Friday, October 24, 2014
Friday, April 15, 2011
Water Usage and Wastage
Last year the city of Richfield, Utah used 800,000,000 gallons of culinary water. The Sufco Mine pumped out over 2,000,000,000 gallons of water. That is based on the, mine reported, rate of 3,900 gallons a minute (2009 report). The problem is that not one drop of the water being pumped out of the mine is going into Sevier County. The water ends up in the Colorado River, Lake Powell and down to California. How can the mountain survive?
Sufco Mine Water
3900 GPM x 60 = 234,000 Gallons Per Hour
234,000 GPH x 24 = 5,616,000 Gallons Per Day
5,616,000 GPD x 365 = 2,049,840,000 Gallons Per Year
There are 325,518 gallons in an acre ft. 2,049,840,000 / 325,518 = 6,295.95 ac. ft of water!
It costs at least $30 an ac. ft to lease water. The value of the water we are giving away comes to at least: 6,295.95 x $30 = $188,878.35!
Sufco Mine Water
3900 GPM x 60 = 234,000 Gallons Per Hour
234,000 GPH x 24 = 5,616,000 Gallons Per Day
5,616,000 GPD x 365 = 2,049,840,000 Gallons Per Year
There are 325,518 gallons in an acre ft. 2,049,840,000 / 325,518 = 6,295.95 ac. ft of water!
It costs at least $30 an ac. ft to lease water. The value of the water we are giving away comes to at least: 6,295.95 x $30 = $188,878.35!
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Skutumpah Reservior Sink Hole Meeting
On Sat. June 5th we had a meeting at our cabin at Acord Lakes to discuss the loss of water in Skutumpah Reservoir due to a sink hole that has developed directly in front of the dam. I have high hopes after the meeting that a co-operative effort will be made to solve the problem and save that very important reservoir.
We also discussed other water losses in the area and probable causes.
I wish to thank all those who participated, especially the following people who took their day off work to be there. It was very much appreciated!
Jason Kling District Ranger, Fish Lake National Forest
Mike Hardley DivisionWildlife Resources, Cedar City Office
Dale Harber Geologist, Manti National Forest
Lynn Christensen Representing Salina Creek Water Users Assoc.
John Byers Engineer, Sufco Mine
I also wish to thank those that have been so helpful and willing to discuss water issues with me over the past several months but were not able to attend the meeting due to other commitments.
Steve Rigby B.L.M., Price Office
Marc Stilson Division Water Rights, Price Office
Dion Gardner Division Water Rights, Richfield Office
Allen Rowley Supervisor. Fish Lake National Forest
Terry Krasko Fish Lake National Forest
Mike Ottenbacker Division Wildlife Resources, Cedar City Office
Dave Marbel Utah State Engineer (Dam Inspector) S.L.C.
Signed:
Leon Christensen
Richfield, Utah
We also discussed other water losses in the area and probable causes.
I wish to thank all those who participated, especially the following people who took their day off work to be there. It was very much appreciated!
Jason Kling District Ranger, Fish Lake National Forest
Mike Hardley DivisionWildlife Resources, Cedar City Office
Dale Harber Geologist, Manti National Forest
Lynn Christensen Representing Salina Creek Water Users Assoc.
John Byers Engineer, Sufco Mine
I also wish to thank those that have been so helpful and willing to discuss water issues with me over the past several months but were not able to attend the meeting due to other commitments.
Steve Rigby B.L.M., Price Office
Marc Stilson Division Water Rights, Price Office
Dion Gardner Division Water Rights, Richfield Office
Allen Rowley Supervisor. Fish Lake National Forest
Terry Krasko Fish Lake National Forest
Mike Ottenbacker Division Wildlife Resources, Cedar City Office
Dave Marbel Utah State Engineer (Dam Inspector) S.L.C.
Signed:
Leon Christensen
Richfield, Utah
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Utah A Dry State
Utah is the second driest state in the nation, Nevada is 1st, and if Nevada has their way we will be 1st. Nowhere is water in short supply and in such high demand. In my opinion Sevier Valley has just begun to see the many problems associated with a demand for water that exceeds the supply.
Farming in Sevier valley has always been a very important industry, and I hope it always will be and water for these farms should be of the utmost importance to everyone, because after all, these irrigated farms are what makes this valley so beautiful and such a desirable place to live.
