Government committee to look into aquifer regulation

More than needed. We need them desperatley. Do you get it now?

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Everyone seems to be having a hard time with water LAW. If it was land we were talking about would everyone still be having as much trouble with the ideas that if you got there first and used it it gives you the right to it. ? And then that you could pass it down or sell it ? Or that the government might have some small part of it that everyone could share ?

I agree. Getting the fact that water is not free to take as you need it, is a hard lesson to grasp for some.

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You have it backwards. You want others to be able to take the water from the people who own the land it is on. As I tell the poachers that come on to my land, if you wanted to hunt deer here, you should have bought the land.

You also live under the false impression that water gets used up. That is generally false; the exception being when it is poisoned beyond use or you might consider evaporation similarly.

Water can be used over and over again, in the home, then in the garden, then to move it downstream or to recharge the aquifer. It is more foolish regulation that prevents that from happening. If WY is like most states, it is illegal to bathe in water and then use it to water your lawn or garden. That's just a stupid waste. That could be fixed at almost no cost in new construction.

Painters wife while I think you are well informed sadly I think you are also wrong.
The government has a long history of stealing from landowners in the west. It is one of the flaws of Democracy that the weight of votes can cause US to forget we are a REPUBLIC and simply steal what we want. Without this thefts most of the small holders wouldn't be there in the first place.
Isn't it strange that one of the least populated states is among the first to show up overpopulation problems ?

Deke01 what happened in the west was the right to water was separated from the land. Just as if you sold the hunting rights to your land you would have no right to complain about "poachers" hunting on your land since they would OWN that right.

Wrong about what in particular? Not sure what post or thought you mean>

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Water rights don't go with the land in reality. They go with your well or your ground and surface rights. They do get sold with the land sort of but not exclusively.

You don't buy a piece of land and get the water rights for say surface water because some one else might already own them. Sort of like mineral rights.

You also have to be using your rights to keep them with regards to irrigation wells.

I don't have anything backwards. I understand it quite well.

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Painterswife you seem to be a firm beliver in the law as it now stands. I think there is a strong chance that in search of votes that will be swept away in favor of city and suburban people andromeda the OP.

It is not about the law as it stands. Those existing rights are pretty set in stone and no election can change it.

We can however make laws that will up enforcement, limit new water rights and promote conservation. Those laws though have to take into account current water rights.

In our county several years ago, regulation were enacted were all new subdivisions of more than three lots were required to have a community water system or well than could be monitored. We might need to go further. Laramie County really needs to go further.

Farmers and businesses need their water usage monitored as do homeowners. Those big useless lawns might need to be outlawed. Conservation of gray water encouraged. I am all for everyone doing their part and those that think they can do what they want to be held accountable. We do however have to do something. I just don't think placing the blame on all the farmers is productive.

As I said before there are going to be a lot of shocked and upset people when they are educated on what their water rights actually are. They will be even more shocked when their neighbors that have older water rights fight them in court and government and make it really hurt by turning them in for using water they have no right to.

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Is Wyoming like AZ you CAN'T drill a well Unless you have Water Rights? Water Rights are very big in The Southwest and West, you just can't go and do as you please just because you want to. Laws are on the books for a reason. And Water is a Big Reason.

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Oh my, dishes yet to wash and dry

See My Pictures at
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/0903/arabianknight/

Painterswife I certainly hope you are right sadly I belive all those city and suburban people will find a way to trample those rights of the ones there before them that's the way it has always been in the west.

Easterners have always looked at the big empty and just can't belive it's already full.

BE the squeaky wheel.

Check your laws, is this even legal.

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Roger

She does not have the whole story. Well she did not when she originally posted.

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I am hoping they work towards a balance. The problem is most just don't really have a clue about the realities. So many outsiders look at Wyoming and wonder why we don't have a greener prettier landscape except for where the irrigation pivots are. Well guess what, food is more important than landscaping and those farmers need the water more than we do.

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I also wanted to note that I am not against permaculture.

Crazyfarms would be far better off to to pit gardening. Dig 3 to 4 feet down and then start amending the soil and building it back up. You then have soil that is permeable down a few feet and will hold the water far better than the soil I think she has now. That way when you get rain or snow the water will percolate to deep roots and hold far better. If you keep the level of theses pits 3 or 4 inches down the water will gravitate there and you don't run into any regulations that hurt you. Swales are too much above ground and in the plains they often don't work because of wind evaporation.

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Please stop acting like you know me and have any idea what I think on the matter. You do not get it. Stop saying I'm an idiot. I simply have different opinions than you. No, I do not want to take water from farmers. What I want is for farmers to change how they farm so that it is sustainable. The way things are now can only last so long. Of course, it would be great if they stopped selling water to oil companies too. As far as the regulation, as I said, they will regulate the small people because we lack money and power but it will not prevent water depletion because we are on an unsustainable cycle. So if you can't be reasonable or nice just go away will ya. Legal right to water has no effect on my opinion of what the real problem is, for all of us.

Never said anything about your character or personality or your intelligence. It is obvious that you were not fully informed on the laws, regulations and your own water rights.

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I am not knowledgeable about every subject. I become informed as they pop up. You've got knowledge but an insulting way of relaying it. Plus my opinion of the big problem and the trustfulness of those in charge is unchanged by the new information.