S1_11-15-04

• Basin: Statewide
• Title: SWSI Phase 1 Report - Section 1 Introduction
• Date: 11/15/2004
• Author: CWCB
• SWSI - Doc Type: Final Report

Section 1
Introduction
These fundamental goals apply to all of the major
programs and projects undertaken by the CWCB, and to
the staff working within this organization.
The CWCB must also maintain and sustain its autonomy
and identity with respect to other state and federal
entities, while collaborating and cooperating with local,
state, and federal entities and others in service to the
citizens of Colorado.
^ Water supply protection
^ Flood protection
^ Water supply planning and finance
^ Instream flow and natural lake level protection
^ Conservation and drought planning
^ Water information and education
1.4.2 Structure, Authority, and Role of the
Board
The CWCB consists of 15 members. The Governor
appoints one representative Board member from each of
the state's eight major river basins and one
representative member from the City and County of
Denver. All appointees are subject to Senate
confirmation and serve 3-year terms. The Executive
Director of DNR is also a voting member of the Board.
The Executive Director of the CWCB, the State Engineer,
the Attorney General, the Director of the CDOW, and the
Commissioner of the USDA are ex-officio, non-voting
members.
To the greatest extent possible, Board appointees are
persons experienced in water resource management;
water project financing; engineering, planning, and
development of water projects; water law; irrigated
farming; and/or ranching. No more than five appointees
can be members of the same political party. By statute,
six voting members constitute a quorum for the conduct
of business, with six affirmative votes needed for the
Board to take a position on any matter.
1.5 Drought of 2002
Drought is a fact of life in the western United States.
While the scientific community's technical ability to
predict and anticipate major hydrologic cycles is
constantly improving, highly accurate forecasts are not
yet achievable. Looking back, the 1990s was a decade of
above average precipitation through most areas of the
state. This relatively wet hydrologic period coincided with
substantial population growth in Colorado. In the early
2000s, and in particular 2002, severe drought conditions
dominated nearly every part of the state and brought
water supply issues to the forefront of public and political
attention. Calls on senior water rights that had never
before been called out occurred in 2002; reservoir levels
for major municipalities reached unprecedented low
levels and prompted widespread public concern and
significant mandatory water use restrictions in many
urban areas.
The Colorado Drought Mitigation and Response Plan
provides a systematic means for the State of Colorado to
reduce the impacts of water shortages. The Plan does
not create a new government entity to deal with drought,
but provides a means for coordinating the efforts of
public and private entities that would be called upon to
deal with drought impacts.
. , ~ . ~~u~ -~ ~,°- ~~, r a~~ , .`~;;,
^ Establishing policy to address state water issues
~: Exercising the exclusive authority of the Board to
hold instream and natural lake level water rights to
protect the environment
^ Mediating and facilitating resolutions of disputes
between basins and water interests
n: Maintaining and upholding fiduciary responsibilities
related to the management of state resources
including, but not limited to, the Construction Fund
and the Severance Tax Trust Fund
Representing citizens within individual basins
Identifying, prioritizing, and recommending water
development projects to the general assembly
~
$~ole'ri~ice Wo~e' $upplY Initia~ive
~~
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