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Enzi 'will be teaching' McCain about water

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By JASA SANTOS
Star-Tribune staff writer

Thursday, August 21, 2008 2:09 AM MDT

Republican presidential candidate John McCain needs someone to educate him about water compacts, says U.S. Sen. Mike Enzi.

And Wyoming's Republican senior senator is ready to take on the role of teacher.

Enzi said Wednesday McCain needs to learn why rushing into renegotiating the 1922 Colorado River Compact would be harmful to the seven states the compact serves.

"I will be teaching him," Enzi said, adding that while the eastern part of the country may enjoy abundant water sources, the same is not always true in the West.

"Out here, we're trying to figure out how to save it," he said.

According to story printed last Friday in The Pueblo (Colo.) Chieftain, McCain said the compact "obviously needs to be renegotiated over time amongst interested parties." But in a letter Wednesday to Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Colo., McCain wrote that his comments were misconstrued.

McCain's comments caused Colorado Democrats to say renegotiations would be "foolish," because a 2007 agreement among the states eased tensions caused by a long-running draught.

The compact governs how water is shared among Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.

Arizona, California and Nevada are allocated 7.5 million acre feet of water each year, with the rest divided among Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.

A spokesman said McCain was not advocating immediate changes and was instead talking about the prospect of long-term conversations.

Talks are necessary to address the growing demand for Colorado River water as the population continues to increase, McCain said.

Enzi said now is the time to educate people in Washington about the importance of water compacts, and highlighted the work he has already done to educate people about water issues in the West.

"I've made a lot of progress," Enzi said.

Reach education reporter Jasa Santos at (307) 266-0593 or at Jasa.Santos@trib.com.

AARP recognizes Enzi

Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo. was recognized Wednesday by AARP for his leadership in keeping older Americans safe from falls.

Enzi received AARP's Legislative Achievement Award for the S 845: Safety of Seniors Act.

The act offers a strategy for effective intervention against the increasing numbers of falls among older Americans. AARP acknowledged Enzi's leadership as a key part in improving health security for the elderly.

In 2008, AARP is recognizing 10 House and 10 Senate members who championed legislation in economic stimulus, Medicare, housing, nutrition, falls prevention, workplace IRAs and 401(k) fee disclosure.


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Comments to this story.

barnun wrote on Aug 21, 2008 9:42 AM:

" the west coast states need to build desalinization plants to reduce their draw from the rivers. California has built new towns in the desert and fully landscape the towns and then water all the landscaping to keep it pretty. should the western states continue to divert their water to california for this ? wyoming also sends water to nebraska for crops but that is now being used for corn ethanol. another bad idea. "

Dave Lupton wrote on Aug 21, 2008 5:06 PM:

" It is about time the citizens of Wyoming start to benefit from all the resources we are sending out of state. We send our coal, oil, natural gas and water out state to regions that dont have these resources or dont want to produce them. If California does not want to drill for oil that is their wish. Send them our oil and charge them $8.00 a gallon for gasoline but keep my gas at $2.00. If it goes high enough maybe the citizens of California will tell Nancy to hit the road. Speaking of utilities I see that the power company is seeking another rate increase. Without doubt they will get it because the folks in Cheyenne who are supposed to be protecting us seem to be approving everything that comes along.
Maybe it is time the Star Tribune finds an investigative reporter who will find out why in a state flooded with natural resources our rates seem to go up every other month. "

KC wrote on Aug 22, 2008 4:13 PM:

" If Mr. Enzi has to explain to a long-time ARIZONA senator that water resources are not abundant in the Western U.S.; are we in trouble here? "

Wyo Boy wrote on Aug 23, 2008 9:20 AM:

" Before we start blaming Arizona, Nevada and California (even though the latter could slide into the ocean and it wouldn't both me) we need to get our own house in order and start using our full allotment by diverting it into other basins and storage projects within Wyoming. If you don't think the lower basin and Congress won't eventually seriously push to rewrite the compact then you're smoking crack. California, Arizona and Nevada greatly outnumber us in population and in the House. All it's going to take is a serious sustained drought that dries up both Powell and Mead (it nearly happened in this drought). If there is water in the upper basin at that time that isn't being utilized you better grab your ankles and bend over because we'll be in for a wild ride.

Oh, and one more thing, Wyomingites that live in the Green River drainage better stop blocking attempts to divert this water through the use of trans-basin diversion projects. If you continue to do so you do it at your own peril. "

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