I've pasted below an update Colorado Whitewater received from Kevin Natapow, who is with the Colorado Environmental Coalition. The good news is that everyone's calls and emails hopefully will pay dividends, as Representative Curry is willing to amend Senate Bill 37's call provision (See below). CEC is asking anyone who is willing to do so to contact the House Agricultural Committee members (contact info is found below) and ask them to support Representative Curry's amendment.
Cheers
Patrick Tooley
CW Access
UPDATE:
We just found out that after much delay and debate, SB 37 (RICD's) will be
heard in the House Agricultural and Natural Resources Committee tomorrow
morning.
Representative Kathleen Curry is proposing to run an amendment that we
believe is an acceptable compromise to the 85% call threshold. Her proposed
amendment would include a volumetric flow measurement for appropriators and
would remove the retained jurisdiction provision completely.
The volumetric flow measurement would enable a RICD appropriator to choose
to limit its appropriation to no more than 35% of the volume of water
passing the RICD during the time of appropriation. Thus, if 100,000
acre-feet of water would, on average, pass the RICD between say April and
Labor Day, the appropriation could claim no more than 35,000 acre-feet.
That would leave plenty of water in the stream for other kinds of uses.
The reason for a RICD appropriator to make this choice would be to avoid the
85% call threshold requirement. If the appropriator wants to claim more than
35% of the volume, then the call threshold requirement would apply.
What you can do:
1. Call the committee members immediately and tell them you want them
to support Curry's amendment regarding the volumetric approach for RICD
appropriations and the removal of the retained jurisdiction provision.
2. We also need to continue to generate positive statewide media
attention on the importance of RICD's and what the state legislature is
poised to do if we don't stand up to protect recreational water rights.
Submit LTE's and op-ed's in your local paper stressing the importance of
these water rights!
Below are the names and phone numbers for the members of the House
Agricultural committee. Call them immediately and ask them to support
Curry's amendment on the volumetric approach to appropriations and to remove
the retained jurisdiction provision. Express your concern that both the 85%
call threshold and the retained jurisdiction provisions will set a bad
precedence in water law and will subjugate RICD water rights to a second
class status in Colorado water law.
Committee Chair:
Representative Kathleen Curry
Cap: 303-866-2945
E-mail:
kathleencurry@montrose.net
Committee Vice-Chair:
Representative Wes McKinley
Cap: 303-866-2398
E-mail:
wes.mckinley.house@state.co.us
Members:
Representative Rafael Gallegos
Cap: 303-866-2916
E-mail:
rafael.gallegos.house@state.co.us
Representative Cory Gardner
Cap: 303-866-2906
E-mail:
cory.gardner.house@state.co.us
Representative Ted Harvey
Cap: 303-866-2936
E-mail:
ted@tedharvey.com
Representative Mary Hodge
Cap: 303-866-2912
E-mail:
mary.hodge.house@state.co.us
Representative Diane Hoppe
Cap: 303-866-3706
E-mail:
diane.hoppe.house@state.co.us
Representative Buffie McFadyen
Cap: 303-866-2905
E-mail:
McFadyen2002@hotmail.com
Representative Ray Rose
Cap: 303-866-2955
E-mail:
ray.rose.house@state.co.us
Representative Judy Solano
Cap: 303-866-2918
E-mail:
judy.solano.house@state.co.us
Representative Al White
Cap: 303-866-2949
E-mail:
al.white.house@state.co.us
Don't know who your representative is? Visit
www.vote-smart.org
<
http://en.groundspring.org/EmailNow/...&cmd=track&j=6
3198446&u=580155> to find out.
Kevin Natapow
Water Organizer
Colorado Environmental Coalition
1536 Wynkoop St, Suite 5C
Denver, CO 80305
(303) 405-6714
<http://www.ourcolorado.org/>
www.ourcolorado.org
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