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<br />Statewide <br /> <br />Owens Requests Drought Assistance For Six Counties: On June 9 Governor Owens requested <br />that the U.S. Department of Agriculture grant a Federal Disaster Designation for six southeastern <br />Colorado counties. The six counties are Baca, Bent, Elbert, Kiowa, Lincoln and Prowers. <br /> <br />In a letter to Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman, Owens said that damage assessments from <br />each county demonstrate substantial losses to crops and livestock forage as a result of the <br />drought beginning in 2000 and continuing to the present. <br /> <br />The designation would make farm operators in those counties eligible for low interest emergency <br />loans from the Farm Service Agency. It also would allow farmers and ranchers to use <br />Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) lands for haying and grazing. <br /> <br />Governor Signs SB 236 - Initiative To "Save Colorado's Water:" On June 5, citing <br />legislation passed by the 2003 State Legislature as "the most important step in decades to address <br />Colorado's continuing water crisis," Governor Bill OWens signed four bills that are part of a <br />bipartisan drought package. <br /> <br />The central element ofthe package is SB 236, a ballot initiative that will ask Colorado voters in <br />November to "Save Colorado's Water". <br /> <br />"Colorado's continuing water crisis did not begin with this drought and it will not evaporate .. <br />when the drought ends," Owens said. "We are all heartened by the spring runoff, but the fact is - <br />that too much of it is running to other states. We must improve Colorado's ability to save its own <br />water." <br /> <br /> <br />Development Board is sponsoring a conference on Ground Water Management in the West on . <br />December 3-5, In Amarillo, Texas. For more information, contact Tony Willardson at (801) 561- <br />5300 or twillards@wswc.state.ut.us. <br /> <br />SB 236, sponsored by Sen. Jim Dyer (R-Littleton) and Rep. Diane Hoppe (R-Sterling), asks <br />voter approval for $2 billion in bonds for water projects statewide. <br /> <br />"Reservoirs leak and facilities age. Improved storage is the best way to protect us against <br />drought, since 80 percent of Colorado's water comes from snowmelt. We must also consider new <br />facilities. Without the ability to store water, spring runoff leaves the state in a raging torrent <br />never to be seen again," Owens said. <br /> <br />Owens also signed: <br /> <br />HB 1318, statewide water banking, sponsored by Rep. Hoppe and Sen. Dan Grossman (D- <br />Denver). Water banking has been successfully used in the Arkansas River basin. This bill <br />expands water banking to the seven other major river basins. Those with surplus water could <br />deposit their excess supply into the water bank and be reimbursed as the bank leases it to other <br />users. <br /> <br />HB 1320, temporary instream flows, sponsored by Rep. Gregg Rippy (R-Glenwood Springs) and <br />Sen. Andy McElhany (R-Colorado Springs). This legislation protects the environment during <br />drought emergencies by allowing water owners to tetT1porarily donate water into the rivers and <br />fisheries. Currently only permanent transfers of water rights are allowed. <br /> <br />HB 1334, interruptible supply contracts, sponsored by Rep. Shawn Mitchell (R-Broomfield) and e <br />Sen. Mark Hillman (R-Burlington). This legislation allows cities to contract with farmers and <br />