Date: 02/26/2009

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB09-147

SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Moved Amendment L. 002 that strikes everything bel
Moved to refer SB 09-147 to the Committee of the W		Pass Without Objection
PASS



02:28 PM -- Senate Bill 09-147

Senator Hodge, sponsor, distributed Amendment L. 002 that strikes everything below the enacting clause. This amendment replaces all provisions of the introduced SB 09-147 except the title (Attachment D). She explained that Amendment L. 002 authorizes substitute water supply plans for the replacement of out-of-priority depletions caused by pre-January 1, 2003, diversions from wells included in decreed augmentation plans. It also includes provisions that seek to protect West Slope water users from transbasin diversions. She also read a statement explaining that she does not intend the bill to set a precedent. Instead, it is intended to address a specific and unique situation in the South Platte Basin (Attachment E).

090226AttachD.pdf 090226AttachE.pdf

The following persons testified on the bill:

02:33 PM -- Jim Hall, Division 1 Engineer, Division of Water Resources, spoke in support of the Amendment L. 002 and explained how the bill would allow some ground users to pump their wells without injuring senior water rights.

02:34 PM -- Don Showcroft, Colorado Farm Bureau, spoke in support of the bill.

02:36 PM -- Julie McKenna, Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District, spoke in support of the bill and explained that Amendment L. 002 includes provisions that address concerns of west slope water users including language in proposed Paragraph (e) of Subsection 10 of Section 37-92-308, C.R.S., that says "Nothing in subsection (10) shall authorize or facilitate additional transbasin diversions of water from the Colorado River."

02:38 PM -- Becky Brooks, Rio Grande Water Conservation District, spoke in support of the bill.

02:39 PM -- Greg Hertzke, Central Colorado Water Conservancy District, Colorado Water Congress, spoke in support of the bill and described how it would help certain ground water users to continue pumping. He also identified water users and entities that cooperated to develop the provisions of the bill.

02:42 PM -- Shanna Koenig, Northwest Colorado Council of Governments, explained that her organization is neutral on the bill. She also read a position from Grand County on the bill.

02:44 PM -- Dave Eckhardt, Colorado Corn Growers, spoke in support of the bill.

02:46 PM -- Alvin Dechant, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, spoke in support of the bill.

02:46 PM -- Jared Sater, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, spoke in support of the bill.

02:47 PM -- Chris Treese, Colorado River Water Conservation District, explained that his organization is neutral on the bill.

BILL:SB09-147
TIME: 02:51:26 PM
MOVED:Hodge
MOTION:Moved to refer SB 09-147 to the Committee of the Whole, as amended. The motion passed on a vote of 7-0.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Brophy
Yes
Gibbs
Yes
Harvey
Yes
Kester
Yes
Schwartz
Yes
Hodge
Yes
Isgar
Yes
Final YES: 7 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


BILL:SB09-147
TIME: 02:51:36 PM
MOVED:Hodge
MOTION:Moved Amendment L. 002 that strikes everything below the enacting clause. The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Brophy
Gibbs
Harvey
Kester
Schwartz
Hodge
Isgar
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection




02:53 PM

The meeting adjourned.