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<br />. <br /> <br />Statutory Authority of the Board and Board Staff <br /> <br />The Board's statutory authorities and responsibilities are defined in 37-60 and 37-92 c.R.S, <br />The specific authorities are further discussed below. <br /> <br />Water Supply Protection <br /> <br />Sections 37-60-106 and 37-60-115 CR.S. (1990) set forth the statutory requirements for the CWCB <br />to protect the authority, interests and rights of the State and its citizens in matters pertaining to <br />interstate waters of the State of Colorado. Under these statutes. the CWCB is required to cooperate <br />with federal agencies and other states to better utilize the waters of the State of Colorado, develop <br />legislation to secure greater beneficial utilization of these waters and recommend mitigation to <br />maintain a balance between water development and protection of the State's fish and wildlife <br />resources. The Board also has the authority to investigate and provide responses regarding activities <br />of the federal government and other state agencies which may affect the use and development of <br />Colorado's surface and groundwater water resources. The CWCB is responsible for administration <br />of major International Treaties, Interstate Compacts and U.S. Supreme Court decisions impacting <br />Colorado's Water Resources. <br /> <br />Flood Protection <br /> <br />The Flood Protection Program is directed in ~ 37-60-106(1) CR.S. (1990) to prevent flood damages, <br />review and approve floodplain designations prior to adoption by local government entities, and <br />provide local jurisdictions with technical assistance and floodplain information. In addition, an <br />August 1, 1977 Executive Order requires the CWCB and Land Use Commission to provide <br />assistance to entities in meeting the requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Water Supply Plannin~ and Finance <br /> <br />The CWCB Construction Fund was created by the Colorado General Assembly in 1971 to provide <br />low interest loans to water users in the development of water resource projects. The fund and its use <br />are governed by ~ 37-60-121 through 125 eR.S. The CWCB Construction Fund is a partially self- <br />supporting revolving loan fund. Sources of revenue are from the return of principal and interest on <br />outstanding loans, interest earned on the cash balance of the fund through investinents by the state <br />Treasurer. mineral lease fund distributions, and occasional cash transfers from the General Assembly. <br />The types of projects that are eligible for funding are specified by state statute. <br /> <br />Stream and Lake Protection <br /> <br />The 1973 General Assembly enacted Senate Bill 97, which created the Colorado Instream Flow and <br />Natural Lake Level Program ("ISF Program") to be administered by the CWCB. The statutory <br />authorities for the ISF Rules are found at ~ 37-60-108 CR.S. (1990) and ~ 37-92-102 (3) eR.s. <br />(1990). The basic purpose of these Rules is to codify existing CWCB procedures for implementing <br />this program. CWCB is responsible for the appropriation, acqnisition and protection of instream <br />flow and natural lake level water rights to preserve the natural environment to a reasonable degree, <br /> <br />Conservation and Droug-ht Plannin~ <br /> <br />General statutory authority is given to the Board to provide conservation and drought planning <br />support to the State and its citizen under ~ 30-60-124 and ~ 30-60-106 CR.S., respectively. Housed <br />in the Colorado Water Conservation Board of the Department of Natural Resources, the Office of <br />Water Conservation (OWe) was established in 1991. Its primary task is to help Colorado <br />communities and water users become more water efficient. OWC is also responsible for providing <br />drought planning support to Colorado communities and water users. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Final Draft <br /> <br />January 14,2002 <br /> <br />Page 4 of5 <br />