Senate Bill 16-174 Summary

• Appropriates $8,205,000 from the Colorado Water Conservation Board construction fund for various water projects in fiscal year 2016-17, including satellite monitoring system maintenance ($380,000), floodplain map modernization ($500,000), and watershed restoration ($1,500,000).

• Establishes funding for specialized water initiatives: $175,000 for weather modification programs, $150,000 for Colorado Mesonet operations, and $300,000 for water forecasting partnership projects.

• Allocates $2,500,000 for a Bear Creek reservoir reallocation study in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and $200,000 for an underground storage pilot project to evaluate aquifer suitability.

• Transfers $500,000 to the flood and drought response fund and $600,000 to the litigation fund to restore their reserves.

• Grants the Colorado Water Conservation Board authority to contract with local water providers regarding the Animas-La Plata project water allocation and directs severance tax transfers of $5.2 million annually to the construction fund beginning July 1, 2016.