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The Legislative Council Staff’s Water Policy Handbook is intended to serve as a reference guide to Colorado's water policies and programs.  The book is divided into three parts.  Each part covers a different aspect of Colorado water law and policy.
 

Report No. 2023-TE4

The instream flow (ISF) program was created by legislation in 1973, which authorized the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) to appropriate or acquire water rights of natural streams and lakes to preserve the natural environment without diverting the water.

This memorandum memorializes the process for requesting and preparing greenhouse gas emissions reports (GHG reports) pursuant to Section 2-2-322.3, C.R.S., starting at the 2023 legislative session.  It outlines the number of reports per session, the process for requesting reports, the preparation and timing of reports, and the preparation of revised and final reports.

The recently renamed Water Resources and Agriculture Review Committee (WRARC) was created to contribute to and monitor the conservation, use, development, and financing of Colorado's water resources for the general welfare of the state (Section 37-98-102, C.R.S.).  In 2022, the committee charge was updated to include Colorado agriculture issues.  The committee is also required to review statewide planning for water resources. 

Geothermal energy refers to heat that is found within the Earth.  This heat can be used in a number of ways through geothermal energy systems.  First, it can be used to directly heat buildings, where hot water near the earth’s surface is piped into buildings.  Second, it can be used indirectly using ground source heat pumps, which transfer heat from the ground or hot water reservoirs into buildings in the winter, a process that is reversed in the summer to cool buildings.  And finally, steam from hot water reservoirs can be used to generate electricity.

An estimated 3.3 million people in Colorado are affected by drought, with 2022 being the driest year to date over the past 128 years.  In response to the ongoing drought in Colorado, the General Assembly passed HB 22-1151 to promote the efficient and maximum utilization of Colorado’s water resources by decreasing the amount of irrigated turf within the state.  The bill requires the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) in the Department of Natural Resources to create a turf replacement program that incentivizes the voluntary replacement of nonessential irrigated turf acr

During the 2022 legislative session, the General Assembly considered several measures related to natural resources and the environment including wildfire prevention and control; air quality; natural resources; environmental protection; and recycling.

During the 2022 legislative session, the General Assembly considered several measures related to water, including water project funding, groundwater sustainability, watershed resiliency, turf replacement, and other water related efforts.

Report No. 2022-TE24

Report No. 2022-TE11

Note: A more recent evaluation was issued in November 2023. Click HERE to access the November 2023 report.

Report No. 2022-TE13

Final Report to the Colorado General Assembly by the Water Resources Review Committee.

Pursuant to Section 2-3-1602, C.R.S., the committee is charged with reviewing and proposing legislation or other policy changes related to wildfire prevention, mitigation, and related matters, including public safety and forest health issues.

Pursuant to Section 2-3-1602, C.R.S., the committee is charged with reviewing and proposing legislation or other policy changes related to wildfire prevention, mitigation, and related matters, including public safety and forest health issues.

The state incurs wildfire-related expenditures in several departments for various activities including wildfire prevention, preparedness, mitigation, suppression, and recovery.  These activities are not explicitly broken out in the state budget and are spread across various line items in multiple departments, making tracking of wildfire spending difficult.  This memorandum provides detailed funding information for three agencies that are responsible for the majority of wildfire-related expenditures in the state:he state incurs wildfire-related expenditures in several departments f

Summary report for the Water Resources Review Committee.  

Pursuant to Section 2-3-1602, C.R.S., the committee is charged with reviewing and proposing legislation or other policy changes related to wildfire prevention, mitigation, and related matters, including public safety and forest health issues.

During the 2021 legislative session, the General Assembly considered several energy‑related measures.  These bills addressed the Public Utilities Commission’s operations, the Colorado Energy Office’s funding, renewable energy, electricity generation, transmission and use, and oil and gas.

Report No. 2021-TE17

Report No. 2021-TE12

In 2019, the General Assembly enacted Senate Bill 19-181, which changes how the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) in the Department of Natural Resources regulates the development of oil and natural gas in Colorado. Since July 2019, the COGCC has conducted rulemaking hearings to adopt rules required in the bill. This memorandum summarizes Senate Bill 19-181 and the new rules adopted by the COGCC as of December 2020.

Report No. 2021-TE1

Report No. 2021-TE2

Report No. 2021-TE3