HB 17-1289

House Bill 17-1289, which has been signed into law, aims to help water right owners who want to change how they use their water rights. It requires the State Engineer to create rules that consider local conditions when calculating historical water usage for these changes. This affects anyone with a water right in Colorado who wants to modify it, whether temporarily or permanently. The bill being signed means it is now law and will guide how water rights can be adjusted based on specific local circumstances.

Official Summary

When a water right owner wishes to change a water right–whether a temporary loan or change approved by the state engineer or a permanent change approved by a water judge–the determination of the amount of water that can be loaned or changed relies on a calculation of the historical consumptive use of the water right. The bill directs the state engineer to promulgate rules that take into account local conditions that an applicant can use to calculate historical consumptive use. The results of the calculation carry no presumptive weight before the state engineer, water referee, or water judge. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Votes