BOARD00502

• Board Meeting Date: 11/20/2000
• Description: State Affairs Issues
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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STATE OF COLORADO

Colorado Water Conservation Board
Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman Street, Room 721
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
www.cwcb.state.co.us

Q

MEMORANDUM

Bill Owens
Governor

TO:
FROM:
DATE:
RE:

Colorado Water Conservation Board Members
Dan McAuliffe ~
November 13, 2000 ~
Agenda Item 24 - State Affairs Issues

Greg E. Walcher
Executive Director

Dan McAuliffe
Acting Director

The Colorado Water Congress State Affairs Committee met on Nov, II at the request of
Sen. Evans, The agenda consisted of an overview of "agricultural water" presented by David
Carlson from the Department of Agriculture, an overview of SB 00-215 by Bart Miller
(Legislative Legal Services), and a discussion of "basic principles," Several future meetings were
set.

Sen. Evans indicated that he is considering reintroducing the bill. He indicated that when
he was asked to sponsor the bill he started from the presumption that no water would be taken
from agriculture should a 120,000 acre foot storage project be built as the result of the feasibility
study authorized by the bill. He said he also started with the presumption that water for such a
project should come from Di visions 4 or 5 because those are the basins that contain water that is
currently going to California.

Sen. Evans expressed frustration about several issues related to the Colorado River
Compact including the lack of information being shared publicly about the surplus criteria and
the state's authority to agree to surplus criteria. He said he prefers for legislation to focus on
Division 4 and 5 and wants a specific project recommendation to be the result of these
discussions,

Rep. Young also attended the meeting. He shared his concern about water leaving the
state and said many times that "high mountain storage" is needed,

Sen. Evans would have liked to have received specific input on how SB 00-215 should be
amended before he reintroduces it. However, as a result of the discussion, several future
meetings were scheduled that will be held at the Colorado Water Congress's office. The
meetings have been scheduled for Nov. 20, Dec. 6 and Jan, 3. The meetings will begin at 12 p,m.
The following people or groups are being asked to make presentations. When the presentation
will be made depends on the progress made at each meeting:

. Jim Lochhead, Scott Balcomb and Hal Simpson will be invited to discuss Colorado River
tit Compact issues (loosely termed "starting at the top" and "where is the H20 going").

Flood Protection. Project Planning & Finance. Stream & Lake Protection.
Water Supply Protection. Conservation Planning