4BDAA64B7BFF262087258A14007B04AB Hearing Summary CLICS/CLICS2023A/commsumm.nsf PUBLICBILL SUMMARY For FRESHWATER CARBON MECHANISMSJOINT COMMITTEE COMMITTEE ON WATER RESOURCES AND AGRICULTURE REVIEW COMMITTEEDate Aug 23, 2023 Location Off-site Freshwater Carbon Mechanisms - Committee Discussion Only Attachment Tag File Name Attachment D http://www2.leg.state.co.us/CLICS/CLICS2023A/commsumm.nsf/0/43826D41984F...$File/Attachment D - Greening America's Rivers.pdf?OpenElement Attachment D - Greening America's Rivers.pdf Attachment E http://www2.leg.state.co.us/CLICS/CLICS2023A/commsumm.nsf/0/2B96356010C5...$File/Attachment E - Colorado Pollutant Trading Policy.pdf?OpenElement Attachment E - Colorado Pollutant Trading Policy.pdf Attachment F http://www2.leg.state.co.us/CLICS/CLICS2023A/commsumm.nsf/0/3C5C46AC25DF...$File/Attachment F - Study of Green Infrastructure.pdf?OpenElement Attachment F - Study of Green Infrastructure.pdf 04:23:50 PM Dr. Evan Thomas, Professor, University of Colorado Boulder, introduced his presentation and referred committee members to handouts provided (Attachments D-F), including the report that can be found here: https://www.colorado.edu/center/mortenson/sites/default/files/attached-files/etiwrmc_final_web.pdf#:~:text=These%20technologies%20can%20aid%20in,high%2Daltitude%20balloons%20and%20drones. He discussed the potential for carbon credits to help pay for watershed restoration and the market that currently exists for carbon credits. He told the committee about legislation that his team is promoting, which includes identifying pilot projects focused on dischargers that are looking for opportunities to fund improvements. 04:31:29 PM Alex Johnson, Chief Strategy Officer, Virridy, told the committee about his background and discussed the potential to monitor and demonstrate the benefits of watershed restoration. He spoke about the importance of water quality and nationwide investment in water quality control. He told the committee about potential benefits of a water quality trading program. 04:38:43 PM Dr. Thomas answered questions about sensors that measure water quality in the Yampa River Basin and how the program could pay individuals to conserve water and maintain water quality. Mr. Johnson spoke about how system upgrade costs can be covered through credits in a kind of trading program and how to manage changes in point sources of pollution.
