Date: 02/18/2015
Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB15-1167
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, LIVESTOCK, & NATURAL RESOURCES
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10:21 AM -- HB 15-1167
Representative Brown, sponsor, presented House Bill 15-1167, concerning a study regarding the creation of additional water supplies in the South Platte River basin. The bill directs the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) to study the feasibility of supplementing water supplies in the South Platte River basin through the construction of a new reservoir in the basin and the importation of water into Colorado from the Missouri River basin. Representative Brown responded to questions from the committee regarding the introduced version of the bill as well as Amendment L.001 (Attachment A), which was distributed to the committee. The committee also discussed the bill as it relates to the Colorado State Water Plan (water plan).
150218 AttachA.pdf
The following persons testified on the bill:
10:38 AM -- Lauren Ris, Assistant Director for Water, Department of Natural Resources (DNR), spoke about the bill and explained that DNR has a neural position on the bill. Ms. Ris explained that construction of storage projects is a major component of the water plan, which will be presented in its final form this year.
10:40 AM -- Tim Feehan, Deputy Director, Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWBC), spoke about the bill and explained how the CWCB would conduct the study outlined in the bill. Mr. Feehan explained that the feasibility study would create the most fiscal impact, which could be reduced by allowing CWCB to create a recommendation using existing information from previous studies. Mr. Feehan responded to questions from the committee and explained that a major component of the water plan includes financing for storage projects.
10:51 AM -- Donna Brosemer, City of Greeley, Colorado Water Congress, spoke in support of the bill.
10:53 AM -- Joe Frank, Lower South Platte Water Conservancy District, spoke in support of the bill. He suggested that the bill not be limited to a new reservoir but include provisions for other forms of water storage. Mr. Frank explained that the South Platte Basin Roundtable is working to include storage in its Basin Implementation Plans (BIP). Mr. Frank responded to questions from the committee regarding the bill as it would relate to the State Water Plan and the South Platte Roundtable BIP.
11:04 AM -- Clare Pramuk, Colorado Legislative Council Fiscal Analyst, discussed the fiscal impact of the introduced version of the bill, as well as the amended version of the bill.
11:07 AM -- Randy Rey, Central Colorado Water Conservancy District (CCWCD), spoke in support of the bill and suggested that the committee consider other forms of storage rather than a specific reservoir. Mr. Rey responded to questions from the committee regarding the South Platte River Compact.
11:11 AM -- Andy Jones, CCWCD, spoke in support of the bill and emphasized the importance of collaboration with the South Platte Basin Roundtable.
11:16 AM -- Bart Miller, Western Resource Advocates, spoke about the bill and responded to the questions from the committee.
11:22 AM -- Nick Colglazier, Colorado Farm Bureau, spoke in support of the bill.
11:23 AM
The committee recessed.
11:33 AM
The committee came back to order, at which time Representative Vigil laid the bill over until Monday February 23, 2015, for action only.