WRWUA

Water

[From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia]

"This article focuses on water as it is experienced in everyday life.

"Water (from the Old English waeter; c.f German "Wasser" or Weniger, from PIE*wod-or, "water"), in its
pure form, is a tasteless, odorless substance that is essential to all known forms of life and is known also as
the most universal solvent. Without it, life as we know it would not exist. It appears colorless to the naked eye
in small quantities, though it can be seen to be blue in large quantities or with scientific instruments [1]. An
abundant substance on Earth, it exists in many places and forms. It appears mostly in the oceans and polar ice
caps, but also as clouds, rain water, rivers, freshwater aquifers, and sea ice. On the planet, water is
continuously moving through the cycle involving evaporation, precipitation, and runoff to the sea.

"Water fit for human consumption is called drinking water or "potable water". Water that is not specifically
made for drinking, but is not harmful for humans when used for food preparation is called safe water.

"This natural resource is becoming more scarce in certain places, and its availability is a major social and
economic concern."

West Taos History:

Most of the early population within a few miles west of the Rio Grande gorge were Mormon homesteaders
who were facilitated by the Denver & Rid Grande Railroads "Chili Line". Water was a major problem for
their agricultural ambitions. The main remedy was the Carson reservoir on the Petaca. When the railroad
went away and considering the water problems, these homesteaders mostly pulled up stakes and left...the
Drakes being the only exception this writer is aware of.

Over the past 100 years domestic water in the Carson Village, Carson Estates area has come mostly from
three sources - roofs, town or Klauer springs in the south gorge near Taos Junction bridge. Over the years
Klauer springs has become dangerously polluted from surface runoff. A few years ago the authorities tried to
close Klauer and ran into much more community opposition than anyone could have predicted.

Klauer was kept running while alternatives could be found. A community organization was formed - the West
Rim Water User's Association - to find an alternative and the funding to accomplish it. Since water is one
thing everyone wants in their own backyard, the geographical location of a community well was very
important. Factions formed. Sadly some personalities were overbearing and others lost.

After long wrangling it was decided to place a well on a small supposedly "donated" parcel of land at the
cattleguard junction of U$-64, the West Rim Road and Sheep Ranch Road which accesses the Two Peaks
neighborhood. [At 5+ miles the location could not be better for Two Peaks unless it was in the middle of the
'hood itself.]

Phase I:

Phase 1 membership provided 106 memberships which, according to the by-laws, were intended for people
with established households. Because of low public support for the early effort, memberships ranged from $50
to $100 and some went to people with no established household. Some early birds were even rewarded with
multiple memberships - thus depriving others of even minimal opportunities to participate.

With half million dollars in government lucre a successful well was dug in early 2006. Water rights of 977,000
gallons (three acre-feet) have been allocated to the 90 or so members at the rate of about 9,200 gallons per
membership. This represents roughly 20% of the greater Carson community. The person who "donated" the
plot of land received seven memberships - 64,000 gallons per year - whether he uses it or not - in appreciation
for his "donation" one must assume. It is alleged that he will also get a pipeline to his daughter's house near
by. If true, one can wonder how this land can be considered to have been donated. Go figure.

Each $100 membership in phase one receives 106th of the benefits of $500,000 in taxpayer's money or about
$4,716. Needless to say, the same well on private property would have cost a mere $20-40,000.

Phase II and The Future:

Phase 2 memberships depend on The Organizers obtaining additional water rights. (Since they already have
their's one is advised not to hold their breath.) Memberships for phase 2 will now cost $250. At this price a
very large portion of the community will be compelled to continue using Klauer Springs for the forseeable
future or until the authorities close it once and for all. The early birds got the Federal worm and the rest must
drink from Klauer. It should be noted that there was early skepticsm about fronting $100 to The Organizers
which kept enthusiasm muted by many. Now they are being punished for their lack of faith.

