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<br />.OOJ~.~O~ <br />.1..0 "' <br /> <br />I. Introduction <br /> <br />A prOVIsIOn of the Water Conservation Act of 1991, HB 91-1154, directed the <br />Colorado Water Conservation Board (the "Board" or "CWCB") to "conduct an analysis of <br />water salvage which may result from federal programs, including salinity control, and report <br />its findings to the General Assembly by January 1, 1992." Section 37-60-106.5, C.R.S. This <br />report presents the analysis conducted by the Board and the findings are hereby transmitted <br />in fulfillment of the initial obligation to report to the General Assembly. Since HB 91-1154 <br />did not contain specific instructions concerning the scope of the analysis, this report assumes <br />the General Assembly was interested in a broad overview. CWCB anticipates that the <br />General Assembly may seek additional follow up information after reviewing this report and <br />would welcome an opportunity to work further on the complex issues raised by efforts to <br />salvage irrigation water and more generally improve the efficiency of water use in Colorado. <br /> <br />Staff initially focused the analysis on recent proposals (HB 91-1110, SB 86-126; see <br />Appendix A.) brought before the General Assembly to modify or clarify the law regarding <br />irrigation efficiency improvements. Those proposals sought to recognize or create a <br />transferable water right based on reduced irrigation water use. It was believed that such a <br />right would provide an incentive for existing users to improve the efficiency of their systems. <br />Comparing between the bills highlighted a key problem in irrigation efficiency improvement <br />proposals, namely whether a credit to the original appropriator should be based on <br />reductions in historical consumptive use, or the larger volume of water represented by <br />changes in diversion rates. <br /> <br />Following initial discussions, the Board decided to expand the scope of the analysis to <br />include a variety of activities being considered that might better conserve and manage the <br />quality and quantity of surface and groundwater water available for current and future use <br />statewide in Colorado. If specific rights to salvaged or saved water are to be recognized or <br />created a balancing of complex factors must be undertaken. Accordingly, this analysis <br />considers water salvage within the context of better use of scarce water resources and <br />presents the interrelated technical, legal, and environmental issues that must be weighed. <br /> <br />The Board understood that an underlying reason for the General Assembly's reqiiest <br />was a concern with the water development issues arising on the Colorado River near Grand <br />Junction which HB 91-1110 sought in part to address. The Board recognized that competing <br />demands for Colorado River water and the current activities of the Federal Salinity Control <br />Program in the Grand Valley had created a situation requiring closer examination. Thus <br />a second report has been prepared, addressing salvage potentials and water supply options <br />in the Grand Valley. That supplemental report presents water salvage issues in a more <br />concrete setting, and may lead to discussions of a negotiated solution to that particular <br />situation. <br /> <br />bf~47b.J.n::J <br /> <br />1 <br />