S_AGR_2019A 04/17/2019 11:53:18 AM Committee Summary

Senator Donovan presented House Bill 19-1218, which expands the number of years within a ten-year period that water loaned for instream flow purposes may be exercised from three years to five years and allows a loan to be renewed for up to two additional ten-year periods.

Representative Kathleen Curry, representing the Ute Water District, testified in opposition to the bill and responded to committee questions.

Becky Brooks, representing the Colorado Corn Growers Association and the Rio Grande Water Conservation District, testified in opposition to the bill.

Joan Green Turner, representing the Water Rights Association of the South Platte, testified in opposition to the bill.

Bill Wombacher, representing the East Cherry Creek Valley Water and Sanitation District and the Arapahoe County Water and Wastewater Authority, testified on the bill.

Chris Piper, representing Denver Water, testified in support of the bill.

Aaron Citron, representing The Nature Conservancy, testified in support of the bill.

Senator Coram, co-prime sponsor, presented House Bill 19-1271, which clarifies the authority of the Colorado Water Conservation Board to augment stream flows with water that has been previously decreed for augmentation, without requiring a further change of the water right.

Kate Ryan, representing the Colorado Water Trust, testified in support of the bill.

David Taussig, representing the City of Thornton, testified in support of the bill.

Dan Biwer, representing the City of Greeley, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Ryan responded to committee questions.

Andy Jones, representing Central Colorado Water Conservation District and North Weld Water District, testified on the bill.

Eric Potyondy, representing the City of Fort Collins, testified in support of the bill.

Senator Coram made closing comments and requested that the committee postpone the bill indefinitely.