HB 13-1248 Summary

• Authorizes the Colorado Water Conservation Board to select up to 10 pilot projects testing "fallowing-leasing," where agricultural irrigation land is temporarily fallowed and associated water rights are leased for temporary municipal use, with each project lasting up to 10 years.

• Limits pilot projects to no more than 3 per major river basin (South Platte, Arkansas, Rio Grande, and Colorado) and prohibits projects involving fallowing the same land more than 3 years in a 10-year period or more than 30 percent of a single farm for more than 10 consecutive years.

• Requires the State Engineer to determine that pilot projects will not cause material injury to other water rights or impair compliance with interstate compacts before the board may approve applications.

• Establishes a detailed approval process including at least 75-day public comment period, mandatory conference between applicants and affected water rights holders, and appeal procedures to water judges within 35 days.

• Requires the board to submit annual reports and a final report by July 1, 2029 to the Water Resources Review Committee, with the entire pilot program repealing effective July 1, 2030.