Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

COMMITTEE ON JOINT AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES

Date:02/24/2010
ATTENDANCE
Time:07:34 AM to 08:53 AM
Baumgardner
Brophy
Place:HCR 0107
Curry
Gardner C.
This Meeting was called to order by
Gibbs
Senator Hodge
Harvey
Hullinghorst
This Report was prepared by
Kester
David Beaujon
Looper
McKinley
Pace
Ryden
Schwartz
Solano
Sonnenberg
Tipton
Vigil
Whitehead
Hodge
Fischer
X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
Bills Addressed: Action Taken:
Water and the Colorado Economy
Colorado River Water Availability Study		Briefing only
Briefing only

07:34 AM

Senator Hodge, Chair of the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, called the meeting to order. Roll call was not taken at this meeting because attendance is voluntary.

07:34 AM -- Front Range Water Council

Mark Pifher, Aurora Water, explained that the Front Range Water Council (FRWC) consists of major water providers along the Front Range, including Aurora Water, Colorado Springs Utilities, Denver Water, Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District, Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District, Pueblo Board of Water Works, and the Twin Lakes Reservoir and Canal Company. The FRWC commissioned Summit Economics and the Adams Group to conduct a study to identify the economic value of water; examine the economic interdependence of Colorado regions; and determine the economic contributions of Colorado's regions to the state's economy. This study, titled “Water and the Colorado Economy,” was released December 2009 (Attachment A).

100224AttachA.pdf



07:38 AM

Tom Binnings, Summit Economics, explained that the study divided the state into five economic regions (Eastern Colorado, the Front Range, Central Colorado, San Luis Valley, and Western Colorado) and identified the role that seven basic industries play in each region (Attachment B). These industries include agriculture, mining, manufacturing, government, services, tourism, and household. It also examined the economic interdependence of each region with other regions and out of state economies. Mr. Binnings identified the sales of goods and services per acre foot of water withdrawn by each region. For example, the study determined that the Front Range generates $132,268 in goods and services from an acre-foot of water. In contrast, the San Luis Valley generated $1,209 per acre-foot of water, mostly from agricultural activities. He also responded to questions from the committee about how the study determined the amount of goods and services for each acre foot of water withdrawn by a region.

100224AttachB.pdf

07:50 AM

Mr. Pifher and Mr Binnings responded to questions from the committee about the methodology and data used to prepare the report including the statement that 72 percent of the water withdrawn by the members of the Front Range Water Council is from the Colorado River Basin. They also responded to questions from the committee about the basis of the study's claims concerning the economic value obtain from an acre foot of water by the various regions.

07:58 AM

Tucker Hart Adams, Adams Group, responded to questions about how the study determined that the Front Range obtains a much higher rate of goods and services per acre foot withdrawn compared with the state's other regions.

08:01 AM

Mr. Binnings, Ms. Adams, and Mr. Pifher responded to questions from the committee concerning the purpose of the Water and Colorado Economy study and what policies may be supported by the study. They also responded to questions about how the study assessed the impact of water diversions and transfers on the basin of origin.

08:10 AM

Ms. Adams described the economic benefits of tourism compared with other economic sectors including mining and manufacturing. Mr. Pifher also responded to questions about the study and whether it considered non-economic benefits of water that remains in its natural basin.


08:15 AM -- Colorado River Water Availability Study

Jennifer Gimbel, Director, Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB), explained that the General Assembly commissioned in Senate Bill 07-122 a study of consumptive and nonconsumptive needs in the Colorado Basin. Since 2007, the Colorado General Assembly has appropriated $2 million from the Colorado Water Conservation Board Construction Fund for the Colorado Water Conservation Board to evaluate water availability in the Colorado River basin and its tributaries. The study, called the Colorado River Water Availability Study (CRWAS), seeks to determine how much water from the Colorado River Basin System is available to meet Colorado's current and future water need. According to Senate Bill 07-122, the board must work in full consultation with, and with the active involvement of the basin roundtables. The Colorado River Availability Study is also required to consider current and potential future in-basin consumptive and nonconsumptive needs. Phase I of the study will identify the current water uses in the Colorado River Basin. Phase II of the study will examine future water needs in the basin. Ms. Gimbel described efforts to consult with the IBCC, basin round tables and other interested persons as part of the CRWAS.

08:21 AM


Ray Alvarado, CWCB, explained that Phase I of the Colorado River Availability Study considered existing water infrastructure, current perfected water rights, and current levels of consumptive and nonconsumptive water demand (Attachment C). The study also examined the potential effect of global warming on precipitation in Colorado Basin and consumption for irrigation and other beneficial uses. For example, the study indicated that there will be additional water available in the Yampa River Basin during the runoff period. However, this runoff occurs earlier and crop consumption will increase due to a longer growing season. Mr. Alvarado also discussed estimated stream flows in other subbasins of the Colorado River Basin. The study also examined historic water storage in major Colorado River Basin reservoirs and projected storage in the year 2040.

100224AttachC.pdf

08:37 AM

Ms. Gimbel described Colorado's water delivery obligation under the Colorado River Compact and the Upper Colorado River Compact. She also described current average annual consumption in Colorado and estimated how much water may be available for new consumptive uses in Colorado.

08:48 AM

Ms. Gimbel responded to questions from the committee concerning water available for additional consumption in Colorado and alternatives to augment the natural water supply with cloud seeding.

08:52 AM

The meeting adjourned.