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On Monday, April 21, 2008 Governor Bill Ritter took action to help protect Colorado's streams and rivers. Ritter joined many other leaders, conservation groups, sportsment and water users in supporting House Bill 1280. Signed Monday, the legislation will provide important protections for water right holders who choose to lease or donate water to the Colorado Water Conservation Board for use as instream flows

Since 1973 the state has had the ability to lease or accept donations of water rights for instream flow purposes -- important tools for helping to preserve and protect our rivers. Unfortunately, due to a quirk in existing law, water right holders are actually penalized for leasing or donating water to the State. House Bill 1280 is an effort to breathe new life into the instream flow program.