h_agr_2017a_2017-01-30t13:30:05z0 Hearing Summary

Date: 01/30/2017

Location: HCR 0107

01:30 PM -- HB 17-1076



Representative Arndt, sponsor, presented House Bill 17-1076, concerning rule-making by the state engineer regarding permits for the use of water artificially recharged into nontributary groundwater aquifers. Under current law, the State Engineer in the Division of Water Resources is required to promulgate rules for the permitting and use of waters artificially recharged into the Dawson, Denver, Arapahoe, and Laramie-Fox Hills aquifers. The bill adds the requirement that the State Engineer promulgate rules for the permitting and use of waters artificially recharged into a nontributary groundwater aquifer by July 1, 2018.



01:35 PM -- Kevin Rein, Deputy State Engineer, Division of Water Resources, spoke in support of the bill. Mr. Rein discussed the difficulty of storing water in a tributary formation and the history of the rule-making authority of the State Engineer's office concerning the Denver Basin bedrock aquifers. Mr. Rein responded to questions from the committee concerning the measurement of nontributary aquifers, the rule-making authority of the State Engineer, the process for recharging an aquifer and how the aquifer reacts to changes in levels of the aquifer.



01:51 PM -- Pat Ratliff, South Metro Water Supply Authority (SMWSA), stated that the SMWSA was not taking a formal position on the bill; however, SMWSA is approves of the bill as drafted.



01:54 PM -- Dianna Orf, Colorado Water Congress, spoke in support of the bill.



01:57 PM



Representative Saine distributed Amendment L.001 to the bill (Attachment A). The amendment requires the State Engineer to receive approval of any new or amended rule from the House and Senate committees on agriculture. Committee discussion ensued regarding the amendment.



170130 AttachA.pdf

02:07 PM



Representative Arndt concluded her comments on the bill.