BMN Pasture, River, Living

Good Morning

 

August7th2012-Pasture. We're proud of our pasture. Even during this devastating drought some places look dense with a variety of grasses.

I took a spill yesterday during this hike, crossing over our closed gate. The neighbor's horses are challenging fences because frankly, the pasture they are on is ruined from years of overgrazing abuse.

The river, as if it has a mind of its own completely disappears as it enters the wasteland the horses are on. On my latest hike down stream I thought the whole river had dried up.

I walked back and forth several times in disbelief, the river albeit barely flowing, entered the property with all the foliage removed, formed one little puddle and went under ground. I didn't go further down stream to see if it came back up after the wasteland. It must return to the surface afterward, because the Sapello River is visible near Sapello.

August7th2012-Sapello-River-flow  These two rains have helped of course. There is a little flow in the Sapello.

I'm sore from my fall, not too bad. I had caught the tread of one of my hiking boots on the wire as I stepped over the fence. That got me off balance and I rolled over the fence landed thank goodness of the rain softened soil on the far side. I hit cleanly on my back. All the dogs came back to see what was wrong, so sweet of them.   

August7th2012-Sapello-River-Buddy  The water level on the beaver dam is up by four inches from last week. This reminds me that I was going to tell you a story concerning Storrie Lake. I spent an hour talking to a new WiFi client near McAllister Game Refuge, we can't call it McAllister Lake because there is no lake; it is gone, probably never to return.

Storie Lake was created in the 50s as an irrigation reservoir for dairy farmers south east of Las Vegas. (Edit out details about man for privacy)

According to this man, I was correct in suggesting that the fire hydrants leading out from town to Storrie Lake are in fact a secret water main enabling the City to steal water from the farmers.

Also according to this man who was on the Storrie Water Users Board, said some of the farmers agreed to sell water rights to the city, but the city scoffed at the price, and took the water anyway. He also said the City paid a Santa Fe attorney two million dollars to keep the farmers busy in court while they took the water.

They could have done things differently said this man whose name I'll keep private. They could have handled this like the City of Raton. That city bought the water it needed from Cimmaron forty miles away  See: www.ratonnm.gov/documents/WaterWorksQualityReport11.pdf

The City of Las Vegas decided its water issue could best be resolved in court. Very short sighted indeed. Those of us in and around Las Vegas know what is happening with the City's Taylor Well near Ojitos Frios, for the rest of you I read in the Optic recently that the City was disappointed that a well which State engineers predicted might deliver 300 gallons per minute actually only delivers 50GPM.

I suggest people, we ought to open our eyes.  Worrying about the oil and gas industry which we can't it appears live without, using our water for fracking, is probably a mute point. there is no friggin water, get it?  300GPM??? What the hell are they thinking. Any one remember the movie Tank Girl? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tank_Girl
Department of Water and Energy   

August7th2012-Sapello-River. What do you think? Is Buddy about to take the plunge? 

August7th2012-Pasture-dag-pack  Anyway, that is my story, I wonder whether the Optic will be calling to learn the man's name, or the darker scenario in my head is true and every one already knows and the inevitable death of Storrie Lake will mimic that of McAllister lake and will both histories will stay buried. I'm a little worried what the next desperate act the City will do for water is going to be.  I feel sorry for the farmers, and in the end we the residents are losing more local food resources. 

August7th2012-pasture

Sincerely,
Brian Rodgers

 

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