C.R.S. Section 23-31-804
Republican river groundwater economic study

  • reporting
  • legislative declaration
  • definitions
  • repeal

(1)

The general assembly finds and declares that:

(a)

In 1942, the general assembly ratified the Republican river compact, an interstate compact between Colorado, Nebraska, and Kansas regarding the allocation of water among the three states from the Republican river;

(b)

Various disagreements and litigation have arisen among the three states regarding the use of water as allocated by the compact;

(c)

In 2016, Colorado, Nebraska, and Kansas, acting through the Republican river compact administration, adopted a series of resolutions resolving various disputes among the three states;

(d)

Under the terms of one of the resolutions, Colorado agreed to reduce the number of acres irrigated within an area of the Republican river basin known as the South Fork focus zone by twenty-five thousand acres by December 31, 2029, which action is a solemn obligation of the state;

(e)

If Colorado fails to meet its obligation under the terms of the South Fork focus zone resolution, the state engineer could be required to curtail all groundwater use subject to the Republican river compact; and

(f)

It is appropriate for the Colorado water center to study the economic impact that will result if Colorado fails to meet its obligation under the terms of the South Fork focus zone resolution and the state engineer is then required to curtail all large-capacity groundwater withdrawals within the Republican river basin.

(2)

As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:

(a)

“Agricultural committees” means the house of representatives agriculture, water, and natural resources committee and the senate agriculture and natural resources committee, or their successor committees.

(b)

Notwithstanding section 23-31-801 (1), “Colorado water center” or “center” means the institute.

(c)

“Large-capacity groundwater withdrawal” means the lawful ability to withdraw water in an amount of more than fifty gallons per minute from a well.

(d)

“Republican river basin” has the meaning set forth in section 37-50-102 (5).

(e)

“South Fork focus zone resolution” or “resolution” means the 2016 Republican river compact administration resolution signed by the commissioners of the Republican river compact administration on August 24, 2016, in which the state agreed to retire twenty-five thousand acres of its irrigated lands within the South Fork focus zone of the Republican river basin, and subsequent resolutions amending the terms of the resolution.

(f)

“State engineer” means the state engineer appointed by the governor pursuant to section 37-80-101.

(g)

“Water resources and agriculture review committee” means the water resources and agriculture review committee created in section 37-98-102 (1)(a)(I).

(3)

On or before January 1, 2026, the Colorado water center shall complete a study of the economic impact that will result if Colorado fails to meet its obligation under the terms of the South Fork focus zone resolution and the state engineer is then required to curtail all large-capacity groundwater withdrawals within the Republican river basin. In conducting the study, the Colorado water center shall examine the economic impact to the areas of Colorado, Nebraska, and Kansas affected by the Republican river basin.

(4)

The center shall:

(a)

Prepare a progress report of the study conducted pursuant to this section and present the progress report to a joint committee of the agricultural committees during the joint committee’s 2025 hearing held pursuant to section 2-7-203 of the “SMART Act”, part 2 of article 7 of title 2. The center shall submit a copy of the progress report to the water resources and agriculture review committee and, upon request of the committee, present the progress report to the committee.

(b)

On or before January 1, 2026, prepare a final report of the findings and conclusions from the study and post the final report on the center’s website; and

(c)

During the 2026 calendar year, present the final report:

(I)

To the water resources and agriculture review committee; and

(II)

To the joint committee of the agricultural committees.

(5)

This section is repealed, effective January 1, 2027.

Source: Section 23-31-804 — Republican river groundwater economic study - reporting - legislative declaration - definitions - repeal, https://leg.­colorado.­gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/crs2023-title-23.­pdf (accessed Oct. 20, 2023).

