Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

WATER RESOURCES REVIEW COMMITTEE

Date:07/22/2015
ATTENDANCE
Time:06:02 PM to 07:41 PM
Arndt
X
Baumgardner
E
Place:Clarion Inn, Craig, Colorado
Becker J.
E
Coram
X
This Meeting was called to order by
Hodge
X
Senator Roberts
Jones
X
Mitsch Bush
X
This Report was prepared by
Sonnenberg
E
Greg Sobetski
Vigil
X
Roberts
X
X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
Bills Addressed: Action Taken:
Legislative Intent of Senate Bill 14-115 Concerning the State Water Plan
Overview of the Second Draft of the Colorado Water Plan
Yampa-White-Green Basin Roundtable Basin Implementation Plan
Public Testimony		-
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06:02 PM -- Legislative Intent of Senate Bill 14-115 Concerning the State Water Plan

Senator Roberts called the meeting to order and introduced Senate Bill 14-115, which charges the committee to gather public feedback on the state water plan. The members of the committee introduced themselves. Senator Roberts invited members of the public to provide their feedback on the state plan via public testimony, by submission to the committee in hard copy, or by submission to the committee website in electronic copy.

06:14 PM -- Overview of the Second Draft of the Colorado Water Plan

Rebecca Mitchell, Water Supply Planning Section Chief, Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB), presented the second draft of the state water plan. She provided background on the state plan's impetus and deadline schedule, summarized the critical action plan contained in Chapter 10 of the plan, and explained changes that were made between the first and second drafts of the plan. Elements considered "critical" in Chapter 10 of the plan include the development of a multi-purpose funding plan, promotion of multi-purpose initiatives, promotion of sustainable cities, addressing of agricultural viability and efficiency, support for environment and recreation, and preparation for an uncertain future. Ms. Mitchell also expounded upon Section 9.4 of the state plan, which concerns permitting actions. She stated that the CWCB is seeking opportunities for permitting efficiency through the identification of redundancies. She also emphasized Chapter 5 of the plan, which now includes a "stretch" goal for municipal water conservation.

06:32 PM -- Yampa-White-Green Basin Roundtable Basin Implementation Plan

Jeff Devere, At-Large Representative, Yampa-White-Green (YWG) Basin Roundtable, provided information on the YWG Basin Implementation Plan (BIP) and the recent activities of the YWG Basin Roundtable (Attachment A). Goals of the YWG BIP include protection of the YWG basin from curtailment of existing water uses, protection of agricultural water uses, identification and resolution of municipal and industrial water shortages, protection of non-consumptive environmental and recreational uses, and modernization of storage and distribution infrastructure.

Attachment A.pdfAttachment A.pdf

06:38 PM

Mr. Devere summarized the current activities of the YWG Basin Roundtable. These include facilitated retreats to discuss the details of complicated policy areas, such as native flow allotment. The roundtable is also investigating more ambitious policy proposals, such as the Maybell Pumpback, in order to respond to anticipated future questions about the effects of such a project. He also explained that the Roundtable interpreted the state's conceptual framework as a set of issues which future projects would need to be targeted to resolve.

06:44 PM

Senator Roberts invited members of the committee to share questions that they hoped public testimony might be able to answer. Members of the committee provided statements on water issues of importance to them, including: conservation strategies to avoid trans-mountain diversion; Colorado River Compact compliance; funding for agricultural improvements promoting efficiency; additional storage using reservoirs or aquifers; project funding in light of the state's other obligations; need for multiple plans across basinsgiven the state's diverse hydrology; alternatives to municipal purchase of agricultural water rights; and alternative funding mechanisms beyond the state government.

06:56 PM -- Public Testimony

T. Wright Dickinson, representing himself, encouraged the committee to continue its civic discourse with concerned members of the public. He asked the committee to exercise restraint and allow discourse regarding policy changes to occur at the basin roundtables and Interbasin Compact Committee (IBCC) rather than at the General Assembly. Mr. Dickinson spoke in favor of expanded eastern slope conservation and reminded opponents of trans-basin diversion that, per the state constitution, unappropriated waters of the state are subject to appropriation.

07:04 PM

Mr. Dickinson spoke about the variability of flows in the YWG system, which vary from 1,500-year high years, e.g. 2011, to 1,500-year low years, e.g. 2012. He shared his support for agricultural efficiency, but reminded the committee that years in which rains precluded the need for irrigation result in the worst autumn seasons for return flows because of low storage in alluvial aquifers. He also stated his support for additional storage capacity in order to manage municipal water supply year-round.

07:10 PM

Mr. Dickinson stated his concern that the critical action plan concerning agriculture could be interpreted as a means to transfer water appropriated for agricultural use to municipal water providers instead. He suggested that concentrating development in lands in municipal areas while also reducing agricultural water use could promote a large divide in the relative prosperity of cities and rural areas.

07:15 PM

Pat O'Toole, representing himself, spoke in favor of short-term action in order to combat the inevitable effects of construction price inflation. He also shared his experience with the slow pace of permitting for water projects, and suggested the need for federal officials to cooperate with the state to reduce permitting times. He stated his support for small storage projects in each basin, as these will be more easily permitted by federal officials than large storage projects. He emphasized the importance of new technology in improving water reuse, citing inexpensive technologies for water purification and reuse. He also spoke about the importance of flood irrigation, emphasizing the importance of recharge to benefit river ecosystems and consisistency.

07:25 PM

Sasha Nelson, representing Conservation Colorado, requested that the legislature implement legislation to proactively increase conservation and efficiency, modernize agriculture and water-sharing practices, and maintain healthy rivers. She commended the Basin Roundtable for its extensive studies and attention to detail. She testified that while conservation has been effective in increasing the amount of water available in the YWG basin, she and others are concerned that this makes the river a target for additional trans-mountain diversion. She also stated her belief that the state plan ought to include criteria for evaluating proposed projects including conservation, local support, and avoiding harmful impacts to rivers, and that these criteria ought to be satisfied before a project receives state assistance. She stated her opposition to new trans-mountain diversions prior to maximizing Front Range conservation and to limit state assistance for diversion projects. She discussed the importance of water to current and future recreation and the basin economy.

07:33 PM

Kevin McBride, representing himself, expressed his agreement with the need for separate water plans for different areas of the state. He discussed the need for the state to identify its constraints, since the state lacks water for new appropriations. He suggested that administrators would benefit from more clear identification of the amount of water available for consumptive use in each basin, so that they could plan accordingly. He also spoke in support of the appropriate application of technologies to improve water efficiency within the context of the state's constraints. He explained that, working within reasonable constraints, the state's water engineers and planners would be best able to produce innovative solutions.

07:38 PM

Jackie Brown, representing herself, stated that the Colorado River Compact allows each state to appropriate its allocation as it sees fit. She explained that the YWG basin roundtable is following this process, and asked the legislature to allow it the space to do so.

07:40 PM

Senator Roberts closed public testimony. Gaspar Perricone, representing the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, thanked the committee and members of the public for their involvement in the planning process.

07:41 PM

The meeting adjourned.