Inflation

[newfoundland]

Can it really be true that in some places it is illegal to collect rainwater because it belongs to the people? Who is collecting it then, but the people! Can people really believe that others shouldn't harness the wind because that belongs to the people. I cannot afford to put up a windmill at present, but you can have my share of the wind if it is of any use to you! Sometimes I just despair of the human race.

 

[Wifezilla]

Colorado rain water laws....

"The use of water in this state and other western states is governed by what is known as the prior appropriation doctrine. This system of water allocation controls who uses how much water, the types of uses allowed, and when those waters can be used. A simplified way to explain this system is often referred to as the priority system or “first in time, first in right.”

An appropriation is made when an individual physically takes water from a stream or well (when legally available) and puts that water to beneficial use. The first person to appropriate water and apply that water to use has the first right to that water within a particular stream system. This person, after receiving a court decree verifying their priority status, then becomes the senior water right holder and that water right must be satisfied before any other water rights are filled. In Colorado, the state engineer and director of the Colorado Division of Water Resources, has the statutory obligation to protect all vested water rights. The process of allocating water to various water users is traditionally referred to as water rights administration, and is the responsibility of the Division of Water Resources.

Of course, the appropriation system is much more complicated than described above. Some priorities on major stream systems in Colorado date back to the 1850’s and most of the stream systems have been over-appropriated, meaning that at some or all times of the year, there will not be enough water in that stream system to satisfy all vested water rights. Practically speaking, this means that in most river drainages, a person cannot divert rainwater and put it to a beneficial use without a plan for augmentation that replaces the stream depletions associated with that diversion.

Senate Bill 09-080, which was passed and signed during the 2009 legislative session, allows limited collection and use of precipitation for Colorado landowners. The changes apply only to residential properties that are supplied by a well (or could qualify for a well permit). Landowners will complete a permit application, supplied by the Division of Water Resources, that will provide notice of their intent to collect precipitation and a description of how they intend to do it.

To qualify for a permit, you must meet a minimum of the following criteria:

* The property on which the collection takes place is residential property.
* The landowner uses a well, or is legally entitled to a well for the water supply.
* The well is permitted for domestic uses according to Section 37-92-602 or Section 37-90-105, C.R.S..
* There is no water supply available in the area from a municipality or water district.
* The rainwater is collected only from the roof.
* The water is used only for those uses that are allowed by, and identified on, the well permit.

In addition, HB 09-1129, is also a new law that allows developers to apply for approval to be one of ten statewide pilot projects that harvest rainwater and put it to beneficial, but non-essential, use in the subdivision. These projects may only operate according to an engineered plan, submitted to the state engineer for approval and eventually, to the water court. This new law does not apply at all to individual homeowners. "
http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/natres/06702.html

 

[Dunkopf]

It seems totally ludicrous that they can control water collected from the roof of a house. You have to consider the slippery slope logic though. Much like guns. It only makes sense that guns be registered and people properly trained to use the. However if that became a law then the government would know who had what and be able to confiscate them at will. Hence slippery slope and it applies to everything these days.

Obviously water in Colorado is a very valuable commodity. You go south of I70 on the plains and you have mostly dry farming.There is some aeration going on but not much. North of I 70 and you see fields of corn everywhere. Every field has a ditch with water being pumped into the rows. that's where the original settlers were and they have all the water rights. They have a big voice and rainwater collection could grow to a regular industry if everyone was allowed to do it. Since the water in our streams comes from snow pack and rain upstream they don't want to risk it. Water will keep getting more and more scarce in the western states. Industries would make good money building massive rain and water diversion systems.

As always it's the big picture that counts.

 

[country lady]

"Some one is buying and some one is selling."

According to one of the financial stations this morning, that person selling is George Soros.

 

[Dunkopf]

Quote:
Probably a good time to sell then. Smart guy that he is.

 

[Cowgirlgrace]

Quote:
If it makes you feel any better in regards to your health insurance we pay $8800 per year premium and have a 10,000 per person deductible......ours is a worst case scenerio coverage too. Luckly we're still in good health at 58 and 64 years young with only a few blips along the way like my detached and torn retina last fall.

This post was way back and haven't read all posts yet but wanted to add my DH works for the school district and will be out for shoulder replacement surgery for 3 months. We have great insurance that all we have is a $10 co pay for anything including meds but they only cover him. They take almost $1000 out of his check to cover me and two teenage kids. Since we can't pay that while he is out of work we had to schedule the surgery for 3 months prior to open enrollement. He cancelled our insurance for the 3 months he's out and will put us back on as soon as he's back to work. Me and the kids haven't used the insurance much so knock on wood we stay healthy for the next 3 months! I just flipped when I found out how much was coming out of his check. When he first started working there it was around $500. No wonder we are broke. I am self employed so the group insurance was the best option at the time but now I'm thinking twice about it. Maybe look for something else.

 

[rufus]

Well, gold fell below $1,480 this morning. Also, I see where the Mexican central bank bought a hundred tons of the stuff. I wonder how many other countries are dumping the dollar for gold?

Yes, it seems ludicrous that it is illegal in some places to collect rain water, but it is. Also, in some places it is also illegal to use gray water. The reasoning is that also belongs to "the people." Pretty soon they will be telling us where we are authorized to spit.

Some places in Australia mandate the collection of rain water, others forbid it.

I read where the water rights that T. Boone Pickens had bought up in north Texas were sold to a local water group. The water will be used in Amarillo and Lubbock areas.

Can it be that he knows something about de salination that we don't. De salination would certainly diminish the value of those water rights.

T. Boone Pickens was going to build the world's largest wind farm in the Texas Panhandle. But, he took so many hits from his political enemies that he canceled the project. I heard the turbines he had already bought were finally installed in Minnesota.

It looks like the "peoples' wind" is safe for the time being.

Rufus

 

[country lady]

How would the Colorado government know if a person collected rainwater if the barrels are not in sight? I suppose there is a heavy fine if caught. On the other hand, if rainwater floods a basement or damages the owner's property, will the Colorado government pay for repairs? I know, a silly question since we are dealing with bureaucrats!

I swear, politicians have a different mindset than "normal" people. Don't most of us just want to be left alone to have a peaceful life and raise our children???

 

[Wifezilla]

The rain collections laws are honestly not enforced. In El Paso County, when they passed the law allowing limited rain water collection, they cited a study showing 90% of rain water is lost to evaporation.

I don't have rain barrels, but I do have strategically spaced down spouts and sometimes I accidentally leave my muck buckets under them. How careless of me!

 

[Cowgirlgrace]

Quote:
Most horses don't need alfalfa hay. Good quality grass is all they need. My Amish neighbors only feed quality grass hay to their horses and they work. I have seen as hay prices have risen how horse prices have dropped (except for the best of the best).

Grass hay costs more than alfalfa here. I feed mostly alfalfa anyway. Grass hay usually runs right at 10% protein which is the average required for horses. Unless you get your grass hay analyzed every time there is no way of knowing for sure if you are feeding enough protien. I usually buy a few bales at a time so it would be eaten by the time I get an analysis back. At least I know even a lesser quality alfalfa will have more protein than most grass.