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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Perhaps the greatest challenge facing Colorado in protecting its water supplies in the <br />immediate future is to assure that we keep the capacity already available through existing <br />projects that make water available for beneficial use under perfected water rights. In <br />most instances, projects to maintain or rehabilitate rural water facilities are constrained <br />by the owners inability to repay under the fund's current requirements. Over 150,000 <br />acre feet of existing storage capacity cannot be used because of restrictions under dam <br />safety requirements. A Board priority is to expedite restoration of that storage capacity. <br /> <br />Third, the Board believes that management improvements are essential if existing <br />facilities are to be maintained and productive into the future. Many water users have <br />accomplished significant improvements in the operation of their systems, yet others, for <br />lack of technical assistance, or financing have not been as progressive. The Board <br />recommends that it be authorized to undertake a new category of activity under the <br />construction fund to promote and assist in the accomplishment of management <br />demonstration efforts. Not only would particular opportunities be supported, but <br />experience should be gained which could find widespread application. To provide a <br />stimulus to undertake management improvements, the Board believes it should provide <br />grant money for up to 50 percent of an activity's costs. The Board acknowledges that <br />grant funds represent a permanent drain on the construction fund revolving balance, <br />consequently the Board requests an authorization for only $500,000 for this category of <br />activity. After those funds are invested and the results known, the Board will report to <br />the General Assembly. on the experience gained. However, the Board does believe it is <br />desirable to have the latitude to proceed with each project in this category without <br />corning to the General Assembly for approval. <br /> <br />Fourth, in recognition of the numerous obstacles to accomplishing water development <br />and management in the 1990s, the Board requests that it be able to make investments <br />from the construction fund for specific problem solving activities. Such activities would <br />include investigations of groundwater recharge potential, issues involved in interbasin <br />transfers, and development of information needed to resolve management and regulatory <br />issues in specific basin areas. <br /> <br />All of those activities are or have been in the past been authorized on a specific basis <br />by the General Assembly in response to requests by the Board on behalf of water users. <br />The Board now requests from the General Assembly authorization for future studies so <br />it can be more responsive to emerging water problems. <br /> <br />Finally, in the new requests for authorization to expend funds from the construction <br />fund in 1992, the Board is making specific requests under all of the categories described <br />above. They provide examples of specific opportunities for water development and <br />management and for problem solving that the Board is convinced will help meet the <br />water challenges ahead. <br /> <br />92annrpt.rpt <br /> <br />-10- <br />