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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />,- <br /> <br />AGENDA ITEM 14E <br /> <br />Fact Sheet <br />House Bill 98-1151 <br /> <br />This bill concerns the powers of the Colorado Ground Water Commission (CGWC) <br />and the State Engineer in managing ground water within Designated Ground <br />Water Basins located on the eastern plains of Colorado. In general, the thrust of <br />the bill is to provide the resources for the CGWC to deal with a backlog in final well <br />permitting by reallocating well permitting fees to the state engineer, who provides staff <br />for the Commission. An increase in the appropriation is then proposed to be made to the <br />State Engineer's Ground Water Management Cash Fund in the amount of $240,000 to <br />support six additional FTE to process final permits. <br /> <br />The bill also establishes a withdrawal limit of 5 acre-feet for new small capacity ground <br />water wells (wells exempt from consideration of injury). Wells that withdraw more than <br />5 acre-feet would have to be considered for injury to other water rights prior to issuance. <br /> <br />Numerous customer focused measures are also provided to clarify and speed up <br />processes within designated ground water basins. Consistency with statewide procedures <br />outside of designated basins are also proposed where relevant and useful. <br /> <br />Highlights <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />~Iodifies the distribution of well permit filing fees to move that portion of <br />the fee from deposit in the general fund to deposit in the Ground Water <br />Management Cash Fund. Increases the Division of Water Resources <br />appropriation from that fund by 5240,000 to support six additional FTE to <br />process final permits and statements of beneficial use. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Establishes a withdrawal limit of 5 acre-feet for new small capacity ground <br />water wells (wells exempt from injury consideration), and amends section <br />37-90-105 regarding these types of wells to clarify provisions regarding fife <br />fighting wells, existing feedlot wells, well permit expiration, late recording <br />of old wells, rule making and appeal processes. Provisions for the <br />consideration of well permits for new subdivisions are also included in this <br />bill. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Provides for issuance of new well permits pursuant to a replacement plan <br />(similar to an augmentation plan outside basins), defmes a "replacement <br />plan" and establishes standards for processing these replacement plans. [See <br />sections 37-90-103, 107(5), and 107.5] <br />