Interesting commentary article yesterday in the Salt Lake Tribune (Commentary: A New Way of Doing Business on Water) written by TU’s Scott Yates, director of the their Western Water and Habitat Program.
An interesting read, and an able, concise overview of the System Conservation Pilot Program – an idea to pay water users (ranchers and farmers are mentioned first in the list) not to use their full share of water in the Upper Colorado Basin.
The elephant in the room – where does the long term funding come from? – has yet to be addressed, and as cash-strapped states are pressed further, turning to Washington looking for a handout as deficits soar, debt ceilings are broached, and budget deals founder looks like an increasingly tall order.
