Summary of 2008 Water Bills

• Title: Water Bills - 2008 Legislative Session
• Date: 6/1/2008
• IBCC - Doc Type: Legislation

along the Cache La Poudre river in the city of Greeley;
* $100,000 for the board to begin developing and implementing a water adaptation strategy to
addre ss potential impacts from climate change and variability on Colorado's water resources;
* $50,000 for the board to participate with the Purgatoire river water conservancy district and the
United States Army corps of engineers in a study to determine the a ctual safe channel capacity
of, and remedial measures for, the Purgatoire river downstream of Trinidad dam;
* $100,000 for the board to participate with the southeastern Colorado water conservancy district
and the United States geological survey to develo p a reliable water quality data network for the
Arkansas river basin;
* $400,000 for the board to work with stakeholders within the state of Colorado to explore
alternatives to designation of rivers as wild and scenic;
* $65,000 for the board to particip ate with the United States geological survey in a study to
provide high resolution estimates of processes that remove moisture from snowpack in the
Colorado river watershed and in the headwaters of the South Platte river basin;
* $84,000 for the board to participate with the United States geological survey in performing
ground water flow modeling to optimize pumping locations and rates with respect to model -
computed water level declines and storage depletions of the Denver basin aquifer system;
* $30,000 for the board to participate with the Colorado water resources research institute in
developing an internet web - based searchable database of agricultural water conservation
information and to develop management strategies for Sago pondweed;
* $67,000 for the board to participate with the United States geological survey to present the
2005 Colorado water - use data compiled for the national water use information program of the
United States geological survey in a published report specifically for Colorado; an d
* $2,000,000 for the board to implement the Chatfield reservoir reallocation project. Restores the
balance of the flood response fund to $300,000. Restores the balance of the map modernization
account to $500,000. Changes the reference to the "Oak creek reservoir feasibility study" in
Senate Bill 05 - 084 to the "Oak creek flood control mitigation feasibility study" and deletes a
reference to other study participants. Repeals the prohibition on the board using the construction
fund to acquire instream flow rights and continuously appropriates up to $1,000,000 annually
that is transferred from the construction fund to a newly - created instream flow fund to pay for
the costs of acquiring water for instream flow use. Requires water efficiency plans developed by
water providers to include, rather than just consider, certain listed plan elements.

Status

02/25/2008 Introduced In House - Assigned to Agriculture, Livestock, & Natural Resources +
Appropriations
03/12/2008 House Committee on Agriculture, Livestock, & Natural Resources Refer Amended
to Appropriations
04/04/2008 House Committee on Appropriations Pass Unamended to House Committee of the
Whole
04/07/2008 House Second Reading Special Order - Laid Over Daily
04/08/2008 House Second Reading Special Order - Pa ssed with Amendments
04/09/2008 House Third Reading Passed
04/10/2008 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Agriculture, Natural Resources & Energy
04/10/2008 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Agriculture, Natural Resources & Energy +
Appropriations