BOARD01560

• Board Meeting Date: 5/11/1998
• Description: OWC Section - Preliminary Report on Program Accomplishments, Benefits, and Challenges
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

(Start here regarding accomplishments/lessons)
HB 91-1154 OVERVIEW

.

The Key elements of HB 91-11154:

.:. Establishes a state Office of Water Conservation within the Colorado Water Conservation
Board.
.:. Authorizes $500,000 from the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) construction fund
for grants toward water efficiency demonstration projects to promote water use efficiency. Any
public agency established under Colorado law is eligible for grant application.
.:. Requires state agencies to develop water conservation plans for state projects and facilities
constructed or renovated after 1993.
.:. Upgrades plumbing fixture requirments for construction or renovation of state facilities.
.:. Requires water conservation plans to be developed by water providers serving more than 2,000
acre feet of water annually. Plans are to be developed and implemented by 1996.
.:. Provisions of HB 91-1154 sunset effective July1, 1999.

SUMMARY OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

.:. Establish and maintain an information clearinghouse and repository.
.:. Administer grants for water efficiency demonstration projects (27 municipal projects).
.:. Ensured that state agencies develop water use efficiency plans and implement fixture
requirements for construction and renovation of state facilities.
.:. Provides technical assistance to water providers and state agencies as they initiate, plan and .
implement water efficiency measures (62 water providing entities).
.:. Administer SB-87; agriculturaVmultipurpose grant program ($500,000 - 7 projects).
.:. Conducted water audit of the Govemor's mansion including recommendations for water use
efficiency measures.
.:. Provided public information and education regarding water resources and conservation
including; newsletters, grant reports, brochures, fact sheets, water audit report for Capitol
Complex.
.:. Developed partnerships including;
. MOU with the WaterWiser (American Water Works Association national clearinghouse
on water use efficiency) to provide a toll free number and web access to state
information.
. MOU with the Division of Wildlife for a five-year aquatic resource education program and
the WIN WIN program.
. Partnered in the development of "Water, Colorado's Precious Resource"with the
Colorado Water Alliance.
. Cooperative agreement with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) to provide
professional assistance for Colorado's federal water users to fulfill their requirement for
water conservation planning signed by all three BOR area offices. This action prevented
duplication of efforts within the BOR's area offices and within current state requirements.
. Mou with the Colorado Water and Power Development Authority regarding criteria for
water conservation plans and providing their customers with professional and technical
assistance in water conservation planning. .

4