Laserfiche WebLink
<br />fJ:] 0649 <br /> <br />If the legislation does not pass the Senate, I recommend that the <br />District advocate for water transfer mitigation legislation with the Colorado <br />Water Conservation Board (CWCB) as a starting point for this much <br />needed policy change. I've talked with Don Schwindt, CWCB member, <br />regarding this issue. He is very supportive of the Arkansas River basin <br />effort on this issue. He has been pushing this issue with his colleagues on <br />the CWCB as a part of an effort to develop a CWCB ag water policy, He is <br />willing to work with the District on this issue. You'll recall that this issue <br />was presented as a policy initiative to the CWCB as a part of the <br />recommendations of the Governor's Commission on Saving Open Space, <br />Farms, and Ranches. <br /> <br />In my opinion, this is a very important policy issue for the District. <br />The goal would be to require mitigation of transfers, not to stop transfers. <br />Such mitigation would level the playing field in Colorado, making it just as <br />challenging to develop water resources for diversion out of the Arkansas <br />Valley as it is to develop Colorado River basin waters, <br /> <br />Other State Legislation-I've attached a copy of the CWC Water <br />Legislative Report and copies of a few bills I thought the board may want <br />to review, I've included SB 156 as introduced by Senator Gordon. This <br />legislation would allow any water right holder to file for an instream flow <br />decree changing the use of an existing water right. Obviously the CWCB <br />has taken a tough stance on this legislation, as has the Colorado Water <br />Congress. The board may want to consider a position on this legislation--- <br />Update: The CWC met and again discussed this legislation. Apparently <br />the bill sponsor, Senator Gordon, is discussing an option to work with the <br />CWCB on this issue, allowing donations of water rights for instream flow <br />purposes without the limitation of the "minimum." Given this development, <br />my recommendation would be to take a neutral position at this time until <br />discussions with the CWCB take place. The CWCB has done an excellent <br />job protecting our rivers and streams with the adjudication of instream flow <br />water rights. At the present time the CWCB is the only entity that can hold <br />an instream flow water right in Colorado. That allows for very thoughtful <br />consideration of all the present and future uses of water as a part of the <br />process. <br /> <br />9 <br />