|
PUBLIC
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING
JOINT COMMITTEE COMMITTEE ON WATER RESOURCES AND AGRICULTURE REVIEW COMMITTEE
| Date |
08/21/2024 |
| Attendance |
| Bridges |
* |
| Catlin |
X |
| Lynch |
X |
| Marchman |
X |
| Martinez |
E |
| McLachlan |
X |
| Pelton B. |
X |
| Simpson |
X |
| Roberts |
X |
| McCormick |
X |
|
| Time |
02:13:31 PM to 04:27:16 PM |
| Place |
Off-site |
| This Meeting was called to order by |
McCormick |
| This Report was prepared by |
Alexa Kelly |
|
| Hearing Items |
Action Taken |
| hThe State of Colorado's Climate |
Committee Discussion Only |
| hPresentation on Tap Fees |
Committee Discussion Only |
| hUpdate on Zebra Mussel Detections in Colorado |
Committee Discussion Only |
| hPublic Testimony |
Committee Discussion Only |
|
|
The State of Colorado's Climate - Committee Discussion Only
| 02:13:57 PM |
Russ Schumacher,
Colorado State Climatologist, Colorado State University, opened his presentation.
He discussed his role and the role of the Colorado Climate Center. He spoke
about various mapping that is being done to show the variation in trends
in the state's average annual precipitation and temperatures. He told the
committee about the changes in snowpack across river basins over time and
how this has affected streamflow.
|
| 02:21:00 PM |
Mr. Schumacher continued
by discussing anticipated trends in precipitation and temperature in Colorado.
He told the committee about the certainty or uncertainty that comes with
predicting trends.
|
| 02:32:28 PM |
Mr. Schumacher discussed
the projected annual temperature and precipitation changes under moderate
emissions scenarios. He told the committee what these trends could mean
for Colorado's water resources, including future reservoir storage, snowpack,
and river flows. He spoke about drought and what is changing trends in
drought, including evaporative demand and evapotranspiration. He
highlighted data provided by CoAgMET, which receives data from systems
collecting weather data in agricultural production areas.
|
| 02:46:28 PM |
Mr. Schumacher responded
to questions from the committee about flooding and wildfire risks, agricultural
production impacts on climate, and changes in runoff timing.
|
Presentation on Tap Fees - Committee Discussion Only
|
|
|
02:55:36 PM |
Jayla Poppleton, Executive Director, Water Education Colorado (WEco), shared WEco's annual report and discussed the organization's mission. She introduced the two panelists.
|
|
03:00:10 PM |
Cassidy White, Associate,
WestWater Research, introduced her presentation. She told the committee
about the rising demand and limited supply of water and how these are driving
the costs of water. She discussed the water requirements for building a
new home and common water dedication options.
|
|
03:10:09 PM |
Ms. White continued by discussing the various factors influencing tap fees and how water costs are affecting home costs.
|
|
03:15:47 PM |
Lindsay Rogers, Policy
Manager, Western Resource Advocates, introduced her presentation. She told
the committee about reasons to integrate water and land use planning, how
to create more water-wise landscapes, and ways to reduce water tap fees.
|
|
03:23:57 PM |
Ms. Rogers continued by discussing how tap fees affect housing in Colorado. She told the committee about Aurora's Z-Zone Program, which creates incentives for developing landscape that does not require irrigation after three years. She discussed Aurora's current and past regulatory approaches to reducing water use.
|
|
03:36:48 PM |
Panelists responded to questions from the committee.
|
Update on Zebra Mussel Detections in Colorado - Committee Discussion Only
|
|
|
03:44:41 PM |
Robert Walters, Invasive
Species Coordinator, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), introduced his
presentation. He gave background on aquatic nuisance species (ANS) in Colorado.
He spoke about the zebra mussels, detection history, and their discovery
in Colorado waters in 2022.
|
|
03:53:04 PM |
Mr. Walters continued by discussing mussel management and the negative impacts on water infrastructure. He spoke about the ANS Program and laws that were put in place to prevent an ANS from making its way into Colorado.
|
|
04:05:56 PM |
Mr. Walters continued by telling the committee about the education efforts CPW has in place to prevent the spread of ANS, including signage, voluntary inspections, and decontamination.
|
|
04:10:43 PM |
Mr. Walters responded to questions from the committee.
|
Public Testimony - Committee Discussion Only
|
|
|
04:20:48 PM |
Ken Brenner, representing himself, gave public testimony.
|
|
04:21:31 PM |
Jackie Brown, representing themself, gave public testimony.
|
| 04:27:16 PM |
The committee adjourned. |
