Pathetic Earthlings

Maintaining Historic Use Under Lease

Water rights often depend on maintaining historic use and so, understandably, folks with senior water rights are loath to do anything to put their establish historic use in jeopardy.  This creates a big inefficiency in water transfers, since the risk of losing a water right has to be factored in to the price point.

The Brush News Tribune reports that Colorado State Rep. Greg Brophy (R-Wray) means to make water leases a bit easier while preserving expectations in a senior water right.  Brophy will submit House Bill 1185 (pdf) to committee shortly.

With Friends Like These...

The Fijian government has cordoned off all development in the Yaqara Valley, so the Fiji Water Company can continue slake the thirst of urban hipsters the world over.

Central Utah Water Purchase

The Salt Lake Tribune reports that the Central Utah Water Conservancy District has put in a bid for $88.5M to buy 46,500 acre-feet of water rights ($1900 per acre-foot) out of the Geneva Steel bankruptcy.   

Geneva Steel has $130M in secured creditors, and $50M in unsecured creditors lined up at the Bankruptcy Court, so its nice to see that these folks -- some of them, anyway -- will get paid.

Arizona HB2173

The Arizona Daily Sun reports that Arizona House Bill 2173 won approval from the Arizona House Natural Resources and Agriculture Committee.  The bill - if enacted - will allow rural communities to require developers to bring with them established, long-term water rights.

The text of the amendment to Arizona Section 9-463.01, Arizona Revised Statutes, may be found here.

Water Law

Just a few test posts to start a water law blog.

Notice from Management

Until I get some serious flaws with my MT version of Pathetic Earthlings sorted out, I'll be posting here.

Icing on the Take

If you want to run a intercollegiate hockey team, don't let the lack of collegiate hockey players stop you.

Go Sailing On By...

Laugh all you want about Berkeley's foreign policy, they're the ones with the powered exoskeletons.

Sports Programs Prevent Crime

No question. Sports programs prevent crime.

A student walkout Wednesday in Pinole over school budget cuts turned ugly after police said many youngsters jumped on cars and looted a convenience store.

About 200 students walked out from Pinole High School, and proceeded to vent their anger over budget cuts by stomping on top of nearby vehicles, police said.

Police videotaped the students as evidence for possible criminal charges.

The West Contra Costa Unified School District has decided to eliminate all athletic programs, closed libraries and laid off 10 percent of the district staff. The changes are to take effect next year.

The school district is trying to make up for a $16.5 million dollar budget shortfall.

Remember it Wholesale

On the recommendation of Rand Simberg, I've now hired a professional, Kathy Kinsley, to get my old blog back up and running. No timeframe yet, but it's now in good hands.