H_AWN_2025A 02/20/2025 10:14:31 AM Committee Summary

Chair McCormick introduced the panelists.

Lauren Ris, Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB), introduced the presentation and gave an overview of the role of CWCB in managing the Colorado River. She spoke about CWCB's role in statewide water conservation efforts and interstate compact negotiations.

Anne Castle, former U.S. Commissioner and Chair of the Upper Colorado River Commission (UCRC), opened her presentation. She told the committee about the creation and role of the UCRC in helping Upper Basin states in managing Colorado River water. She discussed the role of the Secretary of Interior in the Upper Basin versus the Lower Basin. She spoke about the current processes going on at the federal level looking at alternative water management on the river.

Speaker McCluskie, co-prime sponsor, introduced House Bill 25-1115. The bill expands the power and duties of the Colorado Water Conservation Board to include a water supply measurement and forecasting program.

Representative Soper, co-prime sponsor, gave opening comments on the bill.

The bill sponsors responded to questions from the committee.

Lauren Ris, representing
Colorado Water Conservation Board, Department of Natural Resources, testified
in support of the bill. Andy Hill, representing Denver Water, testified
in support of the bill. Dr. Jeffrey Deems, representing Airborne Snow Observatories,
and the Colorado Airborne Snow Measurement Workgroup, testified in support
of the bill.  Piep Van Heuven, representing Colorado Ski Country,
testified in support of the bill. Mr. Nathan Coombs, representing Conejos
Water Conservancy District, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Amber
Pacheco, representing Rio Grande Water Conservation District, testified
in support of the bill.



The panelists
responded to questions from the committee.

Representative McCormick, co-prime sponsor, gave opening comments on the bill.

The bill sponsors responded to questions from the committee.

Nick Perea, representing
themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Voris Struck Jr., representing
themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Dena Parker, representing
ForeverLawn Mile High, testified in opposition to the bill. Joe Downs,
representing SYNLawn, testified in opposition to the bill. Melanie Taylor,
representing Synthetic Turf Council, testified in opposition to the bill.
Chuck Gillem, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.
Dr. Joshua Pool, representing themself, testified in opposition to the
bill.



The panelists
responded to questions from the committee.  

Mr. David Schlup,
representing Rocky Mountain Sod Growers, testified in opposition to the
bill. Mr. Jacob Leman, representing Singing Hill Landscape, Associated
Landscape Contractors of Colorado,
and GreenCO,
testified in opposition to the bill.



The panelists
responded to questions from the committee.

Reagan Shane, representing Colorado Counties, Inc., testified in opposition to the bill.

Clinton Sander, representing A1 Organics, testified to amend the bill. Lauren Ris, representing Colorado Water Conservation Board, Department of Natural Resources, testified to amend the bill. Ted Leighty, representing Colorado Association of Home Builders, testified to amend the bill. Mr. Andrew Bray, representing National Association of Landscape Professionals, testified to amend the bill.

Ken Lykens, representing
Colorado Water Congress, testified to amend the bill.



Additional written
testimony can be found in Attachment A.  

The bill sponsors gave closing comments.

Committee members made closing comments on the bill.