(1) In addition to any other moneys appropriated from the Colorado water conservation board construction fund, up to one million dollars in the fund are continuously appropriated to the board annually to pay for the costs of acquiring water, water rights, and interests in water for instream flow use. The total amount of the continuous appropriation that is unencumbered in any fiscal year must not exceed one million dollars. The primary priority for expenditures of these revenues is the costs of water acquisitions for existing or new instream flow water rights to preserve and improve the natural environment to a reasonable degree. These revenues also may be used, in limited circumstances, for the costs of water acquisitions to:
(a) Preserve and improve the natural environment of species that have been listed as threatened or endangered under state or federal law, are candidate species, or are likely to become candidate species;
(b) Support wild and scenic alternative management plans; or
(c) Provide federal regulatory certainty.
(1.5) Repealed.
(2) Prior to any expenditure of funds under this section, the board shall adopt criteria and guidelines regarding its implementation of this spending authority. The board shall approve any expenditure of funds pursuant to this section. Within three months after the end of any fiscal year during which the spending authority created pursuant to this section is exercised, the board shall report to the general assembly regarding how such spending authority was exercised.
Source: L. 2008: Entire section added, p. 1574, � 28, effective May 29. L. 2009: (1.5) added, (SB 09-235), ch. 388, p. 2101, � 9, effective July 1, 2010. L. 2012: (1.5) amended, (HB 12-1317), ch. 248, p. 1239, � 104, effective June 4. L. 2013: (1) amended, (SB 13-181), ch. 209, p. 868, � 15, effective May 13; (1.5) repealed, (SB 13-175), ch. 243, p. 1176, � 4, effective May 18.
37-60-124. Water conservation and drought mitigation planning - powers and duties of board.
(1) Repealed.
(2) The board shall promote water conservation and drought mitigation planning and shall maintain as much staff as is required to perform, to the degree feasible, duties including, but not limited to, the following:
(a) Participating as a member or chairperson of any state water availability task forces established to monitor, forecast, mitigate, or prepare for drought;
(b) Acting as a repository for water conservation and drought mitigation planning information;
(c) Disseminating water conservation, drought mitigation planning, and related information to water providers and the general public;
(d) Providing technical assistance to and working with municipal, industrial, agricultural, and other water providers and state agencies as they plan for, evaluate, and implement water conservation plans and programs, drought mitigation plans, or both;
(e) Coordination of the planning for and assistance in the implementation of water conservation plans by state agencies pursuant to section 37-96-103 (4);
(f) Administration of financial assistance for water conservation and drought mitigation planning and implementation measures and programs; and
(g) Evaluating water conservation and drought mitigation plans related to the use of such plans by water providers to address water needs and to prepare for water-related emergencies based upon policies and guidelines adopted by the board pursuant to section 37-60-126.
(3) The personal services, operating, travel and subsistence, capital, and legal services expenses of administering the water conservation and drought planning programs and activities authorized by subsection (2) of this section may be paid from such money as is appropriated, allocated, or otherwise credited to the Colorado water conservation board construction fund.
(4) Repealed.
Source: L. 91: Entire section added, p. 2023, � 4, effective June 4. L. 99: (4) repealed, p. 25, � 1, effective March 5. L. 2004: Entire section amended, p. 1778, � 2, effective August 4. L. 2025: (1) repealed and IP(2) and (3) amended, (SB 25-283), ch. 199, p. 883, � 18, effective May 15.
Cross references: (1) In 1991, this entire section was added by the Water Conservation Act of 1991. For the short title and the legislative declaration, see sections 1 and 2 of chapter 328, Session Laws of Colorado 1991.
(2) For the legislative declaration contained in the 2004 act amending this section, see section 1 of chapter 373, Session Laws of Colorado 2004.