Take a number

 I  have had the dubious education of being a Republican County Commissioner in the 2nd fastest growing county in the United States. I watched, over a period of twenty three years, everything I loved the most be consumed by a growth of human numbers. They came, as I did, from other places. Nine years ago I left Elbert County, overwhelmed, to a ranch in Larimer county thinking I had escaped the hoards. I dropped the struggles of political life, praying the Ostrich defense might be better, but I have two children and dreams of grandchildren.

Recently, I have extracted my head from this hole in the ground and took a look around. It seems I was standing in the line down at the Motor Vehicle Department waiting to take a number so that I might wait in line to register my old Subarau. It occurred to me that with our ever expanding local population it would not be long before I would have to do this to get my turn to fish in the Narrows of the Poudre River. I already knew that I had to go through a lottery to hunt Elk for a few days. I had put up with that,  thinking it was just the DNR making more damn rules.

I clearly remember being able to hunt for weeks at a time with out going through a wait-your-turn lottery. So, once again I  realized the things I really enjoy in this area are being consumed by the shear mass of human numbers. I also know that many, if not all of my close friends, feel the same way. While much here is unimaginable in many countries much is being lost.

 In addition, today it has also terrifyingly obvious  we are having a nasty drought. At our home are now using 25 gallons of water a day, the beets are wilted, the Tohees are eating my grapes just for the liquid  and no cattle were given the pasture.

With this pounding awareness of the drought rattling about and the ever present push of the mass of people closing in, I over heard the faint discussion of expanding Halagan Reseviour.  It occurred to me we are in a very interesting position, a position good old mother nature ( and she can be a bitch) has presented us. Water is a vital resource and water is a limiting factor as to how many people can live upon the land (Just ask the Anasasi) . If we do not have water we can not grow! So I say don’t build with tax payer money any more water holding facilities. I am tired of the growth, so are many.

 I know from experience the difficulty  saying no to development--you have to have a solid legal reason and they are far a few between. Having no water is a solid reason. It makes no sense for the electorate to encourage, promote and subsidize growth--growth that is stripping the local residences of our wonders.  We have now been handed the tool to stop it. No water!

. Or as our German exchange student explained while we were shooting carp with bows and arrows. “In Germany we are allowed to keep 5 carp a year, and you guys are just throwing them to the snapping turtles and eagles!” FIVE CARP!

I don’t want my children or grand children to have to wait in line for a number so their hunting and fishing experience consists of harvesting  five carp, but if the population of this county, and country continues to grow, carp will be the best we can hope for!