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--Jim Hall: 98%: from Main Platte: North side of Denver to State line, but no on all tribs; i.e.: <br />Elizabeth; we will start looking at Poudre for example. Poudre is the main area with high <br />capacity wells where we have not finished our review; we have over 1000 wells, but most not <br />high capacity wells. <br />--How many wells have been shut down? <br />--Jim Hall: Estimates that there are 2000 wells (on record) without plans; this does not mean <br />there are 2000 wells; some that we have investigated have not really been used; so number that <br />has actually been shut off, less than that; however, some wells, like Central's wells-maybe 400 <br />500 have actually been shut off; Mr. Hall emphasizes estimate of numbers here. <br />--Dick Wolfe: State Engineer: We are complying with decrees; takes staffing to do this; thus, in <br />our efforts to step up staffing means that we are finding deficiencies and we are making serious <br />stand against those where deficiencies exist; we are working on eve year staffing plan; what will <br />our needs be over the next 5 years; need additional staff; we recognize the complex decrees have <br />been entered and the complex staffing that must be there to make sure that decrees are <br />administered in terms of priority system; we are making a diligent effort to reach goal to help <br />people be incompliance; over the years, we have been in a reactionary mode between surface <br />and non-surface users; therefore, attempts in this basin - re: Govs' Task Force that started in <br />June of 2007-this task force ended in recommendations to governor, the last legislative season: <br />none of them passed, but the House Bill 1030 that dealt with grandfathering of depletions for <br />pumping before 1972, made it through 2 readings; HB1044:short term supply plan on limited <br />time frame, excess aug credits available. then make those available to users; died; 3 SBs trying to <br />address the well issues: SB53: 100 yr rule test: if depletions exceeded 100 yr plan, would be <br />excluded, did analysis, would have excluded 1300 wells; defeat; SB136: ability to have delayed <br />replacement water for winter season, for example, if reservoirs filled, those could forgo <br />replacement; these were delayed; died; last one: SB247: post decree water supply plan: substitute <br />supply plan: currently, we have pre-decree process; this would be post decree, this could come <br />back because did not come about until later in the session; only 247 brought real water to table <br />and brought relief to well users; this is a recognition at the attempt to chip away to the priority <br />system; opines that we have reached a point where we do not want to overreact to the priority <br />system. <br />--Next week: we will be addressing other water issues : 1) SB 119: Rain Water harvesting bill; <br />this was referred to interim water committee out of ag committee; could be more work on this <br />bill; could come back for further discussion; <br />--Also, discussion in water committee: re: Vance Case in front of Supreme Court: Authority to <br />regulate oil and gas wells in state: project 52,000 acft water that are not regulated; this will be in <br />Supreme Ct in Sept. <br />