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Ground Water Commission Meeting Minutes Page 2 <br /> May 16, 2025 <br /> Ms. Kosloff informed the Commission that the Southern High Plains aquifer study <br /> project has selected Wilson Water Group as the consultant that will conduct the <br /> study. A link on DWRs website is now available to the public providing periodic <br /> informational updates on the status of the study. Individuals can also sign up to be <br /> part of the study notification list to receive notification for planned public meetings <br /> related to the study. A draft document for the study plan is also available on the <br /> website link, and comments related to the study plan will be accepted until June 15t" <br /> The study itself is intended to be completed by the end of 2026. <br /> Ms. Kosloff then provided updates on two DWR related legislative bills that recently <br /> passed the legislature. The first bill is known as the "DWR Efficiency Bill" and is <br /> intended to streamline certain aspects of the well permitting process, which will <br /> affect well permits inside Designated Basins. When the bill becomes effective (August <br /> 6t") water users will have two years instead of one year to construct wells after the <br /> issuance of a well permit. The permit expiration process will also be streamlined to <br /> no longer require the well owner to be notified via certified letter for situations <br /> where DWR has not received well construction documentation within the two year <br /> period where the permit was active. If a well owner demonstrates that their well was <br /> constructed within the two year window provided by their permit, the owner's <br /> expired well permit can then be reinstated. This bill also removes the final permit <br /> requirement step for non-Denver Basin bedrock aquifer wells. The second bill is <br /> related to clarifying geothermal well regulation in Colorado. This bill affects both <br /> DWR and the Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission ("ECMC"). Both <br /> agencies share the regulatory burden for geothermal projects, and this bill is intended <br /> to clarify the specific roles for each agency. Both bills have passed the legislature, but <br /> have not been signed by the Governor. <br /> Ms. Kosloff provided an update for the on-going effort to update the Well Construction <br /> Rules. The DWR Hydrogeology Team has been working for several years to modernize <br /> and update the rules, and a hearing will be held later this month. <br /> Ms. Kosloff also provided an update on the implementation of measurement rules in <br /> Division 7. The rules have been signed by the Water Court Judge, and will become <br /> effective June 1st of this year. A stakeholder process is also underway in the Gunnison <br /> Basin for measurement rules in that area. It is anticipated that the measurement rules <br /> in the Colorado River Basin will also be established at some point in the future. <br /> Ms. Kosloff closed her remarks by providing some information related to the South <br /> Platte River Compact and the Perkins County Canal Project that has been proposed by <br /> the State of Nebraska. Ms. Kosloff pointed out that this project was proposed several <br /> years ago, and has now been funded by the Nebraska legislature in the amount of over <br /> $600 million dollars. The Compact allows for the construction of the canal for <br /> diversions during the wintertime, with the diversions receiving a 1921 priority date. <br /> Nebraska has sent a handful of Colorado landowners offers to purchase their land for <br /> construction of the canal, and has further considered eminent domain proceedings for <br />