Colorado Governor Signs Bill Making Water Storage a Beneficial Use

A bill that expands the definition of beneficial use to include impoundments of water used for firefighting or storage for uses such as recreation, fisheries, and wildlife was signed into law April 8 by Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper (D).

The signing of S.B. 13-041 follows another significant water bill, S.B. 13-074, signed April 4, which created a mechanism to determine the maximum number of acres that can be irrigated under a pre-1937 water right decree (2013 WLPM, 4/10/13).

State Sen. Mary Hodge (D), who sponsored the beneficial use legislation, told BNA that the purpose of the bill is ...