Ritter signs water, natural resource bills

Posted by egable on May 29th, 2008 filed in Endangered species, Water, Invasive species

Gov. Bill Ritter (D) signed legislation today aimed at protecting Colorado’s water supplies and other natural resources.

The bills Ritter signed today include:

* HB 1141, which requires developers to prove they have a sufficient water supply before they can build developments of 50 or more single-family homes.

* SB 226, which prohibits bringing aquatic nuisance species, such as zebra mussels, into Colorado and allows authorities to inspect vehicles, boats and trailers if they have a reasonable belief such a species is present. Zebra mussels have been found in Pueblo Reservoir, and SB 226 allocates millions of dollars for education, awareness, inspection and eradication programs to stop the mussel from spreading statewide.

* HB 1346, which authorizes about $75 million in loans and grants from the Colorado Water Conservation Board Construction Fund for water projects and studies around Colorado, including the Republican and South Platte river basins. It also provides funds for the acquisition of water rights for in-stream flow purposes.

* SB 119, which allows Colorado to start examining how best to utilize “rain harvesting” as part of an overall water conservation strategy. The bill refers the issue of rainwater collection and use to the interim Colorado Water Resources Committee for analysis and drafting of more comprehensive legislation in 2009. Rainwater harvesting involves capturing rainwater from rooftops and streets using cisterns and catchments for landscape watering, fire protection and small-scale irrigation. Many other Western states allow the practice, but Colorado does not.

* SB 168, which dedicates almost $7.5 million to the Platte River Endangered Species Recovery Implementation Program, as well as almost $3 million toward sage grouse conservation efforts. The Platte River program protects threatened and endangered species and is a cooperative effort among Colorado, Nebraska, Wyoming, the federal government, water providers and environmental groups.