First Regular Session
Seventy-fifth General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO
REVISED
This Version Includes All Amendments Adopted
on Second Reading in the Second House
LLS NO. 25-0424.02 Jennifer Berman x3286
HOUSE BILL 25-1115
House Committees Senate Committees
Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources Agriculture & Natural Resources
Appropriations Appropriations
A BILL FOR AN ACT
C
ONCERNING THE COLORADO WATER CONSERVATION BOARD 'S101
ADMINISTRATION OF A WATER SUPPLY MEASUREMENT102
PROGRAM, AND, IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, MAKING AN103
APPROPRIATION.104
Bill Summary
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does
not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill
passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that
applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at
http://leg.colorado.gov
.)
The bill authorizes the Colorado water conservation board (board)
to administer a water supply measurement and forecasting program to
collect and disseminate data on snowpack levels, investigate
SENATE
2nd Reading Unamended
April 11, 2025
HOUSE
3rd Reading Unamended
March 4, 2025
HOUSE
Amended 2nd Reading
March 3, 2025
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
McCluskie and Soper, Bird, Boesenecker, Brown, Duran, Lindsay, Lukens, Martinez,
Mauro, McCormick, Paschal, Ricks, Smith, Stewart K., Valdez
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
Roberts and Catlin,
Shading denotes HOUSE amendment. Double underlining denotes SENATE amendment.
Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing law.
Dashes through the words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law. technological advances in snowpack measurement and water supply
forecasting, and collect other data that the board determines will assist in
those efforts.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
SECTION 1. Legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly2
finds that:3
(a) Colorado's snowpack serves as a significant natural reservoir,4
holding winter precipitation until spring and summer when it is released5
as snow melt;6
(b) Given the major role that snowpack plays in Colorado's water7
system, snowpack measurement is a critical tool for water managers8
statewide;9
(c) Every year, water managers are challenged with balancing10
water supply needs and uncertainty regarding the flows into the water11
system, while relying on uncertain runoff forecasts. Experience shows12
that forecast reliability and the use of available water supplies can be13
optimized when snowpack and runoff can be accurately predicted.14
(d) New technologies are emerging and currently available,15
including light detection and ranging (LiDAR) technology, that can16
collect highly accurate and timely data on snowpack from an airplane;17
(e) Because such snow surveys require significant financial18
resources from multiple sources, current snowpack measurement19
protocols are generally decentralized and are being done by a variety of20
water entities across the state and without a formal program through21
which to coordinate efforts;22
(f) The Colorado water conservation board (CWCB) within the23
department of natural resources is governed by a 15-member board,24
1115-2- representing each major water basin in the state;1
(g) The CWCB is well positioned to lead the management of a2
statewide snowpack measurement and forecasting program to:3
(I) Create a more streamlined process;4
(II) Provide more transparent dissemination of data to water users5
statewide;6
(III) Provide information to the division of water resources dam7
safety branch regarding risk management of dams; and 8
(IV) Strengthen the state's and water users' position for the9
procurement of contract measurement services;10
(h) This centralized approach would not only improve the11
reliability of water supply forecasts, but also position Colorado to better12
adapt to climate change impacts on snowpack and water resources,13
including extreme events such as rapid runoff and floods, ultimately14
benefitting all water stakeholders across the state; and15
(i) As a result, water managers statewide will also be better16
equipped to make informed decisions as they balance reservoir operations17
and streamflow.18
(2) Therefore, the general assembly declares that the creation of19
a water supply measurement and forecasting program will assist the state20
in planning for population growth and environmental changes, while21
building resilience in the mitigation of severe floods.22
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 37-60-106, amend23
(1) introductory portion; and add (1)(v) as follows:24
37-60-106. Duties of the board - legislative declaration. (1) It25
is the duty of The board to SHALL promote the conservation of the waters26
of the state of Colorado in order to secure the greatest utilization of such27
1115
-3- waters and the utmost prevention of floods. and In particular, and without1
limiting the general character of this section, the board has the power and2
it is its duty:3
(v) T
O ADMINISTER A WATER SUPPLY MEASUREMENT AND4
FORECASTING PROGRAM TO :5
(I) C
OLLECT AND DISSEMINATE DATA ON SNOWPACK LEVELS ;6
(II) I
NVESTIGATE THE LATEST TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES IN7
SNOWPACK MEASUREMENT AND WATER SUPPLY FORECASTING ; AND8
(III) C
OLLECT OTHER DATA THAT THE BOARD DETERMINES WILL9
ASSIST IN SNOWPACK MEASUREMENT , WATER SUPPLY FORECASTING , OR10
FLOOD HAZARD MAPPING.11
SECTION 3. Appropriation. (1) For the 2025-26 state fiscal12
year, $104,608 is appropriated to the department of natural resources.13
This appropriation is from the Colorado water conservation board14
construction fund created in section 37-60-121 (1)(a), C.R.S. To15
implement this act, the department may use this appropriation as follows:16
(a) $75,926 for use by the colorado water conservation board for17
personal services, which amount is based on an assumption that the board18
will require an additional 0.9 FTE;19
(b) $12,722 for use by the board for operating expenses; and20
(c) $15,960 for the purchase of information technology services.21
(2) For the 2025-26 state fiscal year, $15,960 is appropriated to22
the office of the governor for use by the office of information technology.23
This appropriation is from reappropriated funds received from the24
department of natural resources under subsection (1)(c) of this section. To25
implement this act, the office may use this appropriation to provide26
information technology services for the department of natural resources.27
1115
-4- SECTION 4. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act1
takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the2
ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly; except3
that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V4
of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this5
act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take6
effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in7
November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the8
official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.9
1115
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