I_WRRC_2017A 08/03/2017 09:00 AM Committee Summary

09:05 AM -- South Platte Basin Rising Groundwater Levels



The committee was called to order. A quorum was present. Andy Moore, Senior Water Resource Specialist, Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB), updated the committee on rising groundwater levels in the South Platte basin. A copy of Mr. Moore's presentation can be found at https://leg.colorado.gov/node/929991/. Committee members also received three fact sheets from Mr. Moore (Attachments A, B, and C).



Attachment A.pdf Attachment B.pdf Attachment C.pdf



09:32 AM



Kevin Rein, State Engineer; Randy Ray, Executive Director, Central Colorado Water Conservancy District; and Mr. Moore responded to committee questions regarding the rising groundwater levels.





09:55 AM



Glen Fritzler, representing himself, came to the table to respond to committee questions. Committee members received a copy of a recent letter from Mr. Fritzler regarding high groundwater levels (Attachment D). Bob Longenbaugh, representing himself, came to the table to respond to committee questions and discuss his perspective on the rising groundwater levels in the South Platte basin.



Attachment D.pdf



10:13 AM



Mr. Fritzler and Mr. Moore continued to respond to committee questions.



10:24 AM -- Aquifer Storage and Recovery



Mr. Rein provided an overview of the regulation of groundwater storage in Colorado. A copy of the presentation can be found at https://leg.colorado.gov/node/929991/.



10:35 AM



Mr. Moore provided an overview of recent state-funded aquifer storage and recovery studies. A copy of the presentation can be found at https://leg.colorado.gov/node/929991/.



10:46 AM -- Abandoned Mines (Progress, Monitoring, Law, and Regulations)



Jeff Graves, Director, Inactive Mine Reclamation Program, Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety, discussed the progress, monitoring, law, and regulations related to abandoned mines in Colorado. A copy of his presentation can be found at https://leg.colorado.gov/node/929991/.



11:08 AM



Mr. Graves responded to committee questions regarding abandoned mines.



11:14 AM -- Abandoned Mines (Good Samaritan Issues)



Doug Young, Affiliate, The Keystone Policy Center, discussed good samaritan issues related to abandoned mines in Colorado.



11:28 AM



Mr. Young responded to committee questions.



11:38 AM -- Overview of Federal Water Legislation



Andrew Colosimo, Federal Affairs Committee Chair, Water Congress, discussed recent federal legislation related to water resource issues. A copy of his presentation can be found at https://leg.colorado.gov/node/929991/.



11:57 AM



Mr. Colosimo responded to committee questions.







12:00 PM -- Public Testimony



Mr. Longenbaugh, representing himself, distributed and discussed well monitoring data and maps (Attachment E), two annual reports from the Tri-Basin Natural Resources District (Attachments F and G), and written testimony from Gene Kammerzell (Attachment H) to the committee.



Attachment E.pdf Attachment F.pdf Attachment G.pdf Attachment H.pdf



12:11 PM



Mr. Longenbaugh also discussed additional water well data in the South Platte basin (Attachment I) and responded to committee questions.



Attachment I.pdf





12:17 PM -- Interim Committee Legislation Process and Deadlines



Jennifer Berman, Staff Attorney, Office of Legislative Legal Services, and Clare Pramuk, Principal Fiscal Analyst, Legislative Council Staff, discussed the interim committee draft legislation process and related deadlines. Ms. Berman distributed a handout to the committee (Attachment J). The committee discussed the interim bill drafting process. David Beaujon, Legislative Council Staff, came to the table to respond to committee questions.



Attachment J.pdf



12:28 PM



The committee adjourned.