CO HB1151

Expands Colorado Water Conservation Board authority to approve up to 15 pilot projects to include deficit irrigation projects, which apply less than optimal water amounts to crops, in addition to existing agricultural water leasing and fallowing projects.

Limits deficit irrigation pilot projects to Water Divisions 2 and 3 and within the Upper Gunnison Water Conservancy District boundaries.

Restricts deficit irrigation of the same land to no more than three years in a ten-year period and no more than 30 percent of a single irrigated farm for more than ten consecutive years.

Excludes decreases in water use resulting from approved deficit irrigation programs from historical consumptive use determinations in water rights adjudications, allowing water judges to disregard such reductions for up to five years in any consecutive ten-year period.

Takes effect August 8, 2018, unless subject to referendum petition, in which case approval by voters in November 2018 is required before implementation.