Report of State Auditor 1999 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

I 10 Evaluation of Actions Taken on Colorado Water Conservation Board as of December 1999 1 Water Conservation Board's Report Response I (September 1998): Agree. The Board will review the need for revisions to the loan authorizing statutes and 1 present recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly by February 1, 1999. The statutory priorities have been revised periodically(the last significant amendments were Yp P Y( g adopted in 1993 and 1994 legislative sessions). The annual review and approval of project recommendations by the Governor and the General Assembly has assured consistency with I current state policy and statute. The statutes are silent regarding use of funds for refinancing,purchasing of existing projects, I and purchase of water rights[Section 37-60-121,C.R.S.]. The Board's Guidelines,however, provide that the costs of acquisition of land and water rights are not eligible for CWCB funding except as part of a project. The Board has subsequently adopted additional policy II at the January 1996 meeting that any purchase must be necessary "to satisfy an existing need or shortage, and the purchase price must be supported by an appraisal." In 1993 a loan for the Conejos Water Conservancy District to purchase the Platoro Reservoir (an existing federal water project) was recommended by the Board and approved by the General Assembly in order to give Colorado water users much greater control over their water supply and save them significant expense. The Board has pursued many ways of assisting towns,special districts,irrigation companies, and many others in financing their activities to meet their water supply goals,and has always coordinated closely with community leaders in recommending projects for funding. It is also significant that the General Assembly has consistently endorsed the Board's funding recommendations(last year's funding recommendations were reviewed and approved by two legislative committees in both the House and the Senate). Implementation Date: February 1999. 1 Water Conservation Board's Update (October 1999): • In Water The Board has received advice from the Attorney General's Office(AGO)that the Board is acting lawfully in recommending Construction Fund loans to the Legislature for the purchase of water rights. Another follow-up opinion from the AGO is forthcoming regarding whether the Board is adhering to the funding priorities established by statute. I I I