18, 2022 20:00 - 32 minutes - 22.4 MBJames Eklund – water attorney, past director of Colorado Water Conservation Board · Definition of anti-speculation · Meant to prevent hoarding of water by appropriation · Water cannot be shared like air Anti-speculation is on “bill paper” · Itch to be scratched is prohibition of outsiders profiting · Cities trying to monopolize water market · Dangerous policy Support the show
Episode 36 NEBRASKA USES SOUTH PLATTE COMPACT TO NIP COLORADO WATER
January 12, 2022 18:00 - 13 minutes - 9.41 MBNebraska governor announces big plans · Wants to assure continued water into Nebraska · Build diversions inside Colorado to take water Colorado has plans for more South Platte River water · What happens now? · Lawsuits expected Support the show