Polis visits eastern Colorado

On July 6, Governor Jared Polis traveled across the Eastern Plains to hear directly from farmers, ranchers and local leaders working to boost Colorado’s agriculture economy and to protect Colorado’s water. 

Governor Polis toured Vision Angus, a local family-owned ranch and farm passed down for four generations in Phillips County. Vision Angus is a second year recipient of the Agricultural Workforce Development Program which aims to develop next generation farmers and ensure the agriculture industries continued growth.  

Governor Polis, Colorado Commissioner of Agriculture Kate Greenberg, Colorado Director of Natural Resources Assistant Director of Water Policy, Kelly Romero-Heaney and several members of the governor’s staff then traveled to the South Republican State Wildlife Area. Members of the Republican River Water Conservation District (RRWCD) and the South Fork Republican Restoration Coalition joined them. Rod Lenz, Dave Hornung, Kenny Helling and Steve Kramer, along with State Representatives Rod Pelton and Richard Holtorf, voiced their concerns about groundwater issues in the Basin.

During their time together, they also discussed the Bonny Dam project, which focuses on restoring streamflow to the South Fork Republican River and assists the State of Colorado with meeting compact compliance.

Near the end of the 2022 State legislative session Senate Bill 22-028 was signed by Governor Polis. This bill creates a groundwater compact compliance and sustainability fund to assist with water conservation efforts. Through SB 22-028, the RRWCD and the Rio Grande Water Conservation District will each have access to $30,000,000 of federal American Rescue Plan Act funds via the State of Colorado. Each district plans to use the funds for water conservation efforts. The RRWCD Board of Directors voted to use these funds to increase the payments for retirement of irrigated acres in the South Fork Focus Zone in Kit Carson and Yuma counties.

On July 7, Governor Polis visited the Old Town Museum in Burlington. Later that morning, the Governor traveled to Cheyenne County to meet with local leaders and county commissioners from Cheyenne and Kiowa counties to discuss soil health and drought resilience efforts. Cheyenne Conservation District will receive support from SB 22-195, a bipartisan law signed by Governor Polis which allocates additional annual funding for conservation districts across the State.