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Public Notice <br /> Water Users in Water Division 1 and Water Division 2, <br /> In early April, the Division of Water Resources ("DWR") and the Colorado Water Conservation <br /> Board ("CWCB") will jointly hold four informational meetings and solicit public input related <br /> to the implementation of House Bill 16-1228, known as the Agricultural Water Protection <br /> Water Right Bill. This legislation, enacted in 2016, allows water users, if they choose, to <br /> change an irrigation water right through the water court to an "Agricultural Water Protection <br /> Water Right." The change allows a portion of the water right to be put to a new beneficial use <br /> through a substitute water supply plan ("SWSP") approved by the State Engineer, while a <br /> portion of the original water right must continue to be used for agricultural purposes. The <br /> legislation directed the CWCB to develop Criteria and Guidelines to address provisions in the <br /> bill and directed the State Engineer to promulgate rules that would guide the approval of an <br /> SWSP. <br /> The meetings will be held at the following times and locations: <br /> • Monday, April 3, 3 p.m. - 6 p.m., Island Grove Regional Park, Events Center Conference <br /> Room A, 501 N 14th Ave, Greeley, CO 80631, <br /> • Tuesday, April 4, 3 p.m. - 6 p.m., Otero Junior College Student Center Banquet Room, <br /> 1802 Colorado Ave, La Junta, CO 81050, <br /> • Wednesday, April 5, 3 p.m. - 6 p.m., Sterling Public Library Community Room, 420 N <br /> 5th St, Sterling, CO 80751, <br /> • Thursday, April 6, 3 p.m. - 6 p.m., Upper Arkansas Water Conservancy District Board <br /> Room, 339 E Rainbow Blvd # 101, Salida, CO 81201, <br /> The meetings are being held at the four locations. The agenda for each meeting will be the <br /> same: description of House Bill 16-1228; discussion of the draft SWSP Rules; and discussion of <br /> the draft Criteria and Guidelines for the Agricultural Water Protection Program. Please visit <br /> the DWR website for more information on the legislation, public meetings, and process for <br /> providing feedback. The CWCB's draft Criteria and Guidelines and the State Engineer's draft <br /> Rules related to the implementation of House Bill 16-1228 are also available on the website, <br /> and the public is encouraged to review these drafts before the meetings. <br /> Please use this link to RSVP to a particular meeting location by March 30 if you plan to <br /> attend. Thank you. <br /> Website information <br /> http://water.state.co.us/SurfaceWater/RutemakineAndAdvisine/AgWaterProtection/Pages/D <br /> W RSi te1.aspx <br /> On May 18, 2016, Governor Hickenlooper signed House Bill 16-1228 into law. Bill copy. This <br /> law allows the owner of an absolute decreed irrigation water right used for agricultural <br /> purposes to change that water right to an "Agricultural Water Protection Water Right." The <br /> decree for such a change must include a quantification of the historical consumptive use <br />