Capital Development Committee

Thursday, March 19, 2026·▶ Watch / Listen

The Capital Development Committee met for a single-item agenda and unanimously recommended support for a settlement transaction that trades Colorado Parks and Wildlife's shares in the Mount Pisgah Reservoir and Ditch Company for a long-term water storage lease.

Key Actions

·CPW property transaction — Mount Pisgah Reservoir and Ditch CompanyAction

Notable Quotes

“However, in 2024, a private entity acquired a majority of the shares in the company and indicated that they wanted to convert the company from a mutual ditch company to a for profit corporation. That conversion would render CPW's share ownership in the company unconstitutional because state agencies cannot hold shares in a profit corporation. So that move would essentially nullify CPW's water rights.”
Daphne Gervais (DNR, Director of Legislative Affairs) · witness — Gervais explained the core threat driving the litigation — a private takeover that would have voided a state agency's water rights on constitutional grounds.

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TranscriptPreview

Capital Development Committee will come to order. Ms. Forbes, please call the roll. Senators and Representatives Henriksen. Excused. Lindsay. Excused. Pelton. Here. Winter morning story. And Mr. Chair here. Members, we have one item on the agenda. Consideration of property transaction proposal from CPW. Do we have Daphne Gervais here. Frank McGee and Pete. Pete Conowitz. Before we get started, Ms. Gervais, I have been informed that you may be. This may be the last time that you're before the Capital Development Committee, that you have another position within the department. And so I just want to take this opportunity on the record to thank you for all your work. You have been nothing but amazing sometimes. I know it's challenging, but I just hope you know how good you are at your job and really been great to work with. And so thank you for everything you've done. Thank you, Senator. That means a lot. Yeah. Should I launch into it? Please do. Awesome. Well, good morning, committee members. Thank you for having us today. Daphne Gervais. I'm the Director of Legislative affairs with the Department of Natural Resources for two more days here today to present a property…

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