The Alternatives:

The most important source of household water has been rain water and cisterns. A 1000 sq. ft. roof will
provide approximately 7000 gallons of seemingly safe soft water per year. While it is not considered potable,
an early Two Peaks family of 8 drank it for 25 years without ill effects. A 1500 gallon cistern will generally
sufice for an individual. Occasionally heavy rainfalls may fill an empty cistern in a short time.

Drinking or potable water accounts for about 1 gallon per person per day. This is easily obtained from safe
sources in town periodically. It is the writer's contention that all residents eligible for west rim well water
should receive 10 gallons per week per person if they choose...regardless of their membership status or local
politics.

In April, 2006, this web space was offered to Dawn and Rusty Rhoades, the bosses of the West Rim Water
Users Association, to post anything they wanted which would explain the present and future situation of the
association. We at 2pks only offered to help their page look nice and be internet friendly. It was and is the
intention of 2pks.com to freely provide this space for news relating to the association's principals, members
and potential future users. The object was simply to answer some frequently asked questions so Dawn and
Rusty would not have to answer them on cell phones. Instead we were told our suggested questions
demonstrated a bad attitude and it was none of our business. 2pks only role is to inform the residents of what
the WRWUA is about. Their non-cooperation compels us to editorialize and speculate.

This writer chose not to join the association being generally comfortable with the free alternatives. At the
time the phase one memberships were being offered this writer, like many of his neighbors, could not afford
to join in the well dream. Additionally, solid answers to our questions could not be obtained without going to
interminable water meetings at the Taos Junction Bridge - a long drive over poor roads. This writer also
generally abhors such meetings. The prospect of dealing with the association's borderline principals was also
very unattractive. This hesitation has been well justified by recent events.

2pks.com was not envisioned as a political instrument. As the only website focusing largely on life west of the
Rio Grande Gorge, much of the purpose is to inform people with an interest in that area. Access to safe water
is a critical issue of interest to everyone - or should be. It should not be a political issue. But when big bro's
big bucks are being disbursed it may be inevitable that it takes on a political aspect. That is not to say that
2pks.com would not get editorially involved in contentious issues that effect the general area and have not
come to the attention of the county media in general. There are issues unique to the west bank which carry no
importance to those on the east side. It's probably safe to say that the majority of people in eastern Taos
County have never been across the gorge bridge unless en route to somewhere else. Perhaps the WRWUA is
just such a contentious issue. Until late May, 2006, that was not appreciated.

Now it looks like 2pks.com has been dragged kicking and screaming into a very strange conflict. After waiting
several weeks for Dawn and Rusty to write something I called to ask them if they still wanted to use e space
offered. It was clearly and repeatedly stated that they were simply being given a blank sheet and free
internet space. They began to doubt the service being offered and asked for suggested topics. They were then
told that anything which promoted transperancy was laudable. Dawn began to get most agitated. She implied
that transperancy was undesirable and if I promoted it I was the enemy. What started out as a simple offer of
web space transformed me into Dawn's imagined enemy of the week. To end the tirade I hung up the phone
prepared to forget WRWUA being included in this website. Later Rusty, a nominal friend of 38 years, called
back. Rusty was eager to discuss poitical matters concerning water rights issues. We had a civil conversation
which always came back to the offer to use this site to inform the people and nothing more.

Later Dawn called and left a venomous message warning me to write nothing on this site about the WRWUA.
Something strange was going on with Dawn's intemperant responce to the offer of web space. It was
seemingly over-the-top. However, the top turned out be much higher still. Seemingly my talk about
"transparency" was threatening to the WRWUA bosses.

At 8:05am, May 25, 2006, Dawn called me again to flat-out accuse me of vandalizing "her" well site.
Presumably I did this because I hung up the phone during her tirade two days before. She was going to tell the
NM State Police that I had to have been the vandal - because I had the temerity to hang up on her I guess.
She went further to say that she was also prepared to tell the authorities that I grow $10,000 of pot every
year. The phone call was bizarre to say the least. But there was even more abuse to come.

