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Show Page A8 Wct Eteaoc. nc GEae byjeannine Wait, from on the road in Louisiana. f jf jy Thursday, December 2, 2004 like youd Heidi Wainer. No. I hope there will be money but with the growing national deficit, produced and followed. I doubt it No. Ive been paying for years and will be paying for many years to come but I dont think Ill get any. Austena Green. that city officials would also look at the value of the wetlands to the community, Donna Metzler. In 1999, the city purchased the remaining water rights to the spring. But if city water needs grow to require full use of the gallons per springs 450-55- 0 minute output, it could negatively impact habitat and re- by Lisa Church contributing writer Recently completed upgrades to the pump house and spring box at Skakel Spring will allow Moab city to reintroduce water from Skakel into the citys water system -a move city officials say will help guarantee adequate water supplies for town residents and businesses. The city has owned and used about half the water right from Skakel Spring since 1880, said City Manager hope Bellagamba said. The cumulative impacts to the wetlands could be grave. Metzler said the city has no pressing plans to use the full flow from Skakel. Water from the spring has been unavailable for the past two years while the needed repairs and upgrades were made, but the spring does provide a backup water source for the city, she said. Getting the spring back online will have no imminent impact on the wetlands or other potentially affected properties, she said. Theres no immediate concern, Metzler said. Weve used a portion of the water from Skakel Spring for a long time. But, she said, the city has been fortunate that there were no problems with other pumps and water sources during the two years the spring water was unavailable. Weve been really lucky sources at the Scott M. Matheson Wetlands Preserve, Sue Bellagamba, says Canyonlands Program Director for The Nature Conservancy, which owns the preserve. d In a report much-neede- newly-release- on the hydrology of the Matheson Wetlands, Kip Solomon and Philip Gardner found that Skakel and nearby Watercress Spring provide up to 20 percent of the surface water, and 1 to 17 percent of the groundwater that flows into the preserve. Diverting the flow of Skakel Spring water from the wetlands to the city water system would, over time, shrink the size of the wetlands and destroy critical wildlife habitat, Bellagamba said. The city has the right to use the water. Moab is going to grow. And Im not opposed to development, but I would (feifgii MffltshVftUEWsElI1 IkUMt d that during the time the spring was down we didnt have any pumps go out, she said. We have had situations where problems with pumps or equipment made it necessary to use water from Skakel Spring as a backup source. She said the city has offered to provide the wetlands with treated water from the citys waste treatment plant, but TNC officials have turned down the offer. Bellagamba said the differences in chemical makeup of the treated waste water and the water now feeding the wetlands could have undesired consequences to plants and wildlife. In addition, the treatment plant water would only reach the southern regions of the wetlands, so much of the existing preserve would receive no benefit, she said. Metzler stressed that the TOEmVQUl from SEN. MIKE BMITRIGH I wish to thank everyone who turned out to vote on election day, regardless of who you voted for. I want to wish everyone in the Grand County area Happy Holidays. I promise to keep rural issues my Priority One. If you have any special issues, please feel free to call me at the Senate during the session at 06. HOLIDAY 259-752- 5 ing irrigation water shares -to help supplement the Public Hearing The Grand County Solid Waste District bud- get will be reviewed prior to passage at a meeting scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 2 at 6 p.m. at their offices on Sand Flats Road.The regular December meeting of that board will also held from 4 to 6 p.m. that evening.The general public is invited to attend. Present this coupon at check-i- n 8 t 8 8 New Works e 8 f 8 5 t ! 8 8 S I 8 8 8 Hi Participating stores only Not valid with any other offers Expires Tire Repair Custom Wheels Lift Kits Safety Inspections Tranny Flush Computer Diagnostic Testing 3 Year Warranty lit eur reguiut tew price ee e with it 4 tins. set only Not any other offers 11595 1 p i I Legacy Tour H Legacy Tour Plus M 1 1 Tri " Big FootVr am Bi9 Foot ATT Sport Touring let off : I ett eer regulur tew price en e set et 4 tins. 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Disceunt ts Grand Junction, CO 81506 ! 7 PM Year Warranty $a 740 Horizon Drive 8 8 Moab Poets & Writers Invites You to Share It $mff Euro Tour CoforacTos 8 Friday, December 3rd by Michelin Participating stores Holiday event info at www.visitgrandjunction.com 'Uf e Prestige Radial Max Expires BREAKFAST rfc 8 3) mmm valid INCLUDES CONTINENTAL fh 8 proposed setting aside $2 million in federal funding for the study, but the funding bill did not pass in Congress. The study would help pinpoint exactly how much water flows from Skakel Spring to the wetlands. Bellagamba said her group will continue to Discount Is for specials: o - h gw s g seasonal Readi, NIGHTS Everything on your shopping list is here in Grand Junction. The Downtown Shopping Park, winery gift shops, area galleries and Mesa Mall are all stocked for the hohJays. Stay a few days and enjoy the sights and activities. he sure to ask for your free goodie bag! Upon check-in- , r e g Jim Congressman Matheson earlier this year L wetlands water needs in the future, Bellagamba said. The wetlands gives the community all sorts of natural and recreational values, she said. Our concern is that we actually protect our investment in that property. work with state, federal, and local officials to get the study done. The Nature Conservancy will explore other options -including leasing or purchas- Bellagamba said the issue highlights the need for a complete water budget study in Grand County. In recent years, Bellagamba has worked with Moab City, Grand County, Castle Valley, and Spanish Valley water agencies to seek funding for a water budget study to pinpoint the source and flow rates of the aquifers that provide Grand Countys culinary water. . Discount upgrades recently-complete- d full flow from Skakel Spring will probably not be needed on an ongoing basis unless development in the citys north end corridor grows significantly. If the north area would be to develop in an intensive way, that water would be used for the development, she said. It also can be used for residential, which is one reason it is so important to the city. We have a responsibility to protect our water sources and to provide reliable water service to our community. 1 Leah Nosek. No. In 30 years there wont be any money there. are going. FOR YOUR SHOPPING DAYS! COUPON call or email editormoabtimes.com Chris Martinex. No. Not the way things City to put Skakel Spring back on lineafter 800.962.2547 to submit a question to the Times, Talk of y Forest Pace. No. Not with the economic policies that the Bush administration has 801-538-14- If Question: Do yoithink there will be any money available from Social Security when it's time for you to collect? o?ZB033D a. .k |