Westward view of Clear Creek Reservoir, Jacob S. Mohrmann, Colorado Mountain College - Leadville. Public domain, June 8, 2016, US
EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt signed a proposed rule to postpone compliance dates for the effluent limitations guidelines and standards for steam electric power plants (ELG Rule), which was published in November 2015. Specifically, EPA proposes to postpone the compliance dates for the more stringent best available technology economically achievable (“BAT”) requirements in the 2015 rule for each of the following wastestreams: fly ash transport water, bottom ash transport water, flue gas desulfurization (“FGD”) wastewater, flue gas mercury control wastewater, and gasification wastewater. Last month EPA determined that two administrative petitions asking the agency to reconsider the 2015 ELG Rule raised issues sufficient to warrant reconsideration of the rule. EPA is requesting a 30-day comment period that will begin upon publication in the Federal Register at: www.regulations.gov. EPA is posting a pre-publication copy at: www.epa.gov. Learn More.
Harvesting the Value of Water: Stormwater, Green Infrastructure, and Real Estate—This Urban Land Institute (ULI) report brings together an analysis of the stormwater policy landscape and an introduction to a variety of real estate development projects that have responded to them. After outlining the reasons that stormwater management is important to cities, this report introduces a series of real estate case studies and a range of types of stormwater policies. The report can be viewed here.
Ever been curious about what happens to a forest after a wildfire? Come explore the site of the 2002 Hayman fire, the largest recorded fire in Colorado history. See firsthand the surprising state of recovery as well as consequences on native plants, watershed conditions and ecology. Your guide will be Milt Robinson, formerly with the U. S. Forest Service and Denver University. Saturday, June 24th, 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. To learn more and to register, go to: https://npm.eventbrite.com.
Connecting the Drops: On Air Testing for Lead in Schools. Lead contamination Flint, Michigan's drinking water raised national awareness that water can corrode pipes and carry dangerous amounts of lead. The failures in Flint may result in stronger rules nationwide for monitoring home drinking water—but schools aren't part of these public tests. That's why Colorado legislators proposed a bill, which passed on May 10, the last day of the legislative session, to help more Colorado schools pay for testing lead in their drinking water. Meanwhile, some Colorado schools have taken on the cost themselves. Listen to the latest on Connecting the Drops.
The Colorado River District is holding State of the River Meetings. Each spring, during snowmelt runoff, the River District organizes informational “State of the River” meetings across parts of the Western Slope of Colorado to help educate the public and water users. Meeting speakers offer up-to-date information on snowpack figures, water supply forecasts and anticipated stream flows and upcoming conditions. To see the list of 2017 State of the River Public Meetings, visit their website.
SAVE THE DATE for our next Watershed Wildfire Protection Group meeting on Friday, July 7th, 2017 from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm MDT at the Colorado Parks & Wildlife Administration Building; Bighorn Room @ 6060 Broadway in Denver. A tentative agenda for the meeting will be available by mid-June. Please also feel free to contact them in the meantime with any concerns, ideas, questions, or suggested agenda items for upcoming meetings, etc. Richard M. Edwards, CF at (970) 491-8036 or Rich.Edwards@colostate.edu.
The Hermit's Peak Water Alliance will be holding the 5th annual Gallinas River Clean Up on Saturday, June 3rd. Sign-up is free while you have fun walking and running and helping clean the river. Trash bags and gloves will be provided and snacks and coffee will be provided. Running tips and warm ups at 8:30 am, fun run at 9:00 am, and river clean up at 9:30 am to 12:00 pm. For more information contact Katie at 426-7505.
Adopt-A-Park Cleanup: Calling for a few volunteers on Sat., June 3, 2017 @ 8:30 a.m. to Noon @ Rollans Park, Ridgway. Join UWP to clean up Rollans Park. Everyone of all ages (as long as parents accompany children) is welcome to help pick up trash and fallen branches, and get the park into shape for its summer visitors. Snacks and drinking water are provided– you bring some work gloves and sunscreen. To register and for more information, go to the Park Cleanup web page.
In 2017, MSI will continue an Animas River water quality monitoring program at Rotary Park in Durango, CO, that began in 2015 during the Gold King Mine release. The monitoring program is part of a partnership between MSI and the City of Durango to provide the public with an independent assessment of Animas River water quality during the May to August timeframe when river recreation is at its peak. Thier goal is to get water quality results to the public as quickly as possible. They plan to expedite laboratory analysis and communicate results to the public through MSI’s website and social media,” said Scott Roberts, MSI aquatic ecologist. Latest results can be found at www.mountainstudies.org/AnimasRiver.