"I heard Governor John Hickenlooper say, “We don’t want the federal government coming in and telling us what to do." In the next breath he told us how President Obama and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack "approved" the Western Governor's plan to "regionalize" water. Quite a leap for our governor to first state no federal interference - then be so happy, happy, happy over approval from federal.

The South Platte Basin Implementation Plan meeting placed its emphasis on recreational water and alleged endangered species, and left agriculture and the Colorado Water Doctrine (First in time, first in right...) as his lowest priority.

Because agriculture is Colorado's most reliable economic base, the governor's low priority of it was disappointing.
As your governor for Colorado, I will identify every unconstitutional federal overreach into Colorado's borders, and give it the boot!" Roni Bell Sylvester

Simultaneously to South Platte River Implementation Plan, is a new draft bill to study HB 1278. Following are my observations along with some quotes as pertains to the study.

"The South Platte River (SPR) is both a losing and gaining stream. Its generation by snow-pack and precipitation makes it a losing stream (surface water). The contribution of groundwater makes it a gaining stream. Groundwater and Surface water are inseparable and should be used in combo and in balance." Roni Bell Sylvester


"To add – If there is any consumption of groundwater – whether it’s to lower the aquifer due to high groundwater areas or as a drought supply – the senior water right holders will object strongly as you have witnessed both meetings we have hosted." Randy ray

“First we must identify senior water right holders – and junior water right holders. Before any study advances, a chronological map showing dates of beneficial use must be provided; for every beneficial use date after 1879 is junior...
With this as a given, I don't of any Senior Water Right Holder who would object to pumping their own well – a.k.a. vested water property.
Allotment quantities in areas later than 1879 should be proportionate to flow rates at that time. If there's no water beyond its historic dry up, then there's no water beyond its historic dry up.
In other words, If the river historically dried up around Kersey, CO, what water can be guaranteed to anything east - or junior- to 1879? What allotment quantity does anyone have a right to where there's no water in the river?” Roni Bell Sylvester

From: 2014 – A Bill for an act concerning water management in the South Platte River Basin;
HB 1278 - 104303 (II) "Sustainable yield" means the amount of water that can be withdrawn from the South Platte river and its alluvial aquifer over a defined period of time and distributed in priority without causing unreasonable depletion of surface water and groundwater resources or material injury to decreed agricultural, municipal, industrial, environmental, and conservation uses within the basin.

“Water management means honoring first in time, first in right (Colorado Water Doctrine) and incorporating ground and surface to maintain a balance! Around 2006, man began separating ground from surface. This placed un-reasonable demands on the SPR, and threw it out of balance. These man-made manipulations forced the SPR to contribute to problems like the Epic Water Event of Friday the 13th of September 2013. Reaffirmation of Water as Vested Property, will reduce these problems!” Roni Bell Sylvester

"...ongoing study to further the study and discussion of the concepts in the HB 1278 recommendations." Andy Jones

“The only legislation we should study, are statutes that honor Water as vested property. Reaffirming our Water as vested property statutes and Constitution will give the S.P.R. opportunity to correct and heal itself.

To honor Water as vested property will bring the S.P.R. to where it needs to be hydrologically. Isn't that our goal?

Governor's have a duty to protect the citizens within the borders of his or her state. One critical point is a strong defense against any entity that unconstitutionally exerts actions against a state.

As your governor, I promise you I will identify each unconstitutional action by any entity - including federal overreach - and boot them out of Colorado! "

Roni Bell Sylvester - candidate for Governor of Colorado
(970) 284-6874
www.RoniForColorado.com