US Presidential Candidate From New Mexico Thirsty For Wisconsin Water
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 10. 7.07
Maybe winning the Wisconsin presidential primary isn't so important for Bill Richardson? Nor might be Minnesota's, Michigan's, or Indiana's? At least that's the impression one might get from an on-record statement from US Presidential Candidate Bill Richardson.
"If elected, Richardson said, he would bring states together to talk about a way for water-rich northern-tier states to help with shortages in the Southwest. He also said he would elevate the Bureau of Reclamation to a Cabinet-level post. The bureau within the U.S. Interior Department manages water resources in the West."
"“I believe that Western states and Eastern states have not been talking to each other when it comes to proper use of our water resources,” Richardson told the Sun. “I want a national water policy. We need a dialog between states to deal with issues like water conservation, water reuse technology, water delivery and water production. States like Wisconsin are awash in water.”"
Ohhh boy. Them's getting close to fighting words for Badgers. Great Lakes citizens, Badgers included, might be able to strike a deal though. Life Belters send their spent nuclear fuel rods for "final disposition" to the soon-to-be-bone-dry South Western States (Sun Belt). Payback comes in the form of credits toward discounted future water shipments. The ultimate climate change insurance.
Just kidding. But here's a clue. When drought becomes unbearable, there won't be enough time or resources to ship Great Lakes water to prop up unsustainable practices like fountains on the Las Vegas strip. Sun-Belters with money will migrate to the Life Belt states. Those who "Ain't got the dough rey me" will re-enact the Dust Bowl era that Woody Guthrie captured so perfectly in his lyrics. When that happens, who gets to be quoted first with a "who'd of guessed this would happen" remark, Katrina-like? We'll leave that to a future primary season.
Aside: we realize that plenty of South Westerners are wise enough to know what is sustainable and what's not. The jibe is aimed at politicians of any stripe who think that the future is a poker chip which can be gambled on personal ambition.
Out of fairness to candidate Richardson, he got the conservation, re-use, and state summit ideas right. The leaky cross-country plumbing idea is what causes the most angst. Somehow, also, the Great Lakes states need to get across the idea that they too experience drought and are in no way "awash in water." Have a look at this drought index map from September, for example.
Via:: Las Vegas Sun, Politics, "Sharing water is key to Richardson’s plan" Image credit::US DOE, Grand Junction Perspective
Northeastern Wisconsin has had the worst drought in years and it is right next to Lake Michigan. Our small towns have been using aquifers for water but that has unacceptable levels of contaminents so the state of Wisconsin made the communities surrounding Green Bay find another source. The suburbs built a pipline about 60 miles southeast to get water from Lake Michigan.
You think they would combine with Green Bay. NOPE! They could not agree on a fair price.
So this idea that Arizona would be able to come in get the great lakes states to share water is just crazy. They can't even agree with each other across city boarders! Illinois and Indiana fight over BP dumping "contaminated" waste water into Lake Michigan! Canada and the Great Lake states cannot agree on fair use either. Ao this idea has no chance of getting a drop of water sent to SW US states.
Speaking as one cleveland native TOO BAD. Humans were not intended to live any damn place they wanted, move away from fresh water and learn to live without it. The "rust belt" shall survive you and one day regain the population we lost to cheap environmentally unfriendly moves out west.
Keep you hands off my fresh water you damn dirty apes.
The vast majority of the water here in New Mexico (most of it originally from Colorado) goes to irrigate farms in southern New Mexico. If those farms didn't rely on irrigation, we would have no water shortages. Bill Richardson stands no chance at being President, his Governor's term will be up soon, so remains to be seen what he'll do next. Most likely take over a cabinet position (Secretary of State?) or assume Pete Dimenici's role in the Senate.
I live in an area of eastern New Mexico which contains many dairies, milk and cheese plants. Many of them are owned by companies in the northern tier states.
I won't go into the politics ofthe local area but the water issue is a serious concern especially with these daries and plants rapidly draining the water from the underground aquifers.
Aside from water sharing we should also be seeking to build desalinization plants and regional water reserves as national, state and local policies.
If they want our water then move to our states. If I wanted barren desert I would move to Arizona. Not that they want our water but Ohio is suffering plenty with population loss and decreasing home values. If they want water, move here, some of the nicest housing stock in the country is located here, and it is affordable.
The answer is NO.I lived in phoenix for 18 months for trade school.All i got was a case of sun poisoning.The city was still 100 degrees at midnight.All the blacktop/concrete and housing absorbed heat.Needless to say i moved back to Michigan.If you want our water move here.That is it.Do you realize you are in a desert?
Start with waterless toilets.
I have ZERO sympathy for desert states water problems. Water intensive agriculture DOES NOT belong in the desert. Golf Courses do not belong in the desert. Accept the reality of life in the desert and adjust accordingly, or don't live there.
I live in Wisconsin and just read this article online. I have one thing to say: When you move to the desert Southwest, you know it is going to be hot and dry. Why should Southwesterners get the nice weather AND our water? If you want Great Lakes water, move back to Wisconsin and put up with the cold winters. Millions of us do.