katieneis wrote @ February 11, 2008 at 4:18 am

Washington State area officials have been trying to acquire water (water is a commodity you know) from the area Native American Tribes around Eastern Washington for use in other areas (mainly industrial, a little farming, and for a few fish) for quite sometime now, and it seems the plan is working. As of Feb. 6, 2008 the Spokane Indians and the Colville Tribe have agree to. let the state pump water at the total cost of about 8.1 million dollars the first year and more money per year after that, split between the two tribes and boating areas that will be effected by the 132,500 that is to be removed ‘in drought years’. Does this mean good things for the area and the local Indigenous people? Many think not. The acquifer that lies under Roosevelt is not replenishing fast enough to keep up with current demands on the lake, and more water would surely put it in peril. Furthermore, are there not alternative ‘healthier for the environment’ methods other than to simply keep using more? What’s to say that the water will be put to clean effective use, and that the tribes will always recieve their money, and the state not swindle them out of even more of their property??

http://www.spokesmanreview.com/breaking/story.asp?ID=13513

  katieneis wrote @ February 24, 2008 at 8:15 pm

Rural Community Assitance Corporation is an organization that is highly dedicated to working with Native communities to aid housing, finances, housing, community, and most pertinent to my webpage, focusing on wastewater and clean drinking water for the communities they work with. Their community environmental work includes such things as, establishing the Native American Water Masters Association in southern California with 18 tribes, doing studies on waste generation and recycling , contamination testing, well sampling, water operations certification classes, etc. This group is very active in providing/fighting with Native Americans for their rights to basic human rights.
Thier most recent activities include Drinking water workshops in New Mexico and many other parts of California. In most cases their assistance is offered at no charge, but is covered by state and federal contracts. This is all great news, except for the fact that RCAC may be linked to large corporations of have its hands tied due to its close relationship with the US government. It was difficult to figure out via website what lenght these ties are.

  katieneis wrote @ March 9, 2008 at 8:06 pm

This week i added a couple books to my Books! page, and added more facts to the facts page.

  katieneis wrote @ March 30, 2008 at 10:14 pm

Factors leading to water contamination and shortages in Africa:

Population growth, food production, poverty, water demand, and resource management, etc. play large roles in increasing contamination and shortages in Africa. As more and more land is being cultiveated healthly ground vegetation is being lost, contributing to falling water tables and scarcity. The people of Africa do not consume a lot of water themselves, but most of the water is being used to grow crops to feed other countries and themselves last. Futhermore, water that originates up stream may be used up before it even reaches other areas down stream. And places that lie downstream have to suffer the consequences of water that is being controlled even before the people have a chance to get it.
Africanwater.org also states that, “Water law which gives certain users exclusive rights to use of water is necessary to provide security for investment (usually in the agricultural sector), but it can result in other users being put in serious jeopardy during times of scarcity” This system is wholly inadequate to save water, and to use it wisely for future generations.

http://www.africanwater.org/drghtwater.htm#_Toc390163832

  katieneis wrote @ March 31, 2008 at 9:23 pm

http://www.western-water.com/Water_Rights,_Settlements_and_Legal_Developments.htm