Management of the Colorado Healthy Rivers Fund
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Senate Bill 02-087, adopted by the 2002 Colorado General Assembly, establishes the Colorado Watershed Protection Fund . In 2008 the Colorado Watershed Protection Fund was renamed to the Colorado Healthy Rivers Fund (the Fund). The legislation authorizes the Fund be added to the 2002 Colorado Individual Income Tax Refund Check-off Program to give taxpayers the opportunity to voluntarily contribute to watershed protection efforts in Colorado.
The legislative declaration states:
The general assembly hereby finds and declares that the natural heritage and quality of life in Colorado are of fundamental importance to the citizens of the state, and the protection of this natural heritage and quality of life are essential to sustain economic development in the state. The general assembly further finds and declares that locally based watershed groups have emerged around the state over the past decade that are committed to collaborative approaches to the restoration and protection of lands and natural resources within Colorado’s watersheds in concert with economic development. The general assembly recognizes that the Colorado Watershed Assembly, a nonprofit corporation, serves as a state-level umbrella organization for such local groups. The general assembly further recognizes that the citizens of Colorado may be willing to provide funds to assist in the restoration and the protection of lands and natural resources within watersheds of the state. It is therefore the intent of the general assembly enacting this part 23 to provide Colorado citizens the opportunity to support local watershed efforts by allowing citizens to make a voluntary contribution on their state income tax returns for such purpose.
The legislation provides that moneys collected in the Fund will be made available in a grant program established jointly by the Colorado Water Conservation Board and the Water Quality Control Commission, in cooperation with the Colorado Watershed Assembly.
The Colorado Water Conservation Board (the Board) is the state executive branch agency responsible for state water policy and planning. The Board’s mission is to promote the protection, conservation and development of Colorado’s water resources and minimize the risk of flood damage. Its major programs include Water Supply Protection; Water Supply Planning and Finance; Conservation and Drought Planning; Flood Protection; Instream Flow and Natural Lake Protection; and Water Information.
The Water Quality Control Commission (the Commission) is the administrative agency responsible for developing specific state water quality policies, in a manner that implements the broader policies set forth by the General Assembly in the Colorado Water Quality Control Act. The Commission adopts water quality classifications and standards for surface and ground waters of the state, as well as various regulations aimed at achieving compliance with those classifications and standards.
The Colorado Watershed Assembly (CWA) is a statewide organization made up of more than 70 individual watershed protection groups. More specifically, CWA is an association of Colorado’s collaboration-based watershed groups that work cooperatively with state and federal agencies to resolve watershed related problems. These collaborative watershed groups that CWA supports are made up of local stakeholders with diverse interests that include municipalities, water conservancy and conservation districts, water providers, landowners, federal and state agencies and individual citizens who are working together to find cooperative and innovative solutions to local watershed problems.
The legislation establishing the Colorado Watershed Protection Fund provides that two designees of the Board, in cooperation with two designees of the Commission, and upon consultation with the Colorado Watershed Assembly, shall administer the moneys in the Fund.
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