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<br />.. ~. <br /> <br />Chapter 2 <br /> <br />Resources Applied to <br />Ground Water Data Collection <br />and Enforcement <br /> <br />The Colorado State Engineer continues to seek additional resources to improve <br />regulatory control of ground water diversions in the Arkansas River basin. During the <br />current fiscal year 1995-96, $176,456 of general fund appropriations has been dedicated to <br />staff salaries and overtime, and $30,884 has been allocated from various sources for ground <br />water enforcement program operating and travel expenses. <br /> <br />In addition to these resources, the State Engineer sought legislation (Senate Bill 96- <br />124, attached as Appendix A) which was introduced into the General Assembly early in the <br />current session. The bill provides support for several important components of future water <br />administration in the Arkansas River basin. The key components of the bill are: <br /> <br />. An appropriation to the State Engineer of $309,963 and 3.6 Full Time <br />Equivalent (FfE) employees for the remainder of the current fiscal year and <br />$701,836 and 9.5 FTE for fiscal year 1996-97, which begins on July I, 1996. <br />A portion of that money will be used by the State Engineer to acquire legal <br />services and vehicles from the Department of Law and the Department of <br />Personnel. Appropriations are also made to the Judicial Department for costs <br />that are expected to result from the increased litigation to enforce rules and <br />regulations. <br /> <br />. Authorization for the Colorado Water Conservation Board to loan up to <br />$3,750,000 to the Lower Arkansas Water Management Association (LA WMA) <br />to purchase augmentation water or water rights to replace out-of-priority <br />depletions by members' wells. The bill requires the State Engineer to curtail <br />the use of any well whose owner has benefited from this loan and who fails <br />to make a required payment pursuant to the loan. <br /> <br />. Authorization for the Colorado Water Conservation Board to make grants to <br />water user groups to purchase systems and coordinate operations of data <br />processing systems to facilitate management of well pumping data. A total <br />amount of $50,000 is authorized for this purpose. <br /> <br />. Authorization for the State Engineer to order energy suppliers to provide <br />records of energy used to pump ground water. <br /> <br />2 <br />