Fact Sheet - SB06-179

• Title: Senate Bill 17 Fact Sheet
• IBCC - Doc Type: Legislation

Senate Bill 179
Sen. Isgar / Rep. Penry

SB 06 - 179 creates a water supply reserve account in the severance tax trust fund and is

of getting structural and non - structural water
aimed at addressing the very real problem

projects out of the planning stage and into implementation
. This account will build

over the next five years by appropriating funds from severance tax trust fund. The

resources in the water supply account will be available to implement agreements reached

through the Interbasin Compact process, and these moneys may only be accessed by going

through the roundtables and the IBCC. The resource of the water supply account will be

available for, but not limited to:

?

Grants for environmental compliance and feasibility studies;

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Technical assistance for permitting, feasibility studies, and environmental

compliance;

?

Analysis of structural and nonstructural water projects or actives; and

?

Implementing structural and nonstructural water projects or activities.

st
The Interbasin Compact process established by the Colorado Water for the 21 Century Act
(HB05 - 1177) is being fully implemented with an impressive amount of energy and interest
throughout the state. Nine basin roundtables and the Interbasin Compact Committee (IBCC)
are formed; bring the diverse backgrounds, experiences, and geogr aphic perspectives of
nearly 300 Coloradans to state - wide water discussions. The roundtables and the IBCC are
establishing mechanisms to discuss and reach agreements on solving the state’s water
problems. As agreements are reached through this process, S enate Bill 179 (SB06 - 179) will
provide the resources to help implement those agreements.

Colorado’s severance tax fund was created for the development and conservation of the
state’s resources. It is built on the premise that as Colorado’s nonrenewable r esources are
depleted, funding should be available for sound natural resource planning, management, and
st
development. As the state faces the issues of the 21 Century the most pressing natural
resource problem is the state’s impending water crisis. Creat ing a water supply reserve
account is an appropriate use of the severance tax fund.

Water management is complex and ever changing, but the Interbasin Compact process
allows us to address these complexities and changing conditions together as one state. I t
is a broadly inclusive decision - making process that will result in water agreements.
These agreements will not only benefit specific areas of the state, but address our state -
wide water issues. As agreements on solving our water problems are reached, i t is
imperative to have the ability to implement those agreements. SB06 - 179 provides these
critical resources.

Mary Marchun
For further information please contact:
(303) 594 - 8198