BOARD01670

• Board Meeting Date: 7/28/2003
• Description: CDP Section - Technical Assistance to Covered Entities
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

Prepare internal policy for plan review and approval- Currently the CWCB approves any plan that
contains the three attributes - consideration of the nine measures, public comment period provided,
and review and adoption by and authorizing authority - regardless of the quality of the submittal or
the intent of the covered entity to implement meaningful water conservation. It appears that the
current statute gives the Board discretion to set stronger policies for plan review and approval.

.

Therefore, one of the first tasks of Phase II will be to develop internal protocols and procedures, to be
implemented by the OWC, guiding the approval of submitted water conservation plans. The new
internal policy will be provided to impacted covered entities through mailed fact sheets and at
workshops to help establish a more meaningful relationship between the covered entities and the
CWCB regarding water conservation.

Evaluate the intent and desire of the state to revise statutes regulating water conservation planning
- The importance of this task cannot be over emphasized. Increased conservation of water - by both
east slope and west slope communities - has been .tied directly to the State's ability to effectively
develop future water projects. In addition, the role of the CWCB
in facilitating inter-basin discussions on water issues, including
water projects, for purposes of conserving, developing,
protecting and managing waters of the state is well
documented. To these points, it is incumbent on the CWCB to
evaluate current state water policy as it relates to water
conservation planning and implementation for purposes of
achieving its fundamental goals.

Increased conservation of
water - by both east slope
and west slope
communities - has been
tied directly to the State's
ability to effectively develop
future water projects.

Performing the policy evaluation is especially germane at a time
coincident with the Statewide Water Supply Initiative (SWSI)
since water conservation measures have been identified as needing improvement and coordination
by Colorado water users and other interested and influential organizations and entities.

The policy evaluation should be focused on the intent and desire of the State to increase the number
of local entities with CWCB-approved water conservation plans, and to improve the nature and
breadth of water conservation practices at the local level. The CWCB Board and Board staff will need
to work with the EDO, the AG's Office, and the Governor's Office to perform the requisite
evaluations, and if so desired, develop methodologies for introducing a bill or bills to the State
Legislature. The development of new state statutes may need to dovetail with revised CWCB rules
and regulations, as well as internal policies, such that the desired behaviors are promoted at the local
level, and unintended consequences are minimized.

The timeframe for performing the policy evaluations task is variable depending on internal and
external factors. Therefore, it is proposed that the evaluation efforts begin in FY 04, with expectations
that the results of the evaluations would influence statutes, rules and policy at various times over the
next 5 years, beginning as soon as the end of this year.

One particular policy change that should be evaluated in the short-term relates to providing small
non-reimbursable funds to covered entities impacted by policy changes. A small grant program
would encourage participation by local entities in performing water conservation plan upgrades and
updates, and thereby would strengthen the overall state role in water conservation planning.

e

10