Colorado Legislative Council Staff

NO FISCAL IMPACT

TITLE:            CONCERNING CHANGES IN THE DATES FOR REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO WATER WELL PUMPING IN THE DENVER BASIN AQUIFERS, AND, IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, DELAYING THE IMPLEMENTATION DATE OF THE STRICTER STANDARD OF REPLACEMENT OF STREAM DEPLETIONS RESULTING FROM THE OPERATION OF WELLS IN THE DENVER BASIN AQUIFERS, EXTENDING THE REPEAL DATE OF SUCH STRICTER STANDARD THEREBY DELAYING THE RETURN TO THE STANDARD OF REPLACEMENT IN EXISTENCE PRIOR TO JULY 1, 1999, AND EXTENDING THE REPEAL DATE OF THE SPECIAL WATER COMMITTEE.

Summary of Assessment

            The provisions in this bill would delay for one year the effective date of a stricter temporary standard for the replacement of actual out-of-priority stream depletions caused by the operation of the wells in the Dawson, Denver, Arapahoe, or Laramie-Fox Hills aquifers in order to allow the State Engineer, Division of Water Resources, and the Director of the Colorado Water Conservation Board, Department of Natural Resources, to complete a study of the water use in the Denver basin. The bill also would extend the repeal date of the special water committee by one year. This bill would become effective upon signature of the Governor.

            Senate Bill 96-074 authorized the State Engineer, Division of Water Resources and the Director of the Colorado Water Conservation Board, to administer a technical, peer reviewed study of the replacement of actual out-of-priority stream depletions caused by the operation of the wells in the Dawson, Denver, Arapahoe, or Laramie-Fox Hills aquifers. The bill also created a special water committee to investigate Denver Basin Groundwater management and South Platte Basin issues and authorized it to meet and hold public meetings to review the report and to investigate water rights impacts and management issues.

            The provisions in this bill would extend the completion date of the study and the special water committee created to review the study by one year, from July 1, 1998 to July 1, 1999. The provisions of this bill would not have any fiscal impact on any agency of the state or unit of local government. Therefore, this bill is assessed as having no fiscal impact.

Departments Contacted

            Natural Resources