Minutes Dec 2007 CBRT

• Basin Roundtable: Colorado
• Title: Colorado basin December 07 Minutes
• Date: 12/17/2007
• Basin Roundtables - Doc Type: Minutes

HB OS-1177 permits basins to study and implement voluntary transfers between basins in
Colorado, while reaffirming existing water rights and the prior appropriation system. It states in
relevant part:
37-75-102. Water rights -protections. (1) It is the policy of the General Assembly that the
current system of allocating water within Colorado shall not be superseded, abrogated, or
otherwise impaired by this article. Nothing in this article shall be interpreted to repeal or in any
manner amend the existing water rights adjudication system. The General Assembly affirms the
State Constitution's recogiution of water rights as a private usufructuary property right, and this
article is not intended to restrict the ability of the holder of a water right to use or to dispose of
that water right in any manner permitted under Colorado law.
HB 1177 has 5 stated goals:
1. Consumptive needs analysis
2. Non- Consumptive needs analysis
3. Water availability study
4. Solve the 20% gap
5. Public education of water issues facing Colorado
In-stream flow. A flow rate appropriated by the Colorado Water Conservation Board which
represents the amount of water deemed necessary to protect the environment to a reasonable
degree. This determination takes into consideration the availability of water under water rights
administered. An kZ-Stream Flow right is administered in priority, along with all other water
rights on the stream.
Maybell Pump Back: A proposal by the Northern Water Conservancy District to pump water from
the Yampa River to the Eastern Slope.
NCNA. Non consumptive needs assessment conducted pursuant to HB 1177 to determine the
amount of water needed to meet environmental and recreational uses.
Northern or NCWCD: The Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District, the agency that
contracts for delivery of water from the Colorado Big Thompson Project that diverts water from
the Upper Colorado River at collection facilities in Grand County for distribution to the eastern
slope.
PBO: A Programmatic Biological Opinion for the Recovery of the Endangered Colorado River
fish, which requires a number of measures which function as "reasonable and prudent alternatives"
for diversions that would otherwise harm endangered fish in the Upper Colorado River.
PSOP: The Preferred Storage Option Plan, a discussion of water storage options to capture
additional water from the Roaring Fork River for delivery to the Eastern Slope, discussed at the
November 2007 CBRT meeting.
RICD: Recreation In Channel Diversion. A water right awarded in order to protect recreational
boating in the river.
I:AInterbasin Compact Coimnittee~Basin Roundtables\Colorado~Minutes~Ivlumtes Dec 2007 CBKT.doc 1 I 4~2,