Planatlaw

Colorado Water Plan             Following the 2002-03 drought, Colorado got serious about water. It tried some top down water planning no one felt comfortable with. However, in 2006 Colorado adopted a bottom up approach, which utilized stream basin roundtables to start planning for both consumptive and non-consumptive projects and processes. Outcomes of this process have been significant, but the drought that started again in 2011 brought with it horrendous wildfires and costly damage to watersheds that most recently had a secondary impact – flooding. On top of what was happening in the State, a report released in December 2012, concluded the Colorado River Basin has a water supply shortfall in meeting demand that will only get worse in coming years.             Governor Hickenlooper took unprecedented action to address a critical problem before it becomes a crisis. On Ma...

Home Rule             The editorial in the Sun on 1/17/2013 entitled “Build a Bridge, cross a border” caught my attention. While you see the prospect of home rule as non-existent for this community; I see a distinct liklihood this community will soon adopt home rule to break down those “borders”, eliminate the barriers to cooperation and leadership potential, and build the necessary bridges to a economically viable and vibrant community. Sun editorials often point out and define issues, but rarely assert preferred meritorious actions to overcome those issues. So it was last week; the “border” was outlined in great detail, but the bridge was not even sketched out. Using that worthless word of moral imperative “should” simply does not get it. Rather it was presented in a rather patronizing way; scolding town officials to listen better. This community needs substance; not feel good rhethoric.      ...

Dry Gulch – Act II; Scene I First, a disclaimer. The views expressed in this article are personal to me, and do not necessarily reflect the views of any member of the board of directors for San Juan Water Conservancy District or the District as an entity. The board of directors has acted on behalf of the District by passing a strategic plan going forward with the Dry Gulch Water Storage Facility project, and that document represents the current consensus of the board on issues related to the proposed project. Bill Hudson took time to reprise his self-appointed role of community naysayer with a three (3) piece series on the proposed Dry Gulch water facilty storage project. To be fair, Bill did get a couple of things right. For instance, the current board for the Pagosa Area Water & Sanitation District (“PAWSD”) is no longer interested in championing the Dry Gulch Project, but the San Juan Water Conservancy District (“SJWSD”) is. Things get blurred after that point, and Bill...