2023 Colorado Revised Statutes › Title 37 - WATER AND IRRIGATION (§§ 37-1-101 — 37-99-103) › WATER CONSERVATION BOARD AND COMPACTS (§§ 37-60-101 — 37-75-107) › INTERBASIN COMPACTS (§§ 37-75-101 — 37-75-107) › Article 75 - INTERBASIN COMPACTS (§§ 37-75-101 — 37-75-107) › Section 37-75-104 - Basin roundtables

(1)
(a)
To facilitate continued discussions within and between basins on water management issues, and to encourage locally driven collaborative solutions to water supply challenges, permanent basin roundtables are hereby created in Colorado's eight water basins and in a demographically unique subregion within water division 1 as specified in subsection (3) of this section.
(b)
The executive director of the department of natural resources shall take such actions as may be necessary to ensure proper integration and nonduplication of activities occurring pursuant to the statewide water supply initiative and this article.
(2)
Each basin roundtable shall have the following powers and responsibilities:
(a)
(I)
As soon as practicable following June 7, 2005, each basin roundtable shall establish bylaws, operating procedures, goals, and objectives to govern the actions and decisions of the applicable roundtable. Basin roundtables and their representatives on the interbasin compact committee may opt out of the procedures established in this article at any time.
(II)
As deemed appropriate by the executive director, the roundtables established pursuant to this section may take on the duties and functions of the roundtables created pursuant to the statewide water supply initiative.
(b)
Select two basin representatives to represent the views and interests of the basin on the interbasin compact committee established pursuant to section
37-75-105
. Basin representatives need not be members of the basin roundtable.
(c)
Using data and information from the statewide water supply initiative and other appropriate sources and in cooperation with the on-going statewide water supply initiative, develop a basin-wide consumptive and nonconsumptive water supply needs assessment, conduct an analysis of available unappropriated waters within the basin, and propose projects or methods, both structural and nonstructural, for meeting those needs and utilizing those unappropriated waters where appropriate. Basin roundtables shall actively seek the input and advice of affected local governments, water providers, and other interested stakeholders and persons in establishing its needs assessment, and shall propose projects or methods for meeting those needs. Recommendations from this assessment shall be forwarded to the interbasin compact committee and other basin roundtables for analysis and consideration after the general assembly has approved the interbasin compact charter.
(d)
Serve as a forum for education and debate regarding methods for meeting water supply needs; and
(e)
As needed, establish roundtable subcommittees or other mechanisms to facilitate dialogue and resolution of issues and conflicts within the basin.
(3)
(a)
As used in this subsection (3), unless the context otherwise requires:
(I)
"Water division" has the same meaning as set forth in section
37-92-201
.
(II)
"Water management district" means those districts established by the division of water resources and depicted on maps published by the division.
(b)
The following basin roundtables are hereby created:
(I)
The South Platte basin roundtable, consisting of water division 1 excepting those portions of water division 1 listed in subparagraphs (VIII) and (IX) of this paragraph (b);
(II)
The Arkansas basin roundtable, consisting of water division 2;
(III)
The Rio Grande basin roundtable, consisting of water division 3;
(IV)
The Gunnison basin roundtable, consisting of water division 4 excepting water management districts 60, 61, and 63;
(V)
The Colorado basin roundtable, consisting of water division 5;
(VI)
The Yampa-White roundtable, consisting of water division 6 excepting water management district 47;
(VII)
The Dolores, San Miguel, and San Juan basins roundtable, consisting of water division 7 and water management districts 60, 61, and 63;
(VIII)
The metro roundtable, consisting of the following areas in water division 1: Those portions of water management districts 7 to 9 that lie east of the boundary between ranges 71 and 72 west and that portion of water management district 2 that lies south of the boundary between township 1 north and township 1 south; and
(IX)
The North Platte roundtable, consisting of water management districts 47, 48, and 76.
(4)
(a)
Each basin roundtable shall consist of the following members, each of whom shall reside within the borders of the roundtable, except as otherwise provided in this paragraph (a):
(I)
One member appointed by the governing body of each county or city and county within the borders of the basin roundtable. A county or city and county shall be entitled to a member on each basin roundtable that overlaps its boundaries.
(II)
One municipal member for each county located in whole or in part within the basin roundtable, who shall be appointed jointly by the governing bodies of all municipalities within that portion of the county that is located within the roundtable;
(III)
One member appointed by the board of directors of each water conservancy and water conservation district within the borders of the roundtable. A water conservancy or water conservation district shall be entitled to one member on each basin roundtable that overlaps its jurisdiction.
(IV)
One member appointed by mutual agreement of the chairperson of the house agriculture, livestock, and natural resources committee and the chairperson of the senate agriculture, natural resources, and energy committee;
(V)
Ten at large members appointed by the roundtable members appointed pursuant to subparagraphs (I) to (IV) of this paragraph (a) in consultation with the director of compact negotiations, one of whom shall represent environmental interests and who shall be selected from nominees submitted by one or more regionally, statewide, or nationally recognized environmental conservation organizations that have operated in Colorado for at least five years, one of whom shall represent agricultural interests, one of whom shall represent recreation interests, one of whom shall represent local domestic water provider interests, one of whom shall represent industrial interests, and at least five of whom shall own adjudicated water rights, including owners of shares in a ditch or reservoir company or their agents, or shall have a contract for water with the federal bureau of reclamation or their agents. Any such agent shall be appointed by the member the agent represents and shall reside within the borders of the member's roundtable.
(VI)
(A)
Three nonvoting members shall be selected by the roundtable members appointed pursuant to subparagraphs (I) to (V) of this paragraph (a), who shall represent entities outside of the basin that own water rights within the basin. Members appointed pursuant to this subparagraph (VI) shall not be required to reside within the borders of the roundtable.
(B)
If no one qualifies for selection pursuant to sub-subparagraph (A) of this subparagraph (VI), three nonvoting members shall be selected from outside the basin who have interests in and are knowledgeable about water matters.
(b)
Members shall serve for a term of five years; except that initial terms shall be staggered pursuant to each roundtable's bylaws. Vacancies shall be filled pursuant to the same criteria as the original appointment.
(c)
The member of the Colorado water conservation board who resides within the borders of the basin roundtable shall act as the board's liaison to the basin roundtable and to the interbasin compact committee for the purpose of ensuring the proper coordination of Colorado water conservation board information, policies, and resources. Such coordination shall be subject to available staff resources as determined by the director of the board and the executive director of the department of natural resources.
(5)
A basin roundtable shall be deemed to be a local public body for purposes of the open meetings law, part 4 of article
6
of title
24
, C.R.S.
L. 2005: Entire article added, p. 1473, § 1, effective June 7. L. 2006: (3)(b)(IV) and (3)(b)(VII) amended, p. 1283, § 3, effective May 26.