First Regular Session | 74th General Assembly
Colorado General AssemblyThis memorandum summarizes the legislative history of Colorado's instream flow program, which is administered by the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) within the Department of Natural Resources.
The General Assembly considered multiple bills related to water, including legislation focused on project funding, xeriscaping, studying various water challenges across the state, and stream restoration.
The Legislative Council Staff’s Water Policy Handbook is intended to serve as a reference guide to Colorado's water policies and programs. The book is divided into three parts. Each part covers a different aspect of Colorado water law and policy.
The instream flow (ISF) program was created by legislation in 1973, which authorized the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) to appropriate or acquire water rights of natural streams and lakes to preserve the natural environment without diverting the water. The ISF program recognized the...
This memorandum provides information about the interstate compacts, Supreme Court decrees, and international treaties that govern Colorado’s use of interstate streams. Specifically, it gives a brief summary of the history of each of the compacts and outlines the specific components and...
The recently renamed Water Resources and Agriculture Review Committee (WRARC) was created to contribute to and monitor the conservation, use, development, and financing of Colorado's water resources for the general welfare of the state (Section 37-98-102, C.R.S.). In 2022, the committee charge...
This memorandum describes the programs authorized by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act that may provide formula or competitive grants to Colorado.
Geothermal energy refers to heat that is found within the Earth. This heat can be used in a number of ways through geothermal energy systems. First, it can be used to directly heat buildings, where hot water near the earth’s surface is piped into buildings. Second, it can be used indirectly...
An estimated 3.3 million people in Colorado are affected by drought, with 2022 being the driest year to date over the past 128 years. In response to the ongoing drought in Colorado, the General Assembly passed HB 22-1151 to promote the efficient and maximum utilization of Colorado’s...
During the 2022 legislative session, the General Assembly considered several measures related to water, including water project funding, groundwater sustainability, watershed resiliency, turf replacement, and other water related efforts.
This memorandum provides information about irrigation districts in Colorado. Specifically, it discusses the current irrigation districts, the powers and duties of irrigation districts, and how those powers and duties compare to those of special districts.