tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091548466856403675.comments2023-09-19T03:44:01.601-07:00The Water LawAlex Basilevskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12334219416593907647noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091548466856403675.post-9076212133000032842013-04-16T11:59:26.062-07:002013-04-16T11:59:26.062-07:00Nice post about environmental law, thanks for shar...Nice post about environmental law, thanks for sharing.Jolicoeur Law Chambershttp://www.jolicoeurlawchambers.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091548466856403675.post-8203694929348900692012-03-27T23:27:20.490-07:002012-03-27T23:27:20.490-07:00Petrodiesel spilled on a road will stay there unti...Petrodiesel spilled on a road will stay there until washed away by sufficiently heavy rain, whereas gasoline will quickly evaporate. After the light fractions have evaporated, a greasy slick is left on the road which can destabilize moving vehicles.driving school worcesterhttp://www.coopers-driving-school.com/driving_school_worcester.htmlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091548466856403675.post-10955131318601051152010-11-12T11:20:33.668-08:002010-11-12T11:20:33.668-08:00Thank you for explaining the act in further detail...Thank you for explaining the act in further detail.Water Restorationhttp://www.drymeout.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091548466856403675.post-21369808942217446552010-06-21T14:48:21.738-07:002010-06-21T14:48:21.738-07:00Alex: How about the federal encroachment into sta...Alex: How about the federal encroachment into states' water rights? <br /><br />I know we disagree a bit on the clean water restoration act being one such example, but there are others out there. <br /><br />The ACWI effort, for one, is very gingerly promoting a national (federal) water sustainabiltity policy and is mainly being orchestrated by federal agencies - almost all the water-related agencies. How would such a national policy impact the states' rights and abilities to manage their water in any fashion other than whatever the national policy dictated? Is this not an encroachment?<br /><br />There have to be many other examples. Every state legal group could probably come up with several efforts they classify as encroachment.<br /><br />Just an idea. On the other hand, it may be too volatile to take on.Katherine Wilkins-Wellshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01513487171907332182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091548466856403675.post-66937434637827541092010-05-10T09:56:08.567-07:002010-05-10T09:56:08.567-07:00hi friends!! cool blog!hi friends!! cool blog!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091548466856403675.post-56367646745475533872010-05-04T07:38:49.663-07:002010-05-04T07:38:49.663-07:00Finally got around to viewing the video. I too th...Finally got around to viewing the video. I too thought it was very well done (entertaining and informative). The issues being dealt with are indeed complex with no clear-cut solutions yet on the horizon. If it gets additional people thinking, though, it'll have served a useful purpose.Katherine Wilkins-Wellshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01513487171907332182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091548466856403675.post-28213940997381361382010-04-15T09:03:25.072-07:002010-04-15T09:03:25.072-07:00Mr. Bossert,
Thank you for the post. I actually ...Mr. Bossert,<br /><br />Thank you for the post. I actually found it so insightful (to me at least), that I have made it the focus of my most recent post, which you can find here: <br /><br />http://thewaterlaw.blogspot.com/2010/04/when-does-efficiency-not-lead-to.htmlAlex Basilevskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12334219416593907647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091548466856403675.post-11430417931502487972010-04-14T20:44:49.752-07:002010-04-14T20:44:49.752-07:00You cite the report as saying that "one farm ...You cite the report as saying that "one farm estimates it reduced its water consumption by 20%". Was the actual consumptive water use reduced by 20%? Or was the water diverted and applied reduced by 20%? There is a difference.<br /><br />In any hydrologic system where the water supply and the water sink (where non-consumptive water uses go) are the same, increasing irrigation application efficiency just eliminates the sink supply and provides a higher percentage of the applied water to consumptive use crop production. You can pump less water with the higher efficient irrigation system, but you can also actually consume more water. <br /><br />The 65% efficient irrigation system only makes 65% of the applied water available for crop production. The rest is non-consumptive use that returns (eventually) to the supply - at least in a traditional groundwater aquifer system. When a new 99% efficient drip system is installed, the producer pumps 75% of what he used to, but 99% of it is made available and consumed by crop production. My math tells me that 99% of 75% is more than 65% of 100%. <br /><br />It is this extra water use that increases the yields so often reported when higher efficiency systems are converted to.