Healthy Rivers Reform Swept Into Law

Release Date: April 21, 2008
Denver

Contact: Ben Davis 303-522-6790

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Governor Ritter signed a measure aimed at reviving the health of state rivers and streams into law today.  The measure, HB 1280, sponsored by Representative Randy Fischer (D-Ft. Collins) and Senator Gail Schwartz, protects water right holders when they choose to lease or donate water to the Colorado Water Conservation Board.

"No one wants our state's future to dry up today - and it doesn't have to," said Representative Fischer.  "Today's demands on our rivers will require new and flexible solutions."

The Colorado General Assembly established the Instream Flow and Natural Lake Level Program in 1973 to ensure that state stewards of Colorado's water resources could preserve the health of rivers and streams.  With more than a million people expected to move to Colorado in the next decade, the program's managers and partners are promoting several improvements to the current program.  Specifically, HB 1280 will allow current water right owners to lease their water right to the Colorado Water Conservation Board for non-consumptive uses.  

"This measure energizes current state programs by creating new freedoms for water right holders to keep their local rivers and streams healthy," stated Senator Schwartz.  "We are taking a giant step forward today."  

Representatives from a broad coalition of state leaders, conservation groups, sportsmen, agricultural representatives, water right holders, water districts, cities, and counties spoke in favor of the legislation. The group hopes that by eliminating current barriers to leasing and donating water, the state's program will find new popularity amongst a range of water right holders.

"We hear a lot of interest in the concept of instream flow loans and donations," said Becky Long of the Colorado Environmental Coalition. "Unfortunately water right holders simply are not willing to risk the loss of their water rights, and this gives us a chance to remove that risk."

In addition to individual water right holders, municipalities and water districts are interested in the protections the legislation would provide. 

"Right now we're handcuffed by existing law, if I could direct some of our water to an instream flow we would not only be keeping more water in the river we would also be able to save money on treatment costs" said Kirk Klancke, manager of the Winter Park West Water and Sanitation District. "An instream flow would provide us with a lot more freedom in how we manage our water."

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