Legislative Update
last updated 3/17/2008
CWCB funding for the Compact Compliance Pipeline
Report from CAPA's Lobbyist on the March 12th hearing on the water projects bill:
House Bill 08-1346 Representative Curry, sponsor, described the provisions of House Bill 08-1346 concerning the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) Construction Fund that provides loans and grants for water projects. She explained that moneys in the construction fund primarily come from Severance Tax revenue. She also described loans for water projects in the bill including $60.6 million from the Perpetual Base Account of the Severance Tax Trust Fund for the Republican River Compact Compliance Pipeline. She also described Amendment L. 001 (Attachment D), Amendment L. 005 (Attachment E), and Amendment L.006 (Attachment F). The following persons testified on the bill: Jennifer Gimbel, Director of the CWCB, spoke in support of the bill and described the CWCB's process for deciding which projects to include in HB 08-1346 (Attachment F) . She also described projects that will receive loans including: Section 26 of the bill that appropriates $2 million to authorize the CWCB to implement the Chatfield Reservoir Reallocation Project; Section 19 that appropriates $400,000 for the board to work with stakeholders in Colorado to explore alternatives to designation of rivers as wild and scenic under federal law; Section 5 that appropriates $150,000 for instream flow water rights; and Section 8 that appropriates $500,000 for the Colorado River water availability study. Eric Wilkerson, Board of the CWCB, spoke in support of the bill and described the process for deciding which projects to include in HB 08-1346. He also described the potential benefits from projects in the bill including: Section 2 of the bill that appropriates $60.6 million for the Republican River Compact Compliance Pipeline. Tim Pautler, Board of the Republican River Water Conservation District, spoke in support of the bill and described a settlement stipulation for a lawsuit filed by Kansas against Nebraska and Colorado concerning violation of the Republican River Compact. He also described the source of water for the Republican River Compact Compliance Pipeline and its effect on Colorado's ability to comply with the Republican River Compact. Mike Adamson, Pioneer Irrigation Company, spoke in opposition to Section 2 of the bill that appropriates $60.6 million for the Republican River Compact Compliance Pipeline. Jim Guercio, Pioneer Irrigation Ditch & Caribou Ranch, explained that he owns the number one priority water right on the Republican River and spoke in opposition to Section 2 of the bill that appropriates $60.6 million for the Republican River Compact Compliance Pipeline. Trent Bushner, Yuma County, spoke in support of Section 2 of the bill that appropriates $60.6 million for the Republican River Compact Compliance Pipeline. He also identified the potential impact to the Republican River Basin if it is unable to comply with the compact and large number of wells are ordered to cease pumping. Nathan Weathers, Colorado Farm Bureau, spoke in support of Section 2 of the bill that appropriates $60.6 million for the Republican River Compact Compliance Pipeline. Dave Robbins, Republican River Water Conservation District, spoke in support of Section 2 of the bill that appropriates $60.6 million for the Republican River Compact Compliance Pipeline. He also described Colorado's obligation to comply with the Republican River Compact and responded to prior testimony about alternatives to the pipeline. Motion/ HB 08-1346 to the Committee on Appropriations, as amended. The motion passed on a vote of 13-0. The bill will next be heard in the Apps committee around the 28th of March.
1/25/08
Tuesday January 22nd the Colorado Water Conservation Board met to decide which project to include in the Water Projects Bill for 2008. Members of the Republican River Water Conservation District were there in support of the funding. The RRWCD had also gathered letters of support for the pipeline from CAPA as well as other community organizations. Mike Adamson and Steve Bushong opposed the project, and Tim Buchanan presented on his solution. Despite the opposition the board voted to fund the entire loan of $60 million. The next step is ensuring that the funding remain in tact during the legislative approval process.
SB08-028
The bill has currently been laid over past the end of the current session. Senator Brophy used the bill as leverage to get much needed cooperation from the Department of Natural Resources. A letter from the DNR will be posted shortly explaining what there intentions are. Check back later for a copy of the letter.
1/25/08
Which deals with converting the reservoir water in Bonny to instream flow had a hearing in the Senate Agriculture Committee on 1/24/2008. Approximately 15 members from CAPA attended. Including President Joe Newton who testified on our behalf. Others that testified for the bill were Bud Pecaric from Burlington representing Farmer Bureau, Nathan Weathers from Yuma representing Colorado Young Farmers and Farmers Union, Byron Weathers from Yuma was also in attendance as President of Colorado Corn Growers. There were no individuals or organizations that opposed the bill at the hearing. The bill did not have the Fiscal Note completed on it so the committee members did not vote yet. It did seem that they were quite interested and seemed supportive overall. After it passes out of committee it will go on to the Senate Floor where the entire senate will vote for or against it.