Water Rights: Laws, Guns, & Money

A 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

Saving 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

Following 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

Ways 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

Times of drought
·        Worst in 1200 years
·        Temperature affect dryness
Saving Water
·        At least three ways
·        No incentives to save

Support the show

Relook 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

Prices 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

Continuing 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

James 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

Nebraska 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