<br /><br />When the sink is different than the supply, and no one else is using the sink water, the efficiency upgrades are clearly a good thing, but these situations exist much less often.<br /><br />We evaluated the first new irrigation technology conversions in our groundwater management district - flood irrigation to subsurface drip (SDI) and in every case the SDI used more water consumptively than the flood systems. Most often the higher efficiency system allowed them to pump less, so additional acres were added to utilize the extra water. What good business person would not make that decision after paying $1000 or more per acre for the new system?<br /><br />Don't get me wrong, the SDI systems are very efficient and have other benefits for the irrigation operation's bottom line, but water conservation (reduced consumptive water use) is usually not one of them.<br /><br />Because consumptive water use is the cause of aquifer storage changes (water level declines) in a typical aquifer system, anything that increases consumptive water use will increase the decline rate - even if less water is pumped.<br /><br />I remain amazed at how much money is being directed at irrigation efficieny upgrades as a solution to aquifer overdrafts. I am perhaps even more amazed that many of these efforts are in areas where new water development is still allowed. Under these circumstances, the problems are only destined to get worse.Katherine Wilkins-Wellshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01513487171907332182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091548466856403675.post-55294519771805861982010-03-11T15:50:59.773-08:002010-03-11T15:50:59.773-08:00Nice. It costs on average $1 to add 1000 gallons o...Nice. It costs on average $1 to add 1000 gallons of water to a stream. My bet is the fish in that stream would say it's worth more than that.Dan Purocleanhttp://www.waterdamageout.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091548466856403675.post-65868064885141968562010-03-04T08:42:16.899-08:002010-03-04T08:42:16.899-08:00Thanks for the comment. As I think is obvious fro...Thanks for the comment. As I think is obvious from my posts I support the CWRA, and have in fact been watching the recent press about it with some interest.<br /><br />But I have to call it like I see it, and no matter what the bill is called, it does not "restore" the CWA. The CWRA contains language that is significantly broader than the CWA and will extend federal jurisdiction over waters that were never contemplated under even the broadest interpretations of the CWA.Alex Basilevskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12334219416593907647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091548466856403675.post-82703194222644916392010-03-03T18:21:21.308-08:002010-03-03T18:21:21.308-08:00On March 1st the New York Times published a compel...On March 1st the New York Times published a compelling article describing how the SWANCC and Rapanos Supreme Court decisions are hampering the ability of federal regulators to protect our nation's waters from pollution. Since 2001, Clean Water Act violations have risen while EPA enforcement has declined. According to this article, EPA regulators estimate that 1,500 major pollution cases have been halted in the last four years alone. Even more alarming, internal studies conducted by midlevel EPA officials indicate that as many as 45% of major polluters are now beyond regulatory reach.Water damagehttp://www.waterdamageout.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091548466856403675.post-70458586861852367242010-03-03T17:59:42.785-08:002010-03-03T17:59:42.785-08:00From the Great Lakes to Puget Sound, from the Miss...From the Great Lakes to Puget Sound, from the Mississippi River to the Everglades, and from Chesapeake Bay to the Colorado – we can only protect the great waters of America if we safeguard the countless streams that feed them and the millions of acres of wetlands that help keep them clean. Perhaps that is why the Senate EPW committee rejected the spurious arguments of powerful polluters and instead voted to restore protections vital to America’s great waters. As its name indicates, the Clean Water Restoration Act does no more than restore the original scope of the Clean Water Act that our nation adopted some 37 years ago – to protect all the waters of the United States.Sacramento water damagehttp://www.waterdamageout.