INTERESTING TIMES

The 1968 Wild and Scenic Rivers Act is the best way that a river can be protected in the US. A river designated "wild and scenic" cannot have roads built within 1/2 mile of the water. There can be no dams upstream. There can be no logging, mining, or construction of anything but trails along its banks. Non-commercial fishing and boating are permitted.
( more )

The latest Sierra Club project to cross my email is a petition to stop anyone from mining the uranium claims that are inside of 5 miles of Grand Canyon. They say it will cause radiation contamination to the river and everyone downstream. They don't mention how polluted the river already is, or the fact that the radioactive materials leak out of the ground with every rainfall. I wonder if there is some new corporate effort to extract the uranium, or if the claims are in private hands. I'm not saying I agree with the Sierra Club--not enough info yet--but here's what they have to say:
( more )

When it gets hot, I like to go jump in the river. The Oregonians think the river is too dangerous, too polluted. I was repeating this viewpoint minutes ago, while sitting in a kiddy pool in my back yard with one of the young reporters who lives downstairs. She told me that in late July there was a toxic algae bloom in the Tualatin River. The Tualatin flows into the Willamette at Lake Oswego.

Public Health officials advised boaters and swimmers to stay away from it, and put up signs to warn people to keep out and keep their animals away. The USGS reports that 8-9 dogs/year die of drinking blue-green algae infested water.
( the toxins they aren't reporting about because they are so scarey )

The Verde is being attacked by everybody because water in the desert is precious....and the longer it takes us to protect it, the less water will be legally left in it when we do......so here is a start at taking care of this lovely river. Please click here, read, and sign the petition if you think this org is on the right track. And don't be surprised if your local river goes away before anybody notices.....

http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/2167/t/7011/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=1279

It is my observation that very large individuals LOVE to get in the water. It is the only time that they are weightless... Fat people float really well and don't get cold too fast in cold water. When I used to guide lots of paddle raft trips the trick was to let the fat people swim in the river, but then to find a place where they could climb up on a rock and straddle the tube to get back in. Pulling a 500 pound person into a raft from deep water is difficult, and can injure their shoulders or your back.

Here's today's story about a very large man who went tubing:
http://www.twincities.com/allheadlines/ci_6394709?nclick_check=1

In case you weren't aware of the severity of the drought that is already happening in the desert southwest, here's a little info (through "Riverwire" on June 6, 2007) about the situation with the lakes in the Lower Colorado River:

( Upper Colorado River Basin Hydrology )

AZ toiletbowl was denied in court yesterday. Yipppeeeee!
Here's what Neptunia had to say about it.
http://neptunia67.livejournal.com/75047.html