i_wrrc_2016a_2016-08-16t09:59:09z7 Hearing Summary

Date: 08/16/2016

03:05 PM -- Update of the 1921 Irrigation District Act



Mark Hermundstad, Orchard Mesa Irrigation District, discussed the provisions of the 1921 Irrigation District Act (Section 37-42-101 C.R.S., et seq.) and explained how the Orchard Mesa Irrigation District was formed under the act. The district is a 1921 irrigation district that operates the Orchard Mesa Division of the Grand Valley Project, a federal reclamation project located in Mesa County. It provides irrigation water to approximately 4,300 acres of land located in the Colorado River drainage with direct flow water rights dating back to 1900. He also identified provisions of the 1921 Irrigation District Act that should be amended to improve district operations.



03:09 PM



Kent Holsinger, Henrylyn Irrigation District, explained that the district is a 1905 irrigation district that owns various direct, storage, and exchange water rights dating back to 1907. It provides irrigation water to approximately 33,000 acres of land located in the South Platte drainage. He explained that many of the provisions of Irrigation District Law of 1921 have not been updated since it was originally enacted. He distributed a document that discusses the role of irrigation districts, (Attachment G) and (Attachment H).. He also identified provisions of the act that should be amended to improve district operations and distributed a draft bill to amend the act (Attachment I). Specifically, he requested that a bill be drafted to define landowners entitled to receive water from irrigation districts and vote in district elections; clarify qualifications of board members; update dollar figures; update provisions relating to the collection of irrigation assessments by county treasurers and how those assessments are paid to and held by irrigation districts; clarify that water in excess of that required for its landowners can be leased for all beneficial purposes; and remove inconsistencies between the 1921 Irrigation District Law and other statutes applicable to irrigation districts



Attachment G.pdf Attachment H.pdf Attachment I.pdf



03:14 PM



Mr. Holsinger responded to questions from the committee about the proposed legislation and discussed the differences between districts formed under the the 1921 Irrigation District Act and the 1905 Irrigation District Act.