The first three weeks of the 70th Colorado General Assembly are now behind us. I am going to share my perspective as the House District 58 representative. Probably the most relieved person under the Gold Dome would be Gov. John Hickenlooper the reason being that the Senate is controlled by an 18-17 Republican majority and the House is controlled by a 34-31 Democratic majority. Many controversial issues will never see his desk. Having been in the majority, I actually prefer that. On the other hand, Sen. Ellen Roberts, R-Durango, is enjoying the majority for the first time in her career. Ellen is making the most of her opportunity, serving as chair of the judiciary committee, vice chair of the agriculture committee, chair of the Water Resource Review Committee and president pro tempore of the Senate.
This session I am serving on House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, as ranking member, and I am on the House Transportation and Energy, Water Resources Review and the House Services committees. As in the past, I will continue to carry a heavy load of legislation covering about every subject imaginable. Four water issues, air emissions on new diesel trucks, a couple of bills that aim to reduce teen pregnancy, and those governing collection agencies are just a few examples.
House Bill 1006 is something that I have worked on for the past year. It will provide the Department of Agriculture with $5 million per year for five years to eradicate phreatophytes, also known as tamarisk or salt cedar and russian olives. The tamarisk is the largest water thief in Colorado. This non-native tree consumes and inordinate amount of water. The average amount of water used by a person to shower, cook, laundry, wash his car and water his lawn is about 170 gallons per day. One a mature tamarisk can consume up to 200 gallons per day. In addition to the water consumption, it also causes a water quality issue. It is called salt cedar, because of the heavy amount of salt it deposits when it drops its leaves. Colorado’s projected water shortage is 500,000 acre feet. Studies show that on the Colorado River and its tributaries, as well as on the Platte, these thieves will consume up to 400,000 acre feet of water per year. I feel that this is the quickest and most economical way to start addressing our water needs.
Another bill I am working on is HB 1013 dealing with high groundwater table in some areas along the South Platte. This is legislation from information provided by a water study recently completed. It is a fine line to draw as to how to dewater in one area that is causing flooded basements and not to cause harm to priority water rights downstream. Timing of pumping and return flows to the river is a very complex issue. Protection of the prior appropriations doctrine, which has served us well since before statehood, is necessary.
HB 1016 deals with with a pilot program to harvesting of rain water in order to reduce the demand for treated water, all the while protecting down-stream water rights.
Senate Bill 17 deals with the appellate process in regards to rules set by the state engineer and director of Colorado Division of Water Resources. To quote Mark Twain and Will Rodgers, “Whiskey is for drinking and water is for fighting.” This mantra will certainly serve as a reminder to us all before these bills are considered and the Colorado Water Plan hearings are held this summer.
Pending are a couple of bills concerning teen pregnancy prevention and reducing the abortion rate. These bills have received a lot of coverage during their introduction. These are both bipartisan bills that although, somewhat controversial, are also common sense. The fact is that pilot studies indicate that pregnancies can be reduced by 40 percent, avoiding 4,300 abortions and save the state as much as $100 million per year. These measures are just going through the committee and introduction process now and I will elaborate in my next column.
Don Coram represents House District 58 in Colorado’s General Assembly. Contact Rep. Coram by phone at (303) 866-2955 or by e-mail at don.coram.house@state.co.us.
