A bill to continue water banking in Colorado has passed the Colorado Legislature, clearing the way for water bank operations planned next year in the Arkansas Valley. The bill, HB1305, passed unanimously and removes a provision to sunset the Arkansas Valley water bank pilot program, passed in 2002. The bill was later expanded to include the whole state, but was scheduled to sunset this year. A water bank was established by the Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District, but abandoned in 2004 because of lack of participation. Since then, the Upper Arkansas Water Conservancy District has expressed an interest in operating the water bank.

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