h_agr_2017a_2017-03-20t13:31:25z0 Hearing Summary

Date: 03/20/2017

Location: HCR 0107

01:31 PM -- HB 17-1233



Representative Arndt, sponsor, presented House Bill 17-1233, concerning protection of the historical consumptive use analysis of a water right involved in a water conservation program. Under current law if the owner of a water right brings an action to water court to change the amount of water the owner may use, the amount of water that can be changed is limited to the historical consumptive use of water under the water right. Water usage that results from participation in a government sponsored water conservation program is not considered in determining the historical consumptive use in water divisions 4, 5, or 6. The bill applies this rule statewide to include water divisions 1, 2, 3, and 7. The bill clarifies that water conservation projects include pilot projects, and that the applicable government sponsored program approved by a state agency are limited to those with explicit statutory jurisdiction over water conservation or water rights.



The following persons testified on the bill:



01:36 PM -- Aaron Citron, the Nature Conservancy, testified in support of the bill and responded to questions from the committee.



01:44 PM -- Dr. John Stulp, Special Advisor for Water Policy to the Governor, spoke in support of the bill and stated that the purpose of the legislation is to protect water users from future quantification of their water rights due to participation in a government sponsored program. Dr. Stulp discussed a pilot program in the Gilcrest/LeSalle region to address high groundwater, and how participation in that program could affect the future quantification of a water right. Dr. Stulp responded to questions from the committee regarding the inclusion of Water District 1 in the bill.



01:55 PM -- Zach Smith, Colorado Water Trust, testified in support of the bill and responded to questions from the committee regarding the inclusion of Water Division 1 in the bill.



02:01 PM -- Emily Brummit, Colorado Water Congress, testified in support of the bill.



02:02 PM -- Bill Hancock, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.



02:05 PM



The chair closed testimony, and Representative Arndt closed her remarks on the bill.