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091548466856403675.post-25613635462977587502010-01-20T13:21:50.453-08:002010-01-20T13:21:50.453-08:00This is significant news down here in Florida. I&...This is significant news down here in Florida. I've started a Linkedin Discussion Group about it - EPA Numeric Nutrient Criteria for States - sign up if you'd like!Lee Killingernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091548466856403675.post-52971017795631303322010-01-04T00:00:14.479-08:002010-01-04T00:00:14.479-08:00Good post !!!! very good blog . nice article.i lik...Good post !!!! very good blog . nice article.i like that.<br /><br /><br /><a rel="nofollow">webroyalty</a>Nick Matyashttp://www.webroyalty.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091548466856403675.post-15314693359310983602009-12-11T17:09:54.337-08:002009-12-11T17:09:54.337-08:00What has been going on this process? Has the EPA b...What has been going on this process? Has the EPA been doing this all over the country or only in Florida? Also, I don't see how they can regulate the nutrient standards for waters as each watershed is different and has different receptors. What do you think?Richard K Friesnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11348797013164198126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091548466856403675.post-76713895207149902482009-10-31T15:01:10.891-07:002009-10-31T15:01:10.891-07:00Alex, like your posts. I found you via your Twitte...Alex, like your posts. I found you via your Twitter account. Good info. Just an FYI, all of your bit.ly urls take me to your homepage instead of the article you are "tweeting" about. You write about a lot of interesting things and it would be helpful for us to not have to scroll down looking for an older post. Thanks for all the updates.Roberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12369441604157167547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091548466856403675.post-65872474156040772862009-10-04T11:29:08.244-07:002009-10-04T11:29:08.244-07:00Good thought discussed here.It is definite we have...Good thought discussed here.It is definite we have to think more seriously on these lines.New York Mold Removalhttp://fiveboromoldspecialist.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091548466856403675.post-74911526656250515312009-10-04T11:27:31.834-07:002009-10-04T11:27:31.834-07:00Sunds like a complete solution.Good for the New Yo...Sunds like a complete solution.Good for the New Yorkens.Nyc Mold Inspectionshttp://fiveboromoldspecialist.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091548466856403675.post-64088915665974229622009-10-04T11:21:33.060-07:002009-10-04T11:21:33.060-07:00i think this is a good act that will protect the g...i think this is a good act that will protect the good interests of the people suffering from similar problems.What say?Nyc Mold Inspectionshttp://fiveboromoldspecialist.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091548466856403675.post-4949597326708034092009-09-27T23:59:57.121-07:002009-09-27T23:59:57.121-07:00Good to hear of this discussion and I think there ...Good to hear of this discussion and I think there has to be some ammendments before it can be completely flawless.Home Inspector Tampa FLhttp://www.qci-online.com/Black_Mold_Removal.aspxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091548466856403675.post-85860305373409512442009-09-27T23:57:01.747-07:002009-09-27T23:57:01.747-07:00Sounds great.It is a problem of a huge dimension a...Sounds great.It is a problem of a huge dimension and such remedial services are the only saviors.Water Damage Tampahttp://www.qci-online.com/Water_Damage_Restoration.aspxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091548466856403675.post-52795972565385230072009-09-27T23:47:00.353-07:002009-09-27T23:47:00.353-07:00Good update on the law and order regars=ding the s...Good update on the law and order regars=ding the same.Water Damage Tampahttp://www.qci-online.com/Water_Damage_Restoration.aspxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091548466856403675.post-37311001862984353302009-09-14T11:01:18.869-07:002009-09-14T11:01:18.869-07:00(Because I have been accused of bias here I feel i...(Because I have been accused of bias here I feel it necessary to disclose that I am an independent, with democratic leanings on social and environmental issues. On fiscal issues I lean conservative.)<br /><br />It's a fair point that I beat up on Republicans in this post. But while I certainly agree that there are those on the left who are no less guilty of distorting the truth for its own ends (and I said as much in my original post "And it is a vulnerability that is exploited ruthlessly by politicians and pundits of every stripe."), over the past several years it has largely been the right that has resorted to the politics of fear.