This bill makes changes to how Colorado pays back money borrowed for the Arkansas Valley Conduit, a water infrastructure project. Specifically, it removes interest charges that were previously required on the repayment, meaning Colorado will only have to repay the actual amount borrowed without any additional interest fees. The bill also clarifies that repayment can come from any funding source during construction (not just specific revenue streams), and it extends the repayment timeline to 100 years instead of a shorter period. In practical terms, this makes the project significantly cheaper for Colorado and its water users by eliminating interest costs and spreading payments over a much longer timeframe, which reduces the annual burden on those who use the water system.

Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act

Bennet, Michael F.

Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit ActThis bill reduces payments that communities within the Arkansas River Valley must pay to the Bureau of Reclamation for the construction of the Arkansas Valley Conduit, a pipeline in Colorado for delivering water from the Pueblo Reservoir to such communities. Specifically, it removes interest payments and extends the repayment period to 100 years.