HB 17-1248

HB 17-1248 is a Colorado state bill that allocates money from a special fund to support various water-related projects and initiatives. These include maintaining satellite monitoring systems, updating floodplain maps, improving weather forecasting, and supporting agricultural water conservation methods. The bill also provides funding for the Rio Grande cooperative project and watershed restoration efforts. It has been signed into law, meaning these funds are now available to be used by the Colorado Water Conservation Board for their respective projects, benefiting both rural and urban communities in Colorado that rely on effective water management.

Official Summary

The bill appropriates the following amounts from the Colorado water conservation board (CWCB) construction fund (fund) to the CWCB or the division of water resources for the following projects: $380,000 for continuation of the satellite monitoring system maintenance ( section 1 ); $500,000 for continuation of the Colorado floodplain map modernization program ( section 2 ); $200,000 for continuation of the Colorado decision support system operation and maintenance ( section 3 ); $175,000 for continuation of the weather modification program ( section 4 ); $154,000 for the support of the Colorado Mesonet, a spatially coherent network of weather stations reporting in near real-time via major data portals ( section 5 ); $800,000 for continuation of the water forecasting partnership project ( section 6 ); $1,000,000 for continuation of the alternative agricultural transfer methods grant program ( section 7 ); $500,000 for continuation of technical assistance for the federal irrigation improvement cost-sharing program ( section 8 ); $1,100,000 for implementation of the Colorado water loss control initiative ( section 9 ); $10,000,000 for continuation of the Rio Grande cooperative project ( section 12 ); $5,000,000 for continuation of the watershed restoration program ( section 13 ); and $10,000,000 for implementation of the Colorado water plan ( section 14 ). Section 10 appropriates $260,000 from the public and private utilities sector fund to the water quality control division in the Colorado department of public health and environment for updating regulations related to nonpotable water reuse and graywater usage. Section 11 authorizes the CWCB to make loans in the amount of up to $90,000,000 from the fund for the Windy Gap firming project. The bill directs the state treasurer to transfer the following amounts from the fund: Up to $500,000 to the flood and drought response fund ( section 15 ); $1,300,000 to the litigation fund ( section 16 ); $300,000 to the feasibility study small grant fund ( section 17 ); $1,500,000 to the fish and wildlife resources fund ( section 18 ); $260,000 to the public and private utilities sector fund ( section 19 ). Section 21 transfers the following amounts from the severance tax perpetual base fund to the fund: On July 1, 2017, $10,000,000 for the Rio Grande cooperative project; On July 1, 2017, $5,000,000 for the watershed restoration program; On July 1, 2017, and each July 1 thereafter, $10,000,000 for implementation of the state water plan; and On July 1, 2017, $10,000,000 to supplement the water supply reserve fund. Section 21 also transfers, on July 1, 2017, $30,000,000 from the severance tax perpetual base fund to the loan guarantee fund, which fund is created in section 20 for use by the CWCB for the purpose of guaranteeing the repayment of loans for water projects with multiple participants; except that, if, on or before June 30, 2017, the CWCB informs the state treasurer that an amount less than $30,000,000 should be transferred from the severance tax perpetual base fund to the loan guarantee fund, the state treasurer is required to transfer that lesser amount on July 1, 2017.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

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