The Future of Severance Taxes and Water Funding Task Force, established by SB25-040, will begin meeting this fall to study severance taxes and water funding in Colorado. The group aims to develop recommendations for sustaining water needs and energy impact grants as severance tax revenue declines.
“State funding for water projects and conservation is critical for Colorado communities working to adapt to a hotter and dryer West. This task force will allow our water community to take an intentional approach to sustaining funding levels into the future. We appreciate the bill’s sponsors and thank the task force members for their willingness to dedicate their time and expertise to this effort,” said Dan Gibbs, Executive Director, Department of Natural Resources.
The task force includes several appointees from state agencies and organizations: Carly Jacobs, Chief Financial Officer at the Department of Natural Resources; Lauren Ris, Director of the Colorado Water Conservation Board; Robert Sakata, Agriculture Water Policy Advisor at the Colorado Department of Agriculture; Eric Bergman, Director of the Division of Local Government at the Department of Local Affairs; Brian Jackson, Director of Western Water at Environmental Defense Fund; Doug Dennison, Director of Oil and Gas Services at Ecopoint Incorporated; Steve Wolff, General Manager at Southwestern Water Conservation District; Shawn Bolton, an agriculture representative with experience in agriculture, water projects, and oil and gas industry intersections.
Governor-appointed members include Jim Yahn, County Commissioner from Logan County—a county with oil and gas operations—and Elyse Ackerman Casselberry, City Manager for Delta. Nate Pearson from the Department of Natural Resources will serve as project manager. Karen Schlatter from the Colorado Water Center at Colorado State University has been retained as a third party to assist with conducting the study.
According to legislation guidelines, the study must identify ways to reduce or replace general fund transfers from severance tax revenues. The third party is expected to submit a draft report on findings and recommendations by January 15, 2026, allowing for review by both the Department of Natural Resources and the task force.
