Overview - Colorado Water for the 21st Century

• Title: Overview - Colorado Water for the 21st Century Act
• Date: 6/1/2006
• IBCC - Doc Type: Articles & Speeches

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office of

Interbasin Compact
Negotiations
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The many localized examples of cooperation on water indicate that as better relationships are
fostered through these basin roundtables, practical and innovative solutions to Colorado's water
problems can emerge. In addition to goodwill and trust between the participants, the success of
the roundtables will require a strong base of infoflnation. The Statewide Water Supply Initiative
(SWSI) has provided a wealth of important information, and the data can be used by the
roundtables in completing their water needs assessment and in considering alternatives to meet
any identified needs. SWSI creates a scientific standard from which the roundtables can
accomplish their work, and as SWSI continues to add new information, the data will be provided
to all the roundtables to help ensure that they are making rational decisions based upon the best
available information.

In order to assist the roundtables with their basin-wide water needs assessments, the IBCC has
established a needs assessment working group. The purpose of this working group is to
encourage development of a common technical platform, and provide coordination and resources
for the roundtables.

Public Involvement
Equally important to the selecting members of the Interbasin Compact Committee and
developing a basin-wide water needs assessment, the roundtables will serve as a forum for public
involvement. The roundtable activities are required by law to be open, public meetings. In
addition, roundtables may develop a process that will involve the public as the needs assessment
is conducted and as alternative proposals for meeting water needs of the basin are considered.
The roundtable process will create and expanded foundation for public involvement.

Interbasin Compact Committee (lBCC)
The other stmcture created by the Colorado Water for the 21 st Century Act is the Interbasin
Compact Committee. This is a 27-member committee established to facilitate conversations
between basins and to address statewide issues. The IBCC is build out of the basin roundtables
and will bring the issues of each roundtable to a statewide forum.

IBCC Membership
The IBCC will be made up of:
. Two members appointed by each of the nine roundtables;
. Six members appointed by the Governor, who must come from "geographically diverse
parts of the state" and have expertise in environmental, recreational, local governmental,
industrial, and agricultural matters;
. One member appointed by the chairperson of the Senate Ag. Committee;
. One member appointed by the chairperson of the House Ag. Committee and the Director of
Compact Negotiations, who will chair the IBCC.

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Eric Hecox Office of Interbasin Compact Negotiations [phone] [e-mail]
1313 Sherman Street, Room 718 Denver, CO 80203