2-07 House Committee Lay Over Unamended

• Title: 2-07 House Committee Lay Over Unamended
• IBCC - Doc Type: Legislation

2-07 House Committee Lay Over Unamended

Page 46 of 49

Secondly, we have been discussing the big picture of the state
during those three and a half year. I know that term was used
earlier by Mr. Yaeger, but we need to look at the big picture in the
state when it comes to water. We have been having discussions on
our water task force about ways to have a dialogue statewide
concerning all the issues of water and how they affect agriculture.

We think that this legislation is the right concept and the right way
to go, but it does need some work and some help. I know that
you're all willing to maybe do that because we need to move
forward in this state when it comes to the concerns that we in
agriculture have with water and that everyone else does as well.

Specifically two concerns: as was stated earlier, the make-up of
those roundtables. Agriculture needs to have its rightful number of
people on those roundtables. We do have 85, 86, 87 percent of the
water in the state and when it comes to representation in proportion
to the water held by the surface and the sub-surface appropriators,
we need to take a very hard look at that area.

Then secondly, I know there's some concerns about inter-basin
compacts. I think we're talking about inter-basin agreements.
There's a lot of different terminology that can be used; maybe
contracts so there is not the confusion that a lot of people seem to
have.

I'd like to ask the committee to move forward with this concept
that is before you because I don't believe we have a lot of time in
this state when you look 25 years out from now. I'm not sure that
there will be adequate water for all the people, as well as the
agriculture as we know it today in the state of Colorado. It's a big
task, but I ask for your help. Thank you very much.

Madam Chair:

Thank you, Mr. Stencel. Any questions? Thank you very much.
Anybody else out there that I didn't see signed up that would like
to speak? Thank you and for the record, members of the
committee I think we all got a copy of written testimony from Dr.
John Radifer and I think he represents the Colorado River on the
Colorado Water Conservation Board. I won't take our time to read
through that, but we all have a copy of that.

Okay. Representative Penry, would you like to wrap up?

Rep. Pemy Yes, ma'am, I would. Thank you very much. I'll be very brief. I
know folks are eager to go find some dinner.

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