This is a poster of a water issue forum that is about to take place here in Amherst. It seems that some of the local Lakes and Rivers are literally going dry. Now we have had a few years here that have been thought to have been slightly dry, maybe 5 of them in a row, but not really dry, just down some.
What we have had are additions of circle pivot sprinkler systems on agriculture land. The reason for the new irrigation is to increase harvest to maximum levels of mostly potatoes and corn, that's the corn being used for ethanol. They have always had potatoes here, and for that mater corn but for some reason they think they have to hype the growth to max out every thing. Plus, it is well known the ethanol type corn is very water intensive. Oh, the old energy thing again.
At this point there is push back and an attempt to pass legislation to curb the heavy water extraction which is no doubt causing the draw down of our watershed. This state, unlike Colorado, has almost no water law, so its everybody for themselves and screw the lakes. I believe in fighting back so a week ago, I and a few local activist went down and testified at a Senate Hearing in Madison. Felt good and necessary. It was enjoyable because the chairman of the Conservation Committee is an old friend from rugby playing days at the University. We got the only laugh of the day in commenting about brain injury. The water thing is not funny.
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