CO SB283

Appropriates $26.28 million from the Colorado Water Conservation Board Construction Fund for FY 2025-26 across multiple water programs including satellite monitoring ($380,000), floodplain mapping ($500,000), weather modification/cloud seeding ($500,000), Colorado Mesonet ($200,000), water forecasting ($2 million), watershed restoration ($5 million), and basin implementation planning ($4.5 million)

Transfers up to $2 million to restore the litigation fund balance for interstate compact compliance and legal matters, and allocates $6 million to retire irrigated acreage in the South Fork focus zone by 2029 to comply with the Republican River Compact

Authorizes a $12,978,500 loan from the severance tax perpetual base fund to North Poudre Irrigation Company for the Park Creek Reservoir expansion project

Appropriates $29.2 million from the Water Plan Implementation Cash Fund for grants supporting state water plan projects, and $2 million for Yampa River/Walton Creek confluence restoration covering 105 acres

Eliminates the Office of Water Conservation and Drought Planning, transferring its duties directly to the Colorado Water Conservation Board, and repeals the water efficiency grant program effective July 1, 2026 with remaining funds transferred to the severance tax perpetual base fund