DWR_3348306

• Board or Commission: Colorado Ground Water Commission
• Document Type - Board and Commission Meetings: Meeting Document
• Document Date: 5/17/2002
• Subject: MEETING MATERIALS

the Department of Agriculture to perform water quality sampling. Mr. Fronczak also stated that he would like to see pesticide sampling performed about every ten years.

Staff Report by Suzanne Sellers - Ms. Ms. Suzanne Sellers presented the Staff Activity Report and the final permitting report for the last quarter. Both of these reports were included
in the Commissioners’ packets.

Report of the Attorney General by Matthew Poznanovic - Mr. Matt Poznanovic stated that the report was in the packets, however, he reported on the Dunovan case. The time for appealing
the Hearing Officer’s initial order expired and there were no objections, so the permit was issued during the week. He also reported on the hearings that will be held in March.

Management District Reports - Chairman Mikita called for the Management District reports.

Mr. Aron Nein reported from the Frenchman, Sandhills, Marks Butte and Central Yuma Ground Water Management Districts. Mr. Nein reported on the under-appropriated well administration
policy in the Frenchman and Marks Butte districts in the first year under Rule 5.1 with regard to the 2 for 1 payback policy for irrigators who pumped more than permitted in 2001.
In the Central Yuma District, the board is currently discussing an under-appropriated well administration policy. There was no new news to report in the Sandhills District.

There were no reports from the W-Y Ground Water Management District or the Arikaree Ground Water Management District.

Mr. Stan Murphy, from the Plains and East Cheyenne Management Districts, reported that they had an election the first part of the month and got rid of term limits for board members and
spending limitations of the Tabor Act.

Commissioner Max Smith reported on behalf of the Southern High Plains Ground Water Management District and stated that the well owners would like to get the final permitting process
moving.

There were no reports from the North Kiowa-Bijou Ground Water Management District or from the Upper Black Squirrel Creek Ground Water Management District.

Mr. Dave Taussig, of the Upper Big Sandy Ground Water Management District, reported that they also got rid of term limits for board members in November. It was the second time they
attempted that.

There was no report from the Lost Creek Ground Water Management District.

Old Business – None

New Business –

Discussion of Items of Concern from Water Users in Attendance at the Ogallala Symposium – Mr. Fronczak reported on issues of local concern from the symposium and the five questions put
together by the committee. The primary concerns were water law, economic development, and water quality education and research. The other issues that resulted from soliciting comments
were: the final permitting process, why new irrigation wells are not allowed in the High Plains, and transferability of water and concern that a municipality can pump water within five
miles of their well site. The results indicate a need for additional education, increase knowledge on our website, pamphlets or brochures, and make information more available through
radio stations, newspaper articles. Another issue that was raised was rotation of irrigation and how it is handled by the Commission; should it be looked at as consumptive use or a
change of description of irrigated acres. Before March 1 of each year, the irrigator describes to staff which parcel they want to irrigate. Rotational irrigation is currently viewed
as a change in description of acreage, however, a concern is that it may be viewed as expansion of use of water and a need for further administration. This subject may be considered
as a topic at May or August meeting as a policy or potential rule change. The staff will research this issue further and work with the High Plains managers to solicit their comments
over the next few months on whether the local users would like to see a rule change. These comments will be brought back at the November meeting following irrigation season.

Concerning the earlier discussion on the Denver Basin aquifer, Commissioner Coryell requested using the resources of staff, with regard to having someone from staff discuss the make-up
of the Denver Basin aquifer, the geology, and how it is different from the Northern High Plains or the other districts. Mr. Simpson responded that George Van Slyke can provide a presentation
regarding the geology/hydrology of the Denver Basin aquifers at the May meeting.

Selection of Meeting Dates for the remainder of 2002 -- Marta Ahrens provided the following dates that have been scheduled for the Commission meetings: May 17, in Denver, Room 318;
August 15-16, location to be determined; November 15, in Denver, Room 318.

c. Comments from Commission on Federal legislation – Mr. Simpson reported on this issue at the last meeting and distributed legislation that was introduced concerning the Ogallala aquifer
regarding whether the Commission was supportive of Federal involvement in the management of the aquifer. There may be a new bill introduced to have state water resources agencies become
more involved, and let the Federal government deal with issues regarding providing assistance to farmers. It is an incentive program to save water and provides a one-time maximum of
$50,000 to farmers as matching funds to improve irrigation systems, and those farmers who opt for dry land farming will receive $50 per acre per year. The Western States Water Council
created a working committee, of which Mr. Simpson is a part of, to develop legislation that gives states more authority in the area of management. The focus is to stop pumping water
from the Ogallala aquifer. Commissioner Castle is in favor of this and feels that the Commission should take a lead on this.

d. Mr. Fronczak reported on the packets that the staff puts together for the districts. They are currently sent to managers and copies are made available for pick up during the meeting.
To save on copying costs, Mr. Fronczak proposed making copies only for the managers, and the managers will provide copies to their board members. Mr. Fronczak will develop a memo
and have the boards respond in writing to staff on whether they want to continue having the packets made available to each board manager.

Next Meeting - The next meeting is scheduled for Friday, May 17, 2002, in Denver, Colorado.

The meeting adjourned at 2:35 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Marta Ahrens
Secretary to the Ground Water Commission

Ground Water Commission Meeting Page 6
February 22, 2002

PacketDistrictMay02.doc

STATE OF COLORADO
GROUND WATER COMMISSION
Division of Water Resources
Department of Natural Resources

1313 Sherman Street, Room 818
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone [phone]
FAX [phone]
Bill Owens
Governor

Greg E. Walcher
Executive Director, DNR

Hal D. Simpson, P.E.
Executive Director