Bill Summary for Bill Number HJR05-1061

Final
SUMMARY for HJR05-1061

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, LIVESTOCK, & NATURAL RESOURCES

Votes:

Action Taken:

Moved to refer HJR05-1061 for final action, withou

PASS

07:37 AM

Representative Witwer, sponsor, described the provisions of HJR05-1061 concerning exempt wells in fractured crystalline rock aquifers. He described the hydrology of these aquifers and the potential impacts from exempt wells on other water users.

The following persons testified on the bill:

07:41 AM -- Jim Peterson, Bear Mountain Homeowners Association, spoke in support of the resolution and compared fractured crystalline rock aquifers with sedimentary rock aquifers that are typically more porous and hold more water. He explained that state regulation for exempt wells do not distinguish between wells in fractured rock aquifers and more porous aquifers.

07:54 AM -- Ronald Blatchley, Blatchley Associates, expressed concern about the need for the resolution. He explained that declines in water levels in fractured rock aquifers may be caused by drought and that these aquifers recover quicker after precipitation than wells in bed rock aquifers.

08:06 AM -- Hal Simpson, State Engineer, described regulation of exempt wells and the water supply requirements for subdivisions created after 1972. Exempt wells are smaller wells that are exempt from administration according to Water Rights Determination and Administration Act (Section 37-92-101, C.R.S., et seq). He explained that the law allows exempt wells in over-appropriated basins if limited to in-house use. Local governments are also allowed to limit building permits on small lots that have inadequate water supplies. Mr. Simpson estimated that there are approximately 100,000 exempt wells in the Front Range that are not required to augment their depletions to aquifers. Depletion is the amount of water that does not return to an aquifer after it has been used.

08:21 AM

Testimony ended.


BILL:	HJR05-1061
TIME:	08:21:56 AM
MOVED:	Penry
MOTION:	Moved to refer HJR05-1061 for final action, without amendment. The motion passed on a vote of 9-0.
SECONDED:	McKinley
		VOTE
	Brophy	Yes
	Gallegos	Excused
	Harvey	Yes
	Hodge	Yes
	Hoppe	Excused
	McFadyen	Yes
	Penry	Yes
	Rose	Yes
	Solano	Yes
	McKinley	Yes
	Curry	Yes
Final YES: 9 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

08:23 AM

The meeting adjourned.