Sign up for CEC news and alerts!
Governor Ritter Signs House Bill 1280!

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.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Thank you for protecting water right holders!

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

Thank you for showing your leadership and support for Colorado's rivers and streams. By signing House Bill 1280 you've helped to provide water right holders with the tools and protections they need to help our waterways. Healthy, flowing rivers and streams are a vital part of healthy ecosystems, communities and economies.

Thanks for supporting our rivers!

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
March 24, 2008


Background Information

Protect Water Right Holders

House Bill 1280, sponsored by Senator Schwartz and Representative Fischer, protects water right holders who choose to lease or donate water to the Colorado Water Conservation Board. The legislation: 

  • Provides water right holders with flexible choices. HB 1280 removes penalties under current law, allowing for more flexible options in how water right holders choose to use their water.

  • Respects Colorado water law. HB 1280 does not expand the existing authority of the Colorado Water Conservation Board. It respects the long held prior appropriation doctrine of Colorado water law and respects the water rights of others.

  • Enacts common sense steps to energize the existing State program. Last year the legislature voted to enact HB 07-1012, which extended these same protections to water right holders who wish to lease or donate water to the CWCB on a short-term basis. Extending these protections to water right holders who wish to seek long-term agreements will provide the program with increased water for long-term solutions and stability.

HB 1280 has widepread support in our communities:

  • Colorado Water Conservation Board
  • Colorado River Water Conservation District
  • Rocky Mountain Farmers Union
  • North West Colorado Council of Governments
  • Trout Unlimited
  • Environmental Defense
  • The Nature Conservancy
  • Colorado Environmental Coalition
  • Montezuma Valley Irrigation Company
  • Winter Park Ranch Water and Sanitation District
  • American Whitewater
  • League of Women Voters
  • Western Resource Advocates
  • Audubon Colorado
  • The Wilderness Society
  • Western Colorado Congress
  • San Juan Citizens' Alliance
  • Colorado Trout Unlimited
  • High Country Citizens' Alliance

 

contact | log in | privacy policy | site map



Powered by image