At about 4pm that day old comrad Rusty called. This time he was even further over the edge than his spouse
had been at 8 am. He accused and threatened in no uncertain terms. He says that if I did not do the actual
vandalism, which seems to have been limited to some tagging, it was my "minions" who did it at my behest.
Paranoia is the word which comes to mind. After a single phone call to see when they'd write something for
this space, I was now accused of working to destroy the WRWUA and being an enemy of the state. Since he
and Dawn had federal funding the FBI would be coming to take me away soon.

Rusty kept saying two strange things repeatedly. He will never let me "take his glass of water away from
him." He maniacally shrieked this again and again. He kept saying over and over that I had said the WRWUA
was a private club for the elite and that "Dawn will be testifying to that effect in court." I did not say that.
But so what if I had? When one examines the situation they see that ninety-some people have memberships in
an exclusive association to use the proceeds of a half-million dollar federal and state grant. 80% or more of
the population and all newcomers are excluded. No provision was made for low income families to have free
access for essential needs. People with disabilities who may find distant travel for water difficult were given
no pro-active consideration. Early birds get Federal largesse. The rest are out in the cold.

The present water rights are reportedly for 3 acre feet or about 977,000 gallons. It is unlikely actual usage
will approach this figure immediately. For example, Dawn and Rusty have alloted themselves three
memberships, or 27,000 gallons per year. What becomes of the 20,000 or more gallons they might not use? If,
in the first year, members only use a third of their rights what happens to the balance? Does membership
imply the right to squander one's piece of the 3 acre feet in any way they choose including non-use by
non-households in contravention of the by-laws? Does the 977,000 gallons get used or is it reserved for
members to not use?

And what about the future? The population in the Carson Estates/Five Peaks area grows exponentially. The
residents in the village of Carson far to the south are not well served. The poorest are not served.
Undoubtedly the well site is not going to be handicap accessible in compliance with the Americans With
Disabilities Act. Questions about member's liability for calamities or vandalism remain unaddressed to the
best of our knowledge. But the biggest question must be why is there so much outright hostility to posting the
WRWUA bylaws and sample member's contract and application online? With State and Federal funding isn't
such transparency an OBLIGATION of the Association's bosses? And what better place to post such
disclosure than 2pks.com - a website focusing on the very area served by the well?

Now there is talk that the well site will be protected by razor-wire, floodlights and a live-on guard.
Presumably this is because those denied will take revenge. Paranoia?

It might have been interesting to see what would have happened if the water users had simply been given free
access to the Federal teat at first. It's possible that everyone hauling their 5 or 50 gallon containers would not
have exceeded the rights. If the use threatened to become excessive controls could then have been applied.
Rationing the water one uses for their horses or garden would seem more rational than excluding the
legitimate household use of 500 to 700 neighbors.

In California there are communities with token operated water sources. One goes to the county water
department and acquires their tokens. There are only enough tokens to match the water rights for a given
period of time. The county does not give tokens to single hogs so they can water their herd or irrigate their
garden. It is potable agua for household use - not trees and stock. So why is a single government-financed well
in a community as large as Carson not fully and freely allocated for reasonable home and kitchen use for all
who need it first and foremost?

This writer believes that a total review of the modus operandi of the WRWUA needs to be undertaken by
thoughtful people and the funding authorities. The hostility to transparency might suggest an audit is called
for. Ironically, since this writer has been threatened with arrest for getting near the well-site and since
getting near the well-site is unavoidable en route to town, it is essential to get an individual membership as
soon as possible even if the price has gone up 500% and there is no water rights for that membership for
maybe a few years. I'll call it a road toll and it will afford certain other legal advantages. Besides, with
continued drought, I might even benefit from it someday. Surely Dawn and Rusty can find something to use
my $250 for. Maybe they can get the resident guard a Taser or splurge on more and better meds.

Meanwhile, this writer needs to get on with letters to Jeff, Pete, Tom, Bill, the USDA and the rest to see if
we can't get some rational and honest transparency for our tax dollars and Rural Development.