HB 15-1166 Summary

• State Engineer shall design and operate a tributary groundwater monitoring network in the South Platte River alluvial aquifer to provide accurate groundwater level data, increase public understanding of groundwater movement, and assist in water planning.

• Monitoring network consists of existing Division of Water Resources wells, up to 20 data loggers on existing wells, up to 10 new wells in data gap areas, wells from independent monitoring networks owned by qualified parties, and additional State Engineer-designated wells.

• State Engineer must develop data collection and analysis protocols, attempt to automate data collection where practical, and upload data to the Division's website within 30 days of receipt; all monitoring data shall be publicly available.

• Funding for implementation comes from the Colorado Water Conservation Board Construction Fund, or from the General Fund if Construction Fund revenues are insufficient; separate funding available if USGS discontinues groundwater monitoring for network wells.

• $60,000 appropriated to the Department of Natural Resources Water Resources Division for the 2015-16 fiscal year to implement the monitoring network.