Flexible Water Markets (HB 1038) – Rep. Arndt
Currently, the burden on landowners with water rights to control what they do with their
irrigated water is too high. House Bill 15-1038 will exclude flex use from the current
burden, giving water rights holders much more flexibility. As long as they continue to use
their water for beneficial use, they will be able to use it for any beneficial use, including a
compact obligation. This bill allows only ten of these benefit changes to happen annually
in each water division within the state.
Instream Flow Incentive Tax Credit (HB 1159) – Rep. Arndt
The Instream Flow Incentive Tax Credit was initially created in 2009 to encourage
Colorado’s water rights holders to voluntarily donate their water to the state in order to
preserve Colorado’s bodies of water. The 2009 bill included a limit of when the inventive
could be received, as well as a review of the policy after five years. House Bill 15-1159
will renew the Instream Flow Incentive Tax Credit for an additional five years. It will also
remove the limitations on when the incentive can be received.
South Platte Aquifer Monitoring Network (HB 1166) – Reps. Arndt & Saine
This bill directs the state engineer to design and operate a tributary groundwatermonitoring network in the South Platte River alluvial aquifer. This network will allow the
state to check and analyze groundwater levels, with the ultimate goal of determining and
improving the aquifer’s conditions and influences. It also authorizes the use of a water
resources cash fund to pay for the operation and maintenance of the network. Lastly, it
authorizes the use of the Colorado water conservation board construction and
maintenance of the network.
Water Efficiency Savings Instream Use Pilot (HB 1222) – Rep. Becker
This bill allows the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) to acquire water rights
for instream flow use on a pilot project basis without the need for a water court-decreed
change of water right. These water rights represent the savings attained by
implementing a limited number of nonconsumptive water efficiency pilot projects.
Residential Precipitation Rain Barrels (HB 1259)–Reps. Esgar & Danielson
Currently it is illegal to collect and store rainwater from roofs in Colorado. HB15-1259
allows someone to keep the rain off their roof in up to two 55-gallon rain barrels for use
in their garden or on their lawn. Since 97 percent of the water that falls on a residential
lot never makes it to a river or stream system, collecting rainwater does not threaten
downstream water users. Colorado is the only state where it is illegal to collect and use
rainwater. Water is the state’s most precious natural resource and this will encourage
more urban and suburban residents to practice water conservation.
Inspections Hydroelectric Projects (HB 1364)- Rep. Mitsch Bush
This bill clarifies existing statute to ensure that hydroelectric plants connected to utility
and distribution lines are subject to inspection ensuring that the plant is both
ecologically safe for the environment and that it doesn’t pose a risk to the stability of
local power grids.
Water Conservation in Land-use Planning (SB 008) – Rep. Vigil
In an effort to make sure we use water as efficiently as possible moving forward, the
bipartisan Senate Bill 15-008 will require the development of training program on best
practices for water demand management and conservation. The Colorado Water
Conservation Board will regularly provide free training for local government water and
land use partners, as well as advice on how to best incorporate their methods into land
use planning.
Return of Water from Tail Ditch (SB 55) – Reps. Arndt & Becker J.
This bill allows a person using an irrigation ditch system to use a tailwater ditch to return
water to a stream in variable amounts. This practice will facilitate efficient operation of
the ditch and delivery of water to everyone served by the ditch system. In addition, the
state engineer shall not require the delivery of any minimum amount of water unless
required by a court decree.
Fairer Water Use (SB 183) – Reps. Arndt & Becker J
Currently, how judges determine water rights is not a balanced, fair approach because it
does not factor in actual water use over a significant period of times. SB 183 will adjust
this by requiring judges to review a specific period of time in regards to water rights. By
providing a host of information, judges will be able to rightly and justly distribute water
rights in relation to the how constituents actually consume water.
Comprehensive Water Projects Construction (SB 253) – Rep. Vigil
SB 253, a bill with bipartisan support, will help us build and modernize our water
preservation system through funding ten separate programs, all with explicit goal of
creating a safer, more efficient water conservation infrastructure. These modern tools
will help parts of Colorado do things like better determine the impact of large rains, or
provide funds so that the Colorado Climate Center can better analyze how to deal with
climate change in America.