23‑31‑101
University established - role and mission 23‑31‑102
Name changed 23‑31‑103
Board to control college and lands 23‑31‑104
Who shall constitute faculty 23‑31‑105
Duty of faculty 23‑31‑106
President - duties 23‑31‑107
President may remove officers 23‑31‑108
President may be professor 23‑31‑109
Report of experimental operations 23‑31‑110
Pledge of income from facilities or equipment 23‑31‑111
Rents or charges for buildings and facilities for research 23‑31‑112
Research building revolving fund - appropriation of fund 23‑31‑113
Anticipation warrants 23‑31‑114
Purchase of anticipation warrants 23‑31‑115
Warrants as security - when 23‑31‑116
Tax exemption 23‑31‑117
Borrowing funds 23‑31‑118
Advancement of moneys and pledge of income 23‑31‑119
Plant breeding programs 23‑31‑120
Cooperation with other agencies 23‑31‑121
Providing personnel, supplies 23‑31‑122
Agricultural extension service furnished counties 23‑31‑201
Transfer to board of governors of the Colorado state university system - exceptions 23‑31‑202
Powers and duties of board of governors of the Colorado state university system 23‑31‑205
Provisions of act of congress accepted 23‑31‑206
Cooperative agreements 23‑31‑207
Employees and personnel 23‑31‑208
Rights by succession to state board of land commissioners - transfers to division of fire prevention and control 23‑31‑301
Legislative declaration 23‑31‑302
Forestry function named 23‑31‑303
Funds available 23‑31‑310
Forest restoration and wildfire risk mitigation grant program - technical advisory panel - legislative declaration - definitions - repeal 23‑31‑311
Watershed protection projects and forest health projects 23‑31‑312
Community wildfire protection plans - biomass utilization plans - county governments - guidelines and criteria - legislative declaration - definitions 23‑31‑313
Healthy forests - vibrant communities - funds created - outreach working group - legislative declaration - definition - repeal 23‑31‑316
Colorado forest health council - legislative declaration - repeal 23‑31‑317
Biomass utilization study - legislative declaration - report - definitions - repeal 23‑31‑318
Wildfire mitigation incentives for local governments - grant awards - fund - reporting - definitions - repeal 23‑31‑319
Forest service seedling tree nursery - necessary upgrades and improvements - definition - funding - reports - repeal 23‑31‑320
Timber, forest health, and wildfire mitigation industries workforce development program - creation - policies and procedures - legislative declaration - definitions 23‑31‑401
Definitions 23‑31‑402
Owner’s permission required - when 23‑31‑403
Proof of ownership required - when 23‑31‑404
Violation - penalty - defense 23‑31‑501
Acceptance of congressional grant of 1862 23‑31‑502
Board of governors of the Colorado state university system to control fund 23‑31‑503
Acceptance of congressional act of 1883 23‑31‑504
Control, investment, and expending of funds 23‑31‑505
Other funds - investment 23‑31‑506
Report on condition - appropriation 23‑31‑507
Management of funds 23‑31‑508
Purpose of sections 23‑31‑509
Acceptance of congressional act of 1928 23‑31‑510
Control of funds 23‑31‑511
Congressional act of 1914 accepted 23‑31‑512
Board to receive and expend funds 23‑31‑513
Acceptance of congressional act of 1935 23‑31‑514
Control of funds from 1935 act 23‑31‑601
Acceptance of congressional act of 1862 23‑31‑602
Control of fund 23‑31‑603
Acceptance of congressional act of 1906 23‑31‑604
Board to control fund 23‑31‑605
Board to cooperate with counties 23‑31‑606
Employees and specialists 23‑31‑607
Stations established 23‑31‑608
Board to secure lands 23‑31‑609
Board to supervise 23‑31‑610
Objects of stations 23‑31‑611
Proceeds from station 23‑31‑612
Expenses - how paid 23‑31‑701
Short title 23‑31‑702
Acknowledgment of related federal laws 23‑31‑703
Responsibility and objectives 23‑31‑704
Organization - cooperative relationships 23‑31‑705
Authority to accomplish purposes of part 23‑31‑706
Reporting and accountability 23‑31‑707
Colorado AgrAbility project - extension program - creation - appropriation - legislative declaration 23‑31‑801
Colorado water institute - creation 23‑31‑802
Advisory committee on water research policy 23‑31‑803
Water research fund 23‑31‑804
Republican river groundwater economic study - reporting - legislative declaration - definitions - repeal 23‑31‑901
Legislative declaration 23‑31‑902
Annual project report - national western center trust fund - creation - use 23‑31‑903
Authorization for financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreements 23‑31‑904
Cooperative agreements for regional economic development not limited 23‑31‑905
National western center partnership - open meetings and open records laws apply - audit 23‑31‑1001
Legislative declaration 23‑31‑1002
Definitions 23‑31‑1003
State veterinary education loan repayment council - creation - membership 23‑31‑1004
State veterinary education loan repayment program - creation - purpose 23‑31‑1005
Council powers and duties 23‑31‑1006
Program applicant eligibility - criteria 23‑31‑1007
Designated veterinary shortage areas - criteria 23‑31‑1008
Release from contract obligation 23‑31‑1009
Loan repayment 23‑31‑1010
Veterinary education loan repayment fund - creation - gifts, grants, and donations 23‑31‑1101
Legislative declaration 23‑31‑1102
Colorado food systems advisory council - created - membership - terms - vacancies 23‑31‑1103
Council - purpose and duties 23‑31‑1104
Subcommittees of the council 23‑31‑1105
Fund - acceptance of gifts, grants, or donations 23‑31‑1106
Reports - recommendations 23‑31‑1107
Repeal of part
Green check means up to date. Up to date

Current through Fall 2024

§ 23-31-804’s source at colorado​.gov