irrigation diversions- catching lost items

If you are missing some rope, a pair of boots, a paddle, and a life jacket, I think I found them in a client's irrigation diversion.

Water Marketing Presentation: Clark Fork Symposium

I am presenting this Friday, March 5, 4:30 p.m., at the Clark Fork Symposium on the University of Montana Campus. The official press release is provided at the bottom of this post. Not surprisingly, the Title of the presentation is: How water marketing can benefit the Clark Fork. I really went out on a limb on that one. If you would like more detail, here is the abstract for the presentation:

How Water Marketing Can Benefit The Clark Fork

Water right markets are defined by a competition for water resources from agricultural, environmental, industrial and urban sectors. All these demands are present in the Clark Fork River Basin. The emergence of an active water market will provide significant benefits to water management on the Clark Fork River.

• More efficient use of water.
• Mechanism to facilitate future water transfers.
• A cost effective, timely, voluntary, and transparent marketplace.
• Increased instream flows and other ecosystems gains.
• Encouraged land and water use planning.

Even so, criticisms of speculation, price collusion, and a drive for power continue to arise in market based discussions. Assessing these pros and cons is necessary to water market development.

An ongoing project in the heart of the rapidly growing Missoula County provides an example of how water marketing benefits the basin and river. Grass Valley French Ditch Company desires to reallocate a portion of its irrigation shares to new ecosystem, domestic, and industrial demands within its water distribution system. Achieving this objective through water right marketing provides a win-win solution for the company and the community.

2010 Clark Fork Symposium- Press Release

The MT Water Market - An opportunity for Irrigation Companies

I just signed up for a scribd account. I will be utilizing this web platform to share my concept papers and publications on water rights and water markets. Just consider this the written version of slideshare. Below, is my first upload.

The Montana Water Market: An opportunity for irrigation Companies

"modern" water: blue turns green

Just a quick note to recognize a recent article in the Ravalli Republic. Enjoy.

On a side note, the image above is taken from an April 1905 print of the Anaconda Standard-

back when water was blue.

dear olympics: where's the snow?

What? "No snow" at the 2010 Winter Olympics? It may surprise you, but it doesn't surprise me. OK, maybe it is because I pay close attention to snow/water trends in this neck of the woods. Yes East, I realize you have been receiving plenty of snow lately, but I am not talking about you. I'm talking about the recent snowpack trends of the Pacific Northwest.

For starters, how about this figure provided by the Climate Impacts Group?

I realize many are skeptical of any website associated with the word "Climate"; however, it is hard to argue with the two photos (below) of the Grinnell Glacier in Glacier National Park. The publication I cropped these photos from - Low Flows, Hot Trout - states that only 27 of the original 150 Glaciers that defined the park remain. This dwindling number (27) is projected to reach zero by 2030.

Although the negative impact of "no snow" at the Winter Olympics is obvious, I am looking at the larger picture: WATER.

Greater Vancouver has experience 276% population growth since 1951. If these trends continue (less snow and more people), I believe the downhill slalom will be the least of their concerns.

On a lighter note, decreasing supply and increasing demands creates great opportunities for market based solutions.

mark your calendars: bitter root water forum presentation

another water value: fun

I realize I spend most of my time discussing how we can utilize markets to efficiently allocate water where demand is high and supply is low. As a change of pace, I thought the video above provides a friendly reminder of the aesthetic values of water.