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Water wells the cure

Monday, April 23 at 12:01 AM

This Speakout has not been edited

By Paul Sater, Kersey

Colorado is at a crossroads, irrigation wells are in danger of being shut off forever. A few cities, and indeed a few farmers have been trying, and succeeding in getting the Colorado Water Court to permanently curtail water production from water wells on the South Platte.

In backing these water court decisions the Colorado Supreme Court is shifting the 1969 law in a direction that was never intended. Fred Anderson was the President of the Senate in 1969 he says "This is not the legislative intent that we had going through the years of re-codification in 1967-1969". Why the courts are doing this is a mystery. Colorado Supreme Court Justice Gregory Hobbs has made extensive study of early water use in the Americas, places like Titicaca, Machu Pichu, Mesa Verde and the ancient city under Phoenix. He studied their canals and reservoirs. But he couldn't speak with their descendants, because these civilizations disappeared. Perhaps he should study the cultures of ancient Hebrews and Egyptians. They are still around, there writings and art persist. Why? Because they dug wells. Moses met Zipporah, His wife at the well, watering livestock. Successful cultures in arid regions have had wells, for watering crops and livestock, for tens of thousands of years.

Droughts come and go, reliable water supplies are a must. Maybe Justice Hobbs should study societies that were successful, societies that flourished in spite of drought cycles. We should not model ourselves after the colossal failures. In arid regions what the successes have in common is wells.

The wells on the South Platte were dug for the same reason as the wells on the Nile, drought. Our drought in the 50's came at a time when technology was at a point to enable us to protect ourselves, and save our culture. With the blessing and encouragement of the State farmers dug wells, and agriculture in North East Colorado was stabilized.

Justice Hobbs is fond of saying that "when the law defies nature, the law is an ass". I wish he would study that a little farther. Wells are natural, for cultures that want to succeed in a dry land. As it worked on the Nile, on the Euphrates, and the Tigress. It worked on the Platte, and if left alone will continue to work.

When people in the third world are locked in drought, The Peace Corps doesn't send bulldozers to build canals, instead they send well rigs and the knowledge to use them.

I am a well owner and I won't apologize for having used them. Water wells are an ancient and honorable answer to drought, as natural to our culture as shelter. Wells are not the cause of drought. Wells are the cure.

READER COMMENTS

Kansas Farmers on the Ark River are pumping it dry also and have been for centuries, Regulation of use is in demand in Kansas also.
They just continue to pump the river dry and hope the politics don't changebefore the rainfall does.
I am tired of dry rivers, and the effect it has on other peoples property who do not pump, I am sick of irrigators;
maybe there is a country I can go to where they have respect for rivers, natural resources. How about some respect for other peoples constitutional rights regarding property ownership. How about some respect for the other citizens who inhabit any region where rivers do not run in america!!!!
Either the planet lives, or we do not survive asa civilization, Check some facts on the NILE

You want to pump it dry and use all the ground water so nothing can live ,fine.... You ARE GOING TO BE TAXED FOR YOUR ACTIONS!!!

Posted by Farmer on April 25, 2007 10:20 AM

Water wars are inevitable given our direction. Not just within the western US but around the world. Water is the next oil.

Posted by Art on April 24, 2007 09:43 AM

Until they over pump the wells and reduce the aquifer to where it can no longer support the users and dries up the surface river completely, then what do you do?

Kansas has already sued Colorado (and won) over Colorado's over use of irrigation wells along the Arkansas River, depleting the Ogalalla aquifer.

I know, lets start water wars and keep any and all water from leaving the state.

Posted by on April 23, 2007 10:56 AM