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COLORADO WATER CONSERVATION BOARD <br />Department of Natural Resources <br />Bill Ritter, Jr. ,Governor <br />Harris D. Sherman, DNR Executive Director <br />Rod Kuharich, CWCB Director January 2007 <br />SENATE BILL 07-008 <br />EXPANDING THE CWCB WATER EFFICIENCY GRANT PROGRAM <br />Background <br />The Office of Water Conservation & Drought <br />Platming (OWCDP) administers two grant programs <br />with separate funding sources. <br />One grant program (created by HB 01365) funds <br />the development ofwater conservation plans and <br />drought mitigation plans (~37-60-126 & X37-60-126.5 <br />C.R.S.). Funding for this program comes from the <br />CWCB's authorized 5 percent share of the <br />Operational Account of the Severance Tax Trust <br />Fund. Large water providers are eligible for water <br />conservation and drought mitigation planning grants, <br />while state and local governmental entities are only <br />eligible for drought mitigation planning monies. <br />The second grant program (created by HB 05-1254 is <br />the Water Efficiency Grant Program. This program's <br />funding comes from an annual $500,000 <br />appropriation for three years, commencing in July <br />2005. Funding comes from the un-obligated <br />"reserve" balance of the entire Operational Account <br />of the Severance Tax Trust fund. <br />The Water Efficiency Grant Program is designed to <br />provide funding to achieve water efficiency goals <br />outlined in locally adopted water conservation plans <br />and promote water efficiency. Large water providers <br />with current water conservation plans and "agencies" <br />are eligible for these funds. T11e CWCB was also <br />provided with funding to administer the program (up <br />to $80,000 for the three fiscal years of the grant <br />program. <br />What the Bill does: <br />1~ Broadens the use ofthe Water Efficiency <br />Grant Progi-arn Fund to include water <br />conservation planning and implementation, <br />education and public outreach, and drought <br />mitigation planning and implementation. <br />This change provides the OWCDP greater <br />latitude in administering the grant funds for <br />projects allowing for varYability related to the <br />demand and need for funds for either planning or <br />implementation over time. As more entities have <br />plans, the more funds for implementation will be <br />necessary. It provides predictable funding for <br />planning which must be completed before money <br />for implementation ofplans is provided. <br />2~ Increases the Funding for the Water <br />Efficiency Grant Program. <br />The Bill appropriates an additional X500,000 per <br />year through fiscal year 2011. This increases the <br />total amount of funding to $3 million. This <br />money will be used to meet increased demands. <br />Tlie CWCB is also requesting an additional <br />appropriation of $200,000 into the Water <br />Efficiency Grant Program Fund to administer the <br />expanded purposes of the Fund. Funds to <br />administer the Program Fund would be <br />appropriated in the amount of $50,000 each fiscal <br />year through 2012, when the Fund would sunset. <br />For more information contact Veva McCaig at the CWCB at (3U3) 866-3339. <br />1313 Sherman Street, Room 721, Denver, CO 80203 <br />Phone: (303) 866-3441. Fax: (303) 866-4474 <br />VJebsite : ~uu.cwcb.state.co.us <br />