From the Sterling Journal Advocate (Bryson Brug):
First up was a bill for ag water protection in governing the use of agricultural water. Currently, changing the intended use of agricultural water requires that a specific use be identified and designated. This bill will allow the owner of an agricultural water right to seek a change in use without designating the specific use. However this option is also subject to strict conditions, including approval by the state engineer. The remaining portion of the water from the water right must be used for agricultural purposes and the water cannot be transferred out of the water division that has jurisdiction over it.
Frank cautioned the bill might have too many protections in it.
“This bill has a lot of protections,” Frank said. “In fact it has so many protections that I’m not sure a lot of people will want to use it.”
The other bill introduced was a bill concerning the use of rain barrels being used to collect rain water from a residential rooftop. The bill allows for a maximum of two rain barrels with a capacity of 55 gallons each. Frank advised that this bill has a lot of support behind it. The problem, according to Frank, is that many view the bill as a conservation measure when it actually isn’t. According to the math, rain water collected in barrels is water not collected into rivers or natural water sources.
The Water Banks Administration bill, a third bill Franks mentioned, was not discussed because it has not been introduced yet. It is still in draft form and needs more work, Frank said. It will be discussed at the next meeting.