OSPB Request - 11-1-06

• Title: The Interbasin Compact Process: An Update on the Status of HB 05-1177 & HB 06-1400
• Date: 11/1/2006
• IBCC - Doc Type: Program Planning, Budget & Contracts

The Interbasin Compact Process :
A n update on the status of HB 05 - 1177 and HB 06 - 1400

This report provides an update on the status of HB 05 - 1177 and HB 06 - 1400 in response to a
request for information from OSPB. The table on page 3 summarizes the Basin Roundtable and
IBCC Accomplishments for 2005 - 2006.

Accomplishments

Procedural : The passage of HB 05 - 1177 established the Interbasin Compact Process creating
nine basin roundtables and the statewide Interbasin Compact Committee (IBCC). The
roundtables and the IBCC provide a permanent forum for broad - based water discussions and
encourage locally driven collaborative solutions to the state’s water challenges. The formation of
the 9 roundtables and the IBCC has involved over 300 Colo radoans in water disc ussions.
Reflecting the grassroots nature of this process, e ach roundtable has established its own by - laws,
elected its own leaders, and set its own meeting schedule and agendas. The IBCC consists of two
representatives from each roundtable, six governor appointees, two legislative appointees, and the
Director of Compact Negotiations. The IBCC has established its own by - laws and successfully
negotiated a Charter to govern and g uide negotiations between basin roundtables . The General
Assembly approved th e IBCC Charter and provided appropriations for the continued
implementation of the process through HB 06 - 1400.

Educational : The roundtables and the IBCC have embarked on ambitious educational agendas.
One of the key strengths and key challenges of this process is it expands the range of individuals
actively participating in Colorado’s water decisions. To help roundtable members get up to speed
on Colorado water issues, DNR worked with the Colorado Foundation for Water Education to
provide each roundtab le member a baseline of resources and information on Colorado’s water
issues. Roundtables have dedicated a significant portion of the meeting agendas to learning from
each other the water issues in their basin and fulfilling their role as a forum for educ ation and
debate regarding methods for meeting water needs . Over 70 water - related presentations have
been delivered to the Basin Roundtables statewide. The IBCC has fulfilled its statutory
obligation and established a Public Education, Participation, and Outreach Workin g Group which
is undertaking a number of activities to further the educational and public involvement goals of
this process.

Basin - Wide Water Needs Assessments and Potential Solutions : HB 05 - 1177 requires each
roundtable to develop a bas in - wide consumptive and non - consumptive water needs assessment.
Roundtables are relying on SWSI as the starting point and core of their needs assessment. A
Basin Report based on SWSI has been produced for each roundtable. Roundtables have the
opportunit y to refine, update, and add to SWSI using other sources of information and technical
assistance provided to the roundtables with appropriations from HB 06 - 1400. Using
appropriations from HB 06 - 1400 a team of consulting firms is under contract with the St ate for
$600,000 annually to provide technical assistance to the Basin Roundtables. The Basin
Roundtables will direct the use of this contract by submitting task orders to the consulting team to
further develop their needs assessments .

1