[Denveraudubon] (no subject)

[Polly P. Reetz]

Legislative Alert!  
Tomorrow morning (Friday Feb. 22) House members will be voting on HB 1280, which is a bill that would strengthen Colorado's Instream Flow program.  Previously we got legislation passed that allows the owners of water rights to donate their water rights to the Colorado Water Conservation Board for short periods, that is for several years, to maintain stream flows (that is, to keep water in streams that might otherwise dry up).  This latest bill, HB 1280, would allow them to do that for longer periods without losing their water rights (remember, in Colorado you have to "use it or lose it" when it comes to water).  So in a series of drought years, when a farmer couldn't grow crops anyway, he could donate his water right to the CWCB to keep water in a river.  Insects, fish, and birds that depend on them would benefit, as well as many other species that depend on stream and streamside habitats.
If you are a constituent of Rep. Jeanne LaBuda (D-Denver) or Rep. Diane Primavera (D-Denver), or Rep. Rob Witwer (R- Jefferson County), please call them early tomorrow morning (before 9 a.m.)  and ask them to please support HB 1280.  Tell them (nicely) that it will help preserve stream habitats for fish and wildlife and the recreational opportunities that depend on them.  We're talking billions of dollars here, so it's not peanuts.  
Telephone numbers:  Rep. LaBuda (at the Capitol) - 303-866-2966
                            `   Rep. Primavera:   303- 866-4667
                                Rep. Witwer:  303-866-2582
Thanks,
Polly Reetz, ASGD Conservation Chairman

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