2-07 House Committee Lay Over Unamended

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2-07 House Committee Lay Over Unamended Page 36 of 49 Madam Chair: Ms. Casson: Madam Chair: Mr. Sonenberg: bill as it's currently written, doesn't choose between an individual project proponent negotiating with the basin and the basins negotiating with each other. I think that you need to make that - if you're going to protect the water users' rights, you need to make a choice and decide that you will have the project proponent negotiating with those entities that will be affected as opposed to basin to basin negotiations because otherwise I don't know that it's sustainable in the long-term. Thank you. I'd be happy to answer any questions. Thank you very much. Sure. Jerry Sonenberg, are you? Okay. Still here. Thank you, Madam Chair. Course I'm still here. It's time to do chores. As the Ag Committee, I see you're staying late to do those chores. I appreciate that. I am Jerry Sonenberg. I am a farmer/rancher again from Sterling. I'm the president of Coloradans for Water Conservation and Development. We were founded in 2003 with a very narrow focus to support efforts to increase the responsible conservation of the state's water resources and to support efforts to increase Colorado's water storage. In this light, we applaud the efforts of Representative Penry and Director George to propose a process, the goal of which is to foster an environment where stakeholders from across Colorado can come together. In reviewing House Bill 1177 we are unable to lend our full support in light to a number of concerns that we have with this version as introduced. However, we do look forward to working with Representative Penry in clarifying these questions and developing language that may address our concerns. First, we believe that there needs to be greater clarity with regards to the composition and duties and legal standing of the basin roundtables. Dr. Foutz hit it right on the head when he said that agriculture owns 85 or 86 percent of the water and seems to be left out of the process here. www.escriptionist.com Page 36 of 49