BOARD02131

• Board Meeting Date: 3/22/2005
• Description: OWCDP Section - HB 1365 Guidelines, Water Conservation Planning and Grant Application, Model Conservation Plan
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

Water Conservation Plan Development Fund
Grant Program Guidance

e

1. Background

House Bill 04-1365, adopted by the 2004 Colorado General Assembly, created a mechanism for
the Colorado Water Conservation Board ("Board") to appropriate and expend such revenues as
are necessary from the unobligated balance of the five percent share of the operational account of
the Severance Tax Trust Fund for purposes of the Office of Water Conservation and Drought
Planning ("Office") providing assistance to covered entities to develop water conservation plans
that meet the provisions of g 37-60-126 C.R.S. Therefore, grant monies may be available,
depending on availability of funds, to support the development of water conservation plans for
Colorado covered entities.

Further, the Colorado General Assembly has indicated that water conservation means water use
efficiency, wise water use, water transmission and distribution system efficiency, and supply
substitution. The objective of water conservation is a long-term increase in the productive use of
water supply in order to satisfy water supply needs without compromising desired water services.
Under g 37-60-126, covered entities seeking funds from the Board or the Colorado Water
Resources and Power Development Authority (CWRPA) must have approved Water
Conservation Plans on file with the Office.

2. Intent of the Board

.

It is the explicit intent of the Board to work with water users and local entities to mcrease
meaningful water conservation in the state by:

. Increasing the number of local entities with CWCB approved water conservation plans;
. Improving the nature and breadth of water conservation practices at the local level; and
. Increasing the amount of technical assistance that the CWCB provides to local entities.

With these objectives in mind, the Board intends to administer the Water Conservation Plan
Development Fund for purposes of providing assistance to the following:

. Covered entities that require Water Conservation Plans to qualify for water project
funding under Board and CWRP A programs;
. Covered entities that need to update and/or amend existing Water Conservation Plans
currently on file with the Office to maintain funding from the Board or the CWRP A in
adherence with g 37-60-126;
. Covered entities that desire to improve, update, and/or create Water Conservation Plans;
and
. Entities that will Soon become covered entities, given expected growth trends, which
either re uire or desire Water Conservation Plans.

e

L