Date: 09/27/2012
Final
Agriculture Water Leasing
WATER RESOURCES REVIEW COMMITTEE
| Votes: View--> | Action Taken: |
| <none> | <none> |
10:31 AM -- Agriculture Water Leasing
Gerry Knapp, Aurara Utilities, described the practice of lease fallowing for agricultural water rights and how it provides additional water to municipalities (Attachment B). He explained that lease fallowing is a preferred alternative to permanent transfers of agricultural water rights and identified agricultural waters in the Arkansas Basin that are leased by the City of Aurora. He also identified barriers under current law controlling leasing fallowing agreements and proposed statutory changes to allow long-term interruptable water supply agreements.
Attachment B.pdf
10:43 AM
Mr. Knapp responded to questions from the committee about the stakeholder process that will help draft the proposed legislation and issues that may be considered regarding lease fallowing leases. Representative Fischer discussed House Bill 11-1068, which would have authorized the State Engineer to approve temporary agricultural water transfer agreements between water right owners in the lower Arkansas River Basin and a municipal user. Under such agreements, the water right owner would cease irrigation and allow a municipal user to divert and beneficially use the water right for periods up to 40 years and may be extended using the same process for one additional period up to 40 years. House Bill 11-1068 was postponed indefinitely,