The time has come when decisions have to be made about the direction Sevier County wants to go and where our priorities are. There is not enough water to supply the needs of every business and every person who wants to live here let alone any left over to supply the needs of fish and wildlife.
In my opinion no one farm should burn up from lack of water. Not one well should go dry, or one household go without water due to the lack of planning by our elected officials, nor should we lose any water out of our reservoirs, creeks, ponds, springs, or our National Forests because forest service officials fail to do the job. We the people pay them to do!
All states need to look at their own resources to supply their need for water. We only have to look at the water issue in Snake Valley in the Great Basin to see the threat to Utah ranchers and farmers and for that matter all residents of Utah would suffer and should be concerned!
A recent article written by Bob Marshall in field and stream states we are racing into a water crisis, and unfortunately, most politicians either don’t understand it or don’t want to face up to it.
In the past when rains return (as it always does) the reservoirs will fill again, fish will swim upstream, game animals will multiply, and farmers and fisherman will stop fighting. But the Nation’s water experts say that familiar cycle is coming to an end. They see a future in which fresh water is more precious than oil, where tankers transport water to needy regions, where the largest and most expensive pipelines the world will ever see are laid to bring potable water from northern climates to a parched U.S.
Unchecked, unplanned, and ill-advised development is outstripping the water supply. A 2007 report by the U.S. Government accountability office says that 36 states will face critical water shortages over the next decade and those estimates do not fully account for the increased losses due to a warming climate.
It sounds like a science fiction tale, but unless we change out development practices, it’s the no so distant future.
There is no adapting to a lack of water. Life stops when the well runs dry. The terror of that reality is already rippling across the Nations. Atlanta came within 90 days of running out of water two years ago. Some Florida communities have cancelled building permits due to a lack of water for new residents. Towns in Tennessee are borrowing water from neighbors in Alabama. Texas and Oklahoma are involved in a court fight over water from the Red River system. Does any of this sound familiar?
We have to insist that governments- local, state, and federal- develop water management plans first, before they consider any future development.
This has to be done one the front end, coming in after development is a losing situation because there will be too much invested already. We can’t win that fight!
If you foresee any threat to the water supply in your region, here are some tips:
Become knowledgeable on the subjects, read unquenchable: America’s water crisis and what to do about it, by Robert Glennon, 2009, Island Press
Contact your State fisheries agency and ask if there are any existing water shortage dangers to fish and wildlife.
Urge elected officials to oppose projects that would use water irresponsibly.
Practice what you preach. Water conservation begins at home.
Contact these people about any questions or concerns you may have about our water on Fishlake National Forest. Such as sink holes in Skutumpah Reservoir, springs and ponds going dry, water having to be hauled to Emery cattlemen due to loss of water. Will DWR continue to stock fish in Skutumpah? Call these people about your concerns. They will be happy to hear from you!
Steve Rigby-BLM Price office
Project Manager Greens Hollow Coal lease
Phone#-435-636-3604
April Abate-Division Oil, Gas & Mining
SLC UT
Phone#-801-538-5214
Stan Adams-Well Permits Info
Cell#-435-896-7225
Marc Stillson-Division Water Rights
Price UT
Phone#-435-613-3750
Dion Gardner-Division of Water Rights
Richfield UT
Phone#-435-896-4429
Allen Rowley-Supt. Fishlake Ntl Frst
Phone#-435-896-2334
Terry Krask-Fishlake Ntl Frst
In charge of water on forest
Phone#-435-896-2334
Mike Ottenbacker-DWR Fisheries (ask about Skutumpah)
Cedar City UT
435-865-6100
Dave Marble-Dam Inspector State Engineer
Phone#-801-538-7376
Added information for you to think about: Redmond town Sevier County in 2009 used 195 ac. Ft. of water for the year. Sufco Mine in 2009 pumped 6,292.60 ac ft. of water for the year. What water wasn’t used in Emery Co. ended up in the Colorado River and stored in Lake Powell for the benefit of Nevada and California. The amount of water to be appropriated by the proposed gas powered power plant would be 262.44 ac ft.
Leon Christensen
Richfield, UT
Farming in Sevier valley has always been a very important industry, and I hope it always will be and water for these farms should be of the utmost importance to everyone, because after all, these irrigated farms are what makes this valley so beautiful and such a desirable place to live.
The time has come when decisions have to be made about the direction Sevier County wants to go and where our priorities are. There is not enough water to supply the needs of every business and every person who wants to live here let alone any left over to supply the needs of fish and wildlife.
In my opinion no one farm should burn up from lack of water. Not one well should go dry, or one household go without water due to the lack of planning by our elected officials, nor should we lose any water out of our reservoirs, creeks, ponds, springs, or our National Forests because forest service officials fail to do the job. We the people pay them to do!
All states need to look at their own resources to supply their need for water. We only have to look at the water issue in Snake Valley in the Great Basin to see the threat to Utah ranchers and farmers and for that matter all residents of Utah would suffer and should be concerned!
A recent article written by Bob Marshall in field and stream states we are racing into a water crisis, and unfortunately, most politicians either don’t understand it or don’t want to face up to it.
In the past when rains return (as it always does) the reservoirs will fill again, fish will swim upstream, game animals will multiply, and farmers and fisherman will stop fighting. But the Nation’s water experts say that familiar cycle is coming to an end. They see a future in which fresh water is more precious than oil, where tankers transport water to needy regions, where the largest and most expensive pipelines the world will ever see are laid to bring potable water from northern climates to a parched U.S.
Unchecked, unplanned, and ill-advised development is outstripping the water supply. A 2007 report by the U.S. Government accountability office says that 36 states will face critical water shortages over the next decade and those estimates do not fully account for the increased losses due to a warming climate.
It sounds like a science fiction tale, but unless we change out development practices, it’s the no so distant future.
There is no adapting to a lack of water. Life stops when the well runs dry. The terror of that reality is already rippling across the Nations. Atlanta came within 90 days of running out of water two years ago. Some Florida communities have cancelled building permits due to a lack of water for new residents. Towns in Tennessee are borrowing water from neighbors in Alabama. Texas and Oklahoma are involved in a court fight over water from the Red River system. Does any of this sound familiar?
We have to insist that governments- local, state, and federal- develop water management plans first, before they consider any future development.
This has to be done one the front end, coming in after development is a losing situation because there will be too much invested already. We can’t win that fight!
If you foresee any threat to the water supply in your region, here are some tips:
Become knowledgeable on the subjects, read unquenchable: America’s water crisis and what to do about it, by Robert Glennon, 2009, Island Press
Contact your State fisheries agency and ask if there are any existing water shortage dangers to fish and wildlife.
Urge elected officials to oppose projects that would use water irresponsibly.
Practice what you preach. Water conservation begins at home.
Contact these people about any questions or concerns you may have about our water on Fishlake National Forest. Such as sink holes in Skutumpah Reservoir, springs and ponds going dry, water having to be hauled to Emery cattlemen due to loss of water. Will DWR continue to stock fish in Skutumpah? Call these people about your concerns. They will be happy to hear from you!
Steve Rigby-BLM Price office
Project Manager Greens Hollow Coal lease
Phone#-435-636-3604
April Abate-Division Oil, Gas & Mining
SLC UT
Phone#-801-538-5214
Stan Adams-Well Permits Info
Cell#-435-896-7225
Marc Stillson-Division Water Rights
Price UT
Phone#-435-613-3750
Dion Gardner-Division of Water Rights
Richfield UT
Phone#-435-896-4429
Allen Rowley-Supt. Fishlake Ntl Frst
Phone#-435-896-2334
Terry Krask-Fishlake Ntl Frst
In charge of water on forest
Phone#-435-896-2334
Mike Ottenbacker-DWR Fisheries (ask about Skutumpah)
Cedar City UT
435-865-6100
Dave Marble-Dam Inspector State Engineer
Phone#-801-538-7376
Added information for you to think about: Redmond town Sevier County in 2009 used 195 ac. Ft. of water for the year. Sufco Mine in 2009 pumped 6,292.60 ac ft. of water for the year. What water wasn’t used in Emery Co. ended up in the Colorado River and stored in Lake Powell for the benefit of Nevada and California. The amount of water to be appropriated by the proposed gas powered power plant would be 262.44 ac ft.
Leon Christensen
Richfield, UT
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