BOARD01164

• Board Meeting Date: 3/21/2006
• Description: CWCB Director's Report
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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Metro-area water buyers proposed the idea because they need water to support development, and buying
it from willing farmers is easier than battling environmentalists and federal regulators to build reservoirs
and drain scenic rivers. No opposition to the bill surfaced after it was shopped around to likely
supporters and foes during the legislative off- season, although some people aren't quite ready to support
the plan. The House Agriculture, Livestock & Natural Resources Committee approved the bill 10-1. Rep.
Buffie McFadyen, D-Pueblo West, cast the dissenting vote. The hill then headed to the Heuse Fin:mce
Committee because ofthe $11,000 to $13,000 annual cost to the state engineer. Under the measure, those
costs would be handled by a new fee. Those who file a contract with the water court must pay a $1,343
filing fee, and $300 a year for each year the contract is in foree.

Colorado IDstorlc Preservation Review Board: On February 17th staff attended a meeting of the
Colorado Historic Preservation Review Board at which a document describing the historical development
of water infrastructure in Colorado was adopted. The document, "Irrigation and Water Supply Ditches
and Canals in Colorado", is a resource for parties interested in nominating historic water features for
recognition and protection. The state historic preservation process is entirely voluntary on the part of
property owners. The document is very well written, quite comprehensive, and includes many fascinating
photographs. Staff is attempting to obtain copies for interested Board members. Please contact Steve
Miller on my staff for further infonnation or to obtain a copy.

Senate Bill 37 Passes out of Senate: Senate Bill 37, as amended, has passed out ofthe Senate. The
House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee is set to have a hearing on this bill on March 20,
2006. This item is also on the CWCB's agenda.

Underground Water Storage Bill Introduced: The chairman ofthe City of Greeley's water and sewer
board is a little skeptical of a water bill =ving through the Colorado \egislature, but said every option
needs to be explored. Harold Evans said his fIrst reaction to Senate Bill 193, introduced by Sen. Tom
Wiens, R-Castle Rock, was that an appropriation for funding would be needed for this bill to work.

The bill, which cleared the Senate Agriculture Committee in the beginning of March on a unanimous
vote, calls for the study of underground water storage on the South Platte and Arkansas river basins.
Wiens said that the intent of the bill is to raise the awareness of the importance of underground storage as
a solution to Colorado's long-term needs.

The measure instructs the Colorado Water Conservation Board to join with the interbasin committee, the
State Engineer and the State Geologist to study underground water storage in the South Platte and
Arkansas River basins. The board must submit a report to the Colorado General Assembly by March I,
2007.

The study must analyze ownership issues; address the technical, economic and environmental impacts of
underground water storage; and consider a 2004 statewide assessment on ground water in Colorado.

Evans said the success or failure of underground storage depends on geology, and that these types of
studies are not inexpensive, and that is why funding is so important.

Evans noted that there may be some areas where this might work and there will be areas where it won't.
Admitting he has not seen details of Wi en's bill, he added that "storage by itself doesn't work unless you
have water to put in, whether that be surface or underground."

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