<br /><br />So...am I biased? Bias is defined by the American Heritage Dictionary (4th. ed.) as, among others, "A preference or an inclination, especially one that inhibits impartial judgment." I stand accused of bias with respect to my (admittedly) cheap shot at former President Bush and Vice-President Cheney. <br /><br />I certainly don't think my judgment in making that statement wasn't impartial – but I suppose everyone thinks they are impartial whether or not they really are. Other than my say-so however, I think the only way to evaluate the statement is to see if the opinion has some rational basis. <br /><br />Of course I am sure there are situations where Mr. Bush and Mr. Cheney were confronted with evidence contrary to their preconceptions - and that they changed their opinions as a result. But I was, as I hope is clear from the subject of the post, talking about non-trivial matters and science in particular. And with respect to those I think my opinion is reasonable. What’s more, in the area of science, there are about 15,000 scientists who agree me. <br /><br />In 2004 the Union of Concerned Scientists issued a report titled “Scientific Integrity in Policymaking: An Investigation into the Bush Administration's Misuse of Science.” One of the central theses of the report was the censorship of scientific information that the administration considered threatening to its own philosophies. (see page 2 of the report) Since its publication, the report has garnered support from more than 15,000 scientists. So, while the statement was probably a little too broad, in context I think the opinion was both reasonable and defensible.<br /><br />To address the more substantive issue raised in the post about partisanship, I agree that it is a serious problem. And one that both sides of the aisle are guilty of. But what is it? When I use the term “partisan politics,” I think of politicians who vote along party lines solely for the reason that it is the party’s position. But the electorates who put most of our politicians into office have been effectively radicalized by the primary process and the gerrymandering of voting districts across the country (both Democrat and Republican districts). That makes it very hard to get a moderate voice elected to Congress. Fixing those problems however would require the kind of bi-partisan effort that Congress may no longer be capable of.Alex Basilevskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12334219416593907647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091548466856403675.post-28024526841132729032009-09-12T08:54:06.196-07:002009-09-12T08:54:06.196-07:00To me, partisanship is a far more serious problem...To me, partisanship is a far more serious problem than fear. And this post provides an example. Why no mention of Bill Moyers or Kieth Olberman? Or Sen. Kennedy (see e.g., speach about Judge Bork)? Why make an allegation about President Bush? Can it really be true that he could never accept anything but his preconceptions? I doubt it. And it appears that the blogger has merely demonstrated his own bias in making a statement like that.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091548466856403675.post-42495759855878032262009-09-08T13:15:32.970-07:002009-09-08T13:15:32.970-07:00There will always be those who refuse to accept an...There will always be those who refuse to accept anything other than their own preconceptions about the world regardless of the evidence to the contrary - look at our last president and vice-president for a perfect example. <br /><br />But I do have faith that the average person can understand the facts as long as they are presented in an accessible format. The problem is that most professions have their own languages which are the functional equivalents of secret handshakes. You have to be "in the club" to understand what anyone is talking about. <br /><br />My own profession is the perfect example. Lawyers speak in "legalese." It is english, but it's also almost incomprehensible to anyone who didn't go to law school (funnily enough first year law students are the most likely to drop legalese into their everyday conversations - as if they are showing off their new membership in the club). And that is a terrible shame given the important role of the law in our daily lives.<br /><br />Science is no different. But again I believe the public is interested and willing to learn. Proof of that lies in the success of books like "A Brief History of Time" by Stephen Hawking. Complex cosmology isn't something you would expect to fire the imagination of the common man (or woman). But Hawking made the topics accessible to the average person, and the result was a book that sold more than nine million copies. <br /><br />In the context of water, we need "A Brief History of Water". (We could also use "A Brief History of Climate Change" while we're at it.)Alex Basilevskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12334219416593907647noreply@blogger.com