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-- OriginalOwner_ [tinyurl.com] writes:

from the it's-about-time dept.

The Center for American Progress reports [thinkprogress.org]

Until [May 12] when Governor John Hickenlooper signed a bill legalizing rain barrels, it was a crime to catch and use rainwater in the state of Colorado. That’s right--the state legalized recreational use of marijuana before [legalizing] a commonplace water conservation tool.

[...]"This is a victory for Coloradans who care about their state’s incredible rivers, lakes, streams, and waters. Rain barrels are an important educational tool and a great first step toward conservation and increasing awareness about the water challenges facing Colorado", said Pete Maysmith, executive director with the nonprofit Conservation Colorado.

[...]Senator Jerry Sonnenberg (R-Sterling, CO), chair of the Senate Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Energy Committee was a vocal critic and tough opponent of the rain barrel bill. His concerns were grounded in a strict interpretation of western water law and the system of prior appropriation. He argued that rain barrel use will cut into "senior" water rights, especially for agricultural uses.

Supporters of the bill pointed to a study [durangoherald.com] from Colorado State University demonstrating that the use of rain barrels would not decrease the amount of surface runoff going to downstream users, discrediting Senator Sonnenberg's argument. This year's version of the bill also included amendments to clarify senior water rights and even garnered support from the Colorado Farm